Predicting 6 players MI could retain for IPL 2025 ft. Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah
Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) endured a horror IPL 2024 season. They finished last in the points table, winning only four of their 14 matches. MI kicked off the season with three losses and recovered briefly with two consecutive wins before losing seven of their last nine games.
Mumbai Indians' IPL 2024 season was marred with controversy even before the edition began. The decision to replace Rohit Sharma as captain with Hardik Pandya did not go down well with several MI fans. Pandya was booed even in home games and Mumbai Indians clearly looked like an unsettled outfit.
With the mega auction coming up, MI have the tough task of retaining only six players from their existing squad. The retentions can be made either directly or via the Right To Match (RTM) option. As per the new IPL rules, each side can retain a maximum of five capped players and a maximum of two uncapped players. On that note, here's predicting MI's six retentions for IPL 2025.
#1 Suryakumar Yadav
T20I batting star Suryakumar Yadav seems an obvious choice to be retained by Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2025 season. India's T20I captain has a sensational record while representing MI. In 98 matches, the right-hander has slammed 3,033 runs at an average of 35.26 and a strike rate of 148.09, with two hundreds and 23 half-centuries to his name.
Even as Mumbai Indians struggled in IPL 2024, Suryakumar had a reasonably good campaign with the willow, smashing 345 runs in 11 matches at an average of 34.50 and a strike rate of 167.48, with the aid of one century and three fifties. His retention should be a straightforward choice for MI.
#2 Jasprit Bumrah
Seasoned fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is another player whose retention by Mumbai Indians is more or less confirmed. The right-arm pacer has been exceptional with the ball for India across formats and was recently crowned the No. 1 Test bowler in the latest ICC rankings.
Speaking of his performance in the IPL, Bumrah's numbers are extraordinary. In 133 matches, he has 165 wickets to his name at an average of 22.51 and an economy rate of 7.30, with two five-fers. In the IPL 2024 season, the 30-year-old claimed 20 scalps in 13 games, averaging 16.80 at an economy rate of 6.48.
#3 Hardik Pandya
Pandya had a horror season as captain and player for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. All the outside noise got to him as he failed to make any impact during the edition. The all-rounder scored 216 runs in 14 matches at an average of 18, with a best of 46. On the bowling front, he claimed 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.75.
Despite his poor performance as leader and all-rounder in IPL 2024, MI are likely to back the 30-year-old for the upcoming seasons. Pandya is a proven performer both as captain and player and has come up with some game-defining efforts for the franchise over the years. The only concern for Mumbai Indians concerning their captain would be his poor fitness track record.
#4 Rohit Sharma
This will be a tricky one for sure, but if both parties agree there is a fair chance that Rohit stays with the MI franchise. The Hitman is synonymous with Mumbai Indians, having led them to five title triumphs. Even though he is 37, Rohit looks in pretty good shape to feature in the IPL for the next two to three years.
The former Mumbai Indians captain was among the few positives for the franchise in a disastrous IPL 2024 season. In 14 games, Rohit scored 417 runs at a strike rate of 150. Overall, he is MI's leading run-getter, with 5,731 runs in 221 matches at a strike rate of 131.05, with two tons and 36 fifties.
#5 Tilak Varma
Mumbai Indians rate Tilak Varma highly and there is a fair chance of him being among the franchise's six retentions for the IPL 2025 season. There could be a tussle between him and Tim David for one of the retention slots. In such a case, Varma is likely to have the upper hand.
Still only 21, the left-handed batter is gaining a reputation as a versatile T20I batter, who can adapt his game according to the situation. In 38 IPL matches, he has amassed 1,156 runs at a strike rate of 146.33, with six fifties. Varma did well in IPL 2024, scoring 416 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of 149.64, with the aid of three half-centuries.
#6 Akash Madhwal (uncapped)
Right-arm pacer Akash Madhwal could be a genuine contender to be retained by Mumbai Indians as an uncapped player for IPL 2025. The 30-year-old bowler has done a decent job in the limited opportunities he has had in the T20 league and could be a dark horse when it comes to retention.
Madhwal made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2023. The Uttarakhand pacer ended up claiming 14 wickets in eight matches at an average of 15.64 and an economy rate of 8.59. Madhwal produced sensational figures of 5-5 in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Chennai. He picked up five scalps as many games in IPL 2024, with a best of 3-20 against Rajasthan Royals.