The much-anticipated player retention window for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has officially closed, with all 10 franchises locking in their core squads for the upcoming season. The window concluded on October 31, 2024, after which each team has finalized the players they intend to retain for the next edition of the tournament.
In total, the franchises have retained 46 players across the board, with an impressive INR 558.5 crore being invested to keep the core group of players. This retention process is a critical step in preparing for the IPL 2025 mega auction, where teams will have the opportunity to bolster their squads further.
The Rules of Retention: What Teams Could Do
Each franchise had a salary cap of INR 120 crore for the IPL 2025 season, which they can use to form a squad of up to 25 players. Teams were allowed to retain up to six players from their previous roster. However, there were some restrictions on the number of capped internationals and uncapped Indian players:
- A maximum of five capped international players could be retained.
- Up to two uncapped Indian players were allowed to be retained.
With these parameters in place, the player retention strategy varied across the franchises, with some teams opting for full retention, while others focused on keeping a select few.
Full Retention Teams
A few teams, notably the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and the inaugural IPL winners Rajasthan Royals, have gone all in with full retentions, securing six players each. This reflects their confidence in their current squad and the stability they hope to maintain heading into IPL 2025. For a complete breakdown, check out the IPL Retained Players List, which showcases the core players these teams are keeping ahead of the mega auction.
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): The franchise has retained a core group of players, including match-winners such as Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and the exciting talent of Rinku Singh.
- Rajasthan Royals: The Royals have retained their star players, including Sanju Samson, Yashaswi Jaiswal, and Shimron Hetmyer, all of whom played key roles in the team’s recent performances.
Teams Retaining Five Players
Other franchises such as Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have opted to retain five players, keeping a strong balance between veteran leadership and promising talent.
- Chennai Super Kings: The team has held on to their experienced leaders like MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ruturaj Gaikwad, ensuring a solid foundation as they chase another title.
- Gujarat Titans: Retaining players like Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, and Sai Sudharsan ensures that Gujarat’s young and dynamic squad will remain competitive in the 2025 season.
- Mumbai Indians: The iconic franchise retains key players such as Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, all of whom have been instrumental in the team’s past successes.
Teams Retaining Fewer Players
Some teams opted for a smaller retention strategy, keeping their options open ahead of the mega auction. These teams include Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and Punjab Kings.
- Delhi Capitals: The Capitals have retained Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and the young talent Tristan Stubbs, hoping to build around this trio.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: With the likes of Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar, RCB has kept a couple of core players but will look to expand their squad during the auction.
- Punjab Kings: Despite retaining just two players, Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, they head into the auction with the largest purse of INR 110.5 crore, giving them a lot of flexibility to make big moves.
A Closer Look at the Retained Players
Here’s a breakdown of the players retained by each franchise:
Chennai Super Kings:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Shivam Dube
- Ravindra Jadeja
- MS Dhoni
Delhi Capitals:
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Tristan Stubbs
- Abhishek Porel
Gujarat Titans:
- Rashid Khan
- Shubman Gill
- Sai Sudharsan
- Rahul Tewatia
- Shahrukh Khan
Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Rinku Singh
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Sunil Narine
- Andre Russell
- Harshit Rana
- Ramandeep Singh
Lucknow Super Giants:
- Nicholas Pooran
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Mayank Yadav
- Mohsin Khan
- Ayush Badoni
Mumbai Indians:
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Hardik Pandya
- Rohit Sharma
- Tilak Varma
Punjab Kings:
- Shashank Singh
- Prabhsimran Singh
Rajasthan Royals:
- Sanju Samson
- Yashaswi Jaiswal
- Riyan Parag
- Dhruv Jurel
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Sandeep Sharma
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
- Virat Kohli
- Rajat Patidar
- Yash Dayal
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
- Pat Cummins
- Abhishek Sharma
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Travis Head
What’s Next: The IPL 2025 Mega Auction
With the retention window now closed, all eyes will be on the IPL 2025 mega auction, where the remaining players will be up for grabs. As teams adjust their strategies based on their retained players, the auction will offer opportunities for franchises to complete their squads, making it a crucial event for shaping the future of the competition.
Notably, Punjab Kings has the largest purse remaining, giving them ample room to make significant acquisitions, while other teams will look to add depth and balance to their squads.
As the countdown to IPL 2025 begins, cricket fans can expect an action-packed season, with new dynamics emerging as the retained players continue their journey in the most exciting T20 league in the world.
