IPL 2025: Reports Suggest Teams Can Retain Two Players for Rs 18 Crore Each, Two for Rs 14 Crore, and One for Rs 11 Crore; Hardik Pandya’s Retention in Question

Source: NDTV

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction is set to be a highly anticipated event. With this being a mega auction, all 10 franchises will need to carefully strategize on which players to retain. According to reports, each franchise can retain up to six players from their current squad, either through direct retention or by using the Right to Match (RTM) option. The teams can opt for a maximum of five capped players (Indian and overseas) and up to two uncapped players. The auction purse for IPL 2025 has been fixed at INR 120 Crore, as per a BCCI statement.

For five-time champions Mumbai Indians, who finished last in IPL 2024, the upcoming season will be pivotal. The team witnessed a major captaincy shuffle involving Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma, sparking widespread discussion. With stars like Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma in their ranks, it will be intriguing to see which players they choose to retain.

Reports suggest that teams can retain two players for ₹18 crore each, two for ₹14 crore each, and one for ₹11 crore. However, former IPL-winning coach Tom Moody has raised doubts about whether Hardik Pandya deserves the highest retention price of ₹18 crore.

Reflecting on the last IPL season, Tom Moody believes Rohit Sharma might feel disillusioned by the events of the past 6-12 months. Moody shared his retention choices, saying, “I would have Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav at ₹18 crore, and Hardik at ₹14 crore.” He added that Hardik’s future depends on his performance, form, and fitness. Moody questioned whether Hardik Pandya truly deserves to be valued at ₹18 crore, stating, “To command that price, you need to be a consistent match-winner, and Pandya struggled with both fitness and performance in the last IPL.” He also praised Tilak Varma’s potential.

Tom Moody highlighted Mumbai Indians’ recent struggles at the IPL auction, suggesting they’ve been “a little too loyal” in retaining or reacquiring players, which has proven costly. “Classic examples are Ishan Kishan and Jofra Archer, both bought at a high price,” Moody said, questioning whether they provided value for money. “Ishan Kishan is a terrific, exciting player, but he runs hot and cold. How many matches has he won with the bat?” Moody asked, pointing out that if Kishan is retained at ₹14 crore, the franchise must consider whether the performance justifies the price. He concluded by saying MI must make some tough decisions.

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