Latest Cricket News

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin with intense anticipation, as the franchises have announced their retained players for the season. The teams revealed their retention lists on Thursday, October 31, marking a significant step towards the upcoming mega auction. The auction is going to take place on 24th and 25th November, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) considering hosting it in international venues like the United Arab Emirates, Muscat, Doha, or Riyadh.

For the 2025 season, each of the 10 IPL franchises has the option to retain a maximum of six players, which allows them to retain their core group while making space for new talent through the auction. With this retention strategy, each team aims to create a winning combination for the season. Here’s the complete list of retained players by each team and the remaining purse they have for the mega auction:

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE (RCB)

RCB has retained some of their star players who have been pivotal in their performances over the years. The franchise, led by the legendary Virat Kohli, will also rely on the explosive talent of Rajat Patidar and the pace attack of Yash Dayal.  

• - Virat Kohli (₹21 crore)  
• - Rajat Patidar (₹11 crore)  
• - Yash Dayal (₹5 crore)  

Remaining Purse: ₹83 crore  

RCB will now focus on strengthening their squad during the auction to support these retained players.

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS (CSK)

CSK has stuck with some of their seasoned players, led by MS Dhoni, who continues to remain one of the most successful captains in IPL history. Alongside Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shivam Dube are crucial players for the upcoming season. The team has also retained promising young talent in Matheesha Pathirana.  

• - Ruturaj Gaikwad (₹18 crore)  
• - Matheesha Pathirana (₹13 crore)  
• - Shivam Dube (₹12 crore)  
• - Ravindra Jadeja (₹18 crore)  
• - MS Dhoni (₹4 crore)  

Remaining Purse: ₹55 crore  

CSK's strategy seems to balance experience with youthful energy, as they aim for another title under Dhoni’s leadership.

MUMBAI INDIANS (MI)

Mumbai Indians, known for their strong core, have retained some of the biggest names in Indian cricket. The team continues to back experienced campaigners like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav, all of whom have been instrumental in MI’s past successes. Additionally, the dynamic Tilak Varma is retained to ensure the franchise has the right mix of youth and experience.  

• - Jasprit Bumrah (₹18 crore)  
• - Suryakumar Yadav (₹16.35 crore)  
• - Hardik Pandya (₹16.35 crore)  
• - Rohit Sharma (₹16.3 crore)  
• - Tilak Varma (₹8 crore)  

Remaining Purse : ₹45 crore  

With a strong retention strategy, MI is poised to stay competitive in the 2025 season while looking to bolster their squad at the auction.

DELHI CAPITALS (DC)

Delhi Capitals has retained a core group that includes top performers like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, both of whom have been standouts with the ball. The explosive power-hitting of Tristan Stubbs and the wicketkeeping prowess of Abishek Porel further add depth to their squad.  

• - Axar Patel (₹16.5 crore)  
• - Kuldeep Yadav (₹13.25 crore)  
• - Tristan Stubbs (₹10 crore)  
• - Abishek Porel (₹4 crore)  

Remaining Purse : ₹73 crore  

DC will look to make key acquisitions during the mega auction to strengthen their lineup further for a title push.

GUJARAT TITANS (GT)

The defending champions have chosen to retain their key players who have been pivotal in their successful campaign. Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill are the standout names for the franchise, while Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, and Shahrukh Khan bring balance to the side. With a core group of these retained players, Gujarat Titans look set for another successful season.  

• - Rashid Khan (₹18 crore)  
• - Shubman Gill (₹16.5 crore)  
• - Sai Sudharsan (₹8.5 crore)  
• - Rahul Tewatia (₹4 crore)  
• - Shahrukh Khan (₹4 crore)  

Remaining Purse: ₹69 crore  

Gujarat Titans will be looking to further strengthen their squad and defend their IPL title.

LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS (LSG)

Lucknow has gone big on retaining Nicholas Pooran, who brings firepower in the middle order. Alongside Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, and Mohsin Khan add depth to the team’s bowling lineup, while Ayush Badoni provides balance to the squad.  

• - Nicholas Pooran (₹21 crore)  
• - Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 crore)  
• - Mayank Yadav (₹11 crore)  
• - Mohsin Khan (₹4 crore)  
• - Ayush Badoni (₹4 crore)  

Remaining Purse : ₹69 crore  

LSG is well-equipped to strengthen their squad at the auction to mount a serious challenge in IPL 2025.

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS (KKR)

KKR has retained some of their most consistent performers like Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine. With their bowling attack bolstered by Varun Chakravarthy and Harshit Rana, KKR will be aiming to improve their performances in the 2025 season.  

• - Rinku Singh (₹13 crore)  
• - Varun Chakaravarthy (₹12 crore)  
• - Sunil Narine (₹12 crore)  
• - Andre Russell (₹12 crore)  
• - Harshit Rana (₹4 crore)  
• - Ramandeep Singh (₹4 crore)  

Remaining Purse : ₹51 crore  

KKR will look to strengthen their middle-order and find a perfect balance between their established stars and new talent.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS (RR)

Rajasthan Royals has retained its dynamic opening pair of Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, both of whom have been outstanding in recent seasons. They also retained Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, and Shimron Hetmyer as key figures in their middle order, with Sandeep Sharma providing vital pace options.  

• - Sanju Samson (₹18 crore)  
• - Yashasvi Jaiswal (₹18 crore)  
• - Riyan Parag (₹14 crore)  
• - Dhruv Jurel (₹14 crore)  
• - Shimron Hetmyer (₹11 crore)  
• - Sandeep Sharma (₹4 crore)  

Remaining Purse: ₹41 crore  

Rajasthan Royals will look to add more firepower and depth to their squad in the auction.

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD (SRH)

Sunrisers Hyderabad has retained some exciting young talent like Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, and the hard-hitting duo of Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen. Pat Cummins will lead the bowling attack, and SRH will be aiming to rebuild their team for a fresh start in 2025.  

• - Pat Cummins (₹18 crore)  
• - Abhishek Sharma (₹14 crore)  
• - Nitish Reddy (₹6 crore)  
• - Heinrich Klaasen (₹23 crore)  
• - Travis Head (₹14 crore)  

Remaining Purse : ₹45 crore  

SRH will focus on strengthening their squad to return to the IPL's top ranks.

PUNJAB KINGS (PBKS)

Punjab Kings have made minimal retentions, keeping Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, while leaving ample room for major acquisitions at the auction.  

• - Shashank Singh (₹5.5 crore)  
• - Prabhsimran Singh (₹4 crore)  

Remaining Purse : ₹110.5 crore  

With a significant amount of money available, PBKS has the flexibility to go all-in for top players in the mega auction.

Looking Ahead

As the IPL 2025 mega auction draws near, these retention lists serve as the foundation for each franchise’s strategy. With the retained players in place, teams now have the flexibility to fine-tune their squads