IPL Retentions 2025: List of players expected to be retained by the franchises on deadline day

The retention deadline for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction is around the corner, and the 10 franchises will have a couple of more days to make a final decision on the players that they are going to retain straight away and those they will release into the auction pool and possibly acquire later, either through the Right to Match (RTM) card of by launching an all-out bidding war.

Read | 10 top players including Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer who may not be retained

Though this is the second mega auction taking place in the world’s richest T20 league in less than three years, the IPL is allowing franchise owners to retain up to six players from their existing squad – either through direct retention or via RTM – the highest in the league’s history.

Ahead of the IPL retention deadline, which has been set at 5 pm on Thursday, 31 October by the IPL Governing Council, we take a look at the players the 10 franchises are likely to retain:

Kolkata Knight Riders

On the one hand, KKR are keen on giving senior West Indian all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, who have been with the franchise for a decade now, an extended run and also retain Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, whom they had acquired for a record Rs 24.75 crore in last year’s auction in Dubai.

Among Indian capped players, Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy are the top names while one of Ramandeep Singh or Harshit Rana would be their top retentions for the uncapped players’ slot. Captain Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, is reportedly set to leave the Knight Riders as there are other franchises looking to recruit him as captain.

Likely retention list: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Mitchell Starc, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ramandeep Singh/Harshit Rana (uncapped).

Chennai Super Kings

Veteran wicketkeeper-batter and former captain MS Dhoni hinted at playing at least one more season for CSK after saying that he wanted to enjoy “whatever last few years of cricket” he had left, although his participation will only be confirmed two days from now when his name finally appears on the their retention list.

The IPL GC had brought back an old rule that allowed veteran players who had been retired from international cricket for more than five years to be retained as “uncapped” players, a rule that appeared tailor-made for ‘Thala’. And if Dhoni’s recent comments are anything to go by, he might end up playing one more season and try and win one more trophy for his side after all.

Explained | How many players can a franchise retain? What is the total purse for each team?

Besides Dhoni, senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad are some of the other top picks for the retention list, as are Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana and Sameer Rizvi (uncapped).

Likely retention list: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, MS Dhoni (uncapped), Sameer Rizvi (uncapped).

Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma appeared set to leave the franchise after the end of the 17th season earlier this year, in which he had been stripped of captaincy by the team that he had led to five IPL titles. The ‘Hitman’, however, now appears to be in MI’s retention list as per latest reports, alongside skipper Hardik Pandya, India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. As for their uncapped slot, seamer Anshul Kamboj and middle-order batter Nehal Wadhera appear likely candidates.

Likely retention list: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma, Anshul Kamboj/Nehal Wadhera (uncapped).

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Pat Cummins is an automatic pick, as is explosive middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen. And much of their success last season, in which the ‘Orange Army’ made it to the final for a third time, was due to their opening combination of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.

Whether they can retain both openers or not is something that remains to be seen. There’s also seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy who will likely make it to the list.

Likely retention list: Pat Cummins (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy

Rajasthan Royals

RR, who won the inaugural edition in 2008 and finished runners-up in 2022, will be focusing on building a squad around captain Sanju Samson with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag, their top run-scorer last season, as their top picks. There’s also left-arm pacer Trent Boult and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal who would rank high in their retention list, making it difficult for them to go for some one like Jos Buttler.

Likely retention list: Sanju Samson (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal,

Gujarat Titans

There were reports of star all-rounder Rashid Khan leaving 2022 champions Gujarat Titans, with Mumbai Indians possibly looking to add the Afghan leg-spinner to their reserves. GT, however, are unlikely to make any such trade, especially after the manner in which former captain Hardik Pandya’s trade to MI played out.

Read | IPL Mega Auction 2022 History: Which players were retained? Will they be retained again?

Besides Rashid and skipper Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, David Miller and B Sai Sudharsan are some of the other top names set to be retained. As for the uncapped players’ slot, Rahul Tewatia or M Shahrukh Khan could be the top picks.

Likely retention list: Shubman Gill (c), Rashid Khan, David Miller, Mohammed Shami, B Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia/M Shahrukh Khan (uncapped).

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Virat Kohli remains the fact of RCB, who remain without a trophy after all these years despite reaching the final thrice, while pacer Mohammed Siraj is likely to lead the attack in the coming years. England’s Will Jacks had quite the season with RCB last year and should make it to the retentions list.

However, the same cannot be said of skipper Faf du Plessis, who does not have too many years ahead of him at the age of 40, or Glenn Maxwell, who had scored just 52 runs last season. Yash Dayal would be their top pick for the uncapped player’s slot.

Likely retention list: Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Will Jacks, Cameron Green, Yash Dayal (uncapped).

Delhi Capitals

Rishabh Pant had appeared set to be retained by DC not too long ago after reportedly conducting positive discussions with the team management. However, a cryptic post on X has led to rumours that Pant might be on his way out and join some other franchise as their captain.

All-rounder Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are some of the other players likely to be picked along with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs, with Abhishek Porel their likely candidate for the uncapped slot. Mitchell Marsh too could be retained, and he could possibly become a top contender for the leadership role if Pant leaves the side.

Likely retention list: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell Marsh, Abhishek Porel (uncapped).

Punjab Kings

Following Shikhar Dhawan’s retirement, Sam Curran is likely to be announced as the franchise’s full-time leader after donning the role on an interim basis last season. Some of the other top picks for the retention list are pacers Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada and middle-order batter Shashank Singh. All-rounder Liam Livingstone too remains quite the force in the T20 circuit, and the franchise would want to have the all-rounder in their squad.

Likely retention list:Sam Curran (c), Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma

Lucknow Super Giants

LSG and skipper KL Rahul are likely to part ways this season, with the latter also interested in entering the auction pool. According to ESPNCricinfo, are interested in retaining explosive wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran, who will be a top candidate to take over as skipper after Rahul along with the likes of pacer Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi and the uncapped pair of Mohsin Khan and Ayush Badoni.

Likely retention list: Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan (uncapped), Ayush Badoni (uncapped).