The excitement for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season has already started to build up especially after the much-anticipated player retention window closed on October 31, 2024. Fans are happy and confused at the same with all ten IPL teams revealing their list of retained players because of the curiosity about who will be returning to their favorite teams. A total of 46 players have been retained with franchises investing a whopping INR 558.5 crore to lock in their core lineups.
Let’s know each team’s list of retained players, major highlights, and key strategies as they prepare for the upcoming mega auction whether you’re rooting for the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders or long-time favorites like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Retained Players:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 18 crore)
- Ravindra Jadeja (INR 18 crore)
- Matheesha Pathirana (INR 13 crore)
- Shivam Dube (INR 12 crore)
- MS Dhoni (INR 4 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 55 crore
RTM Options: 1
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has retained five core players, with legendary captain MS Dhoni staying on as an uncapped player at INR 4 crore. This clever move leverages a revived IPL rule that allows Indian players without international cricket for five years to be considered uncapped. CSK fans can look forward to another season led by “Thala” Dhoni as they prepare for the mega auction with a solid lineup and INR 55 crore left in their purse.
2. Delhi Capitals (DC)
Retained Players:
- Axar Patel (INR 16.50 crore)
- Kuldeep Yadav (INR 13.25 crore)
- Tristan Stubbs (INR 10 crore)
- Abhishek Porel (INR 4 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 73 crore
RTM Options: 2
Delhi Capitals (DC) have retained four players but have let go of big names like Rishabh Pant and David Warner. DC might look to acquire a new captain or even buy back Pant during the auction. With INR 73 crore still available, DC has a decent amount of flexibility as they approach the auction.
3. Gujarat Titans (GT)
Retained Players:
- Rashid Khan (INR 18 crore)
- Shubman Gill (INR 16.50 crore)
- Sai Sudharsan (INR 8.50 crore)
- Rahul Tewatia (INR 4 crore)
- Shahrukh Khan (INR 4 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 69 crore
RTM Options: 1
Gujarat Titans (GT) have retained a solid mix of players, ensuring they keep star players like Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill. Notably, GT has retained no fast bowlers among their core five, as Mohammed Shami is out due to injury. They head into the auction with a plan to fill key gaps in their lineup.
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Retained Players:
- Rinku Singh (INR 13 crore)
- Varun Chakravarthy (INR 12 crore)
- Sunil Narine (INR 12 crore)
- Andre Russell (INR 12 crore)
- Harshit Rana (INR 4 crore)
- Ramandeep Singh (INR 4 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 51 crore
RTM Options: None
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have retained the maximum of six players, including star all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. However, they decided not to retain former captain Shreyas Iyer, leaving fans curious about KKR’s leadership strategy. With INR 51 crore left, KKR will be looking to fill key spots in the auction.
Read About the IPL 2025 Mega Auction.
5. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Retained Players:
- Nicholas Pooran (INR 21 crore)
- Ravi Bishnoi (INR 11 crore)
- Mayank Yadav (INR 11 crore)
- Mohsin Khan (INR 4 crore)
- Ayush Badoni (INR 4 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 69 crore
RTM Options: 1
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have retained five players, with Nicholas Pooran being their most expensive player at INR 21 crore. As they head into the auction, LSG will need to appoint a new captain since KL Rahul was not retained. With INR 69 crore in hand, they have enough funds to build a competitive squad.
6. Mumbai Indians (MI)
Retained Players:
- Jasprit Bumrah (INR 18 crore)
- Suryakumar Yadav (INR 16.35 crore)
- Hardik Pandya (INR 16.35 crore)
- Rohit Sharma (INR 16.30 crore)
- Tilak Varma (INR 8 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 45 crore
RTM Options: 1
Mumbai Indians (MI) are retaining five star players, including their new captain Hardik Pandya. MI’s core remains strong with seasoned players like Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. They’ve managed to keep their salary under INR 75 crore, ensuring a solid foundation as they approach the auction with INR 45 crore.
7. Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Retained Players:
- Shashank Singh (INR 5.5 crore)
- Prabhsimran Singh (INR 4 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 110.5 crore
RTM Options: 4
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have retained only two players, the fewest among all teams, and have a significant INR 110.5 crore available for the auction. This huge budget gives them a massive advantage as they aim to build a near-complete team, including possibly finding a new captain.
8. Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Retained Players:
- Sanju Samson (INR 18 crore)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 18 crore)
- Riyan Parag (INR 14 crore)
- Dhruv Jurel (INR 14 crore)
- Shimron Hetmyer (INR 11 crore)
- Sandeep Sharma (INR 4 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 41 crore
RTM Options: None
Rajasthan Royals (RR) have retained six players, including a powerful batting lineup led by captain Sanju Samson. With INR 41 crore remaining, RR might look to strengthen their bowling department in the auction.
9. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Retained Players:
- Virat Kohli (INR 21 crore)
- Rajat Patidar (INR 11 crore)
- Yash Dayal (INR 5 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 83 crore
RTM Options: 3
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have retained only three players, with Virat Kohli leading the lineup. Fans are eagerly wondering if Kohli will return as captain. With INR 83 crore still in their purse, RCB is well-prepared to make strategic buys at the auction.
10. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Retained Players:
- Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crore)
- Pat Cummins (INR 18 crore)
- Abhishek Sharma (INR 14 crore)
- Travis Head (INR 14 crore)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy (INR 6 crore)
Remaining Purse: INR 45 crore
RTM Options: 1
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have invested heavily in Heinrich Klaasen, making him the highest-paid player across all teams at INR 23 crore. With INR 45 crore remaining, SRH might look to add more balance to their team at the auction.
Final Thoughts: IPL 2025
With the IPL 2025 mega auction on the horizon, each team has carefully crafted its retained players list. Whether it’s Mumbai Indians’ strong lineup or Punjab Kings’ big budget, every team has its unique strategy. Fans can look forward to an action-packed auction as franchises vie to complete their squads and aim for the trophy.
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