3 players whom MI should retain ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction Ft. Hardik Pandya

MI have not won the IPL title since 2020.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 player retention rules and regulations for the mega auction were announced by the IPL Governing Council on September 28, 2024. For the forthcoming IPL mega auction, the IPL GC has allowed the franchise to retain up to six players via retentions and the Right To Match (RTM) option.

The six retentions/RTMs can have a maximum of five capped players (Indian and overseas) and two uncapped players. Every franchise has been given the option of selecting their retention and RTM combinations for the auction, adhering to the limit on capped and uncapped players.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly set a deadline of 5 PM IST on October 31, 2024, for the franchises to submit the list of retained players before the mega auction.

Meanwhile, fans will be keenly observing the Mumbai Indians (MI), who had a tumultuous IPL 2024 season. The management changed the captain, handing the responsibility to Hardik Pandya and ending Rohit Sharma’s decade-long reign at the helm, during which he led Mumbai to five IPL titles.

Under Pandya, Mumbai ended at the 10th spot in the IPL 2024 points table, managing only four wins in the season.

Mumbai will have the opportunity to retain up to six players from the 2024 roster, and with some highly talented Indian players in the ranks, the Ambani-owned club would want to retain their core players.

In this article, we will take a look at three players that MI must retain ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Three players whom MI should retain ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction:

1. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya made his IPL debut in 2015 for Mumbai. He soon became an indispensable part of the team, forming a killer duo with Kieron Pollard in the middle-order.

However, Hardik Pandya was released ahead of the IPL 2022 auction as he struggled with his fitness and had reduced his bowling. Pandya spent time away from the game to build up his strength and came back as Gujarat Titans’ captain in IPL 2022 and led them to their maiden title. He also took GT to the IPL 2023 final as well, which they lost to Chennai Super Kings.

However, things took another turn in his career as he and MI agreed on a trade ahead of the IPL 2024 auction. The all-rounder was immediately made the franchise’s new skipper, replacing Rohit Sharma. But in Pandya’s debut season as the Mumbai captain, the team finished at the bottom of the points table.

But, MI are known to back their talented players. It is very much possible that Hardik Pandya might be retained in the highest bracket ahead of Rohit, who at 38, is close to the conclusion of his career. Pandya might also continue as MI captain, given his starring role in India’s T20 World Cup win.

2. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav was vice-captain when Rohit Sharma was the MI captain. Suryakumar is one of the best T20 batters in the world. In the IPL, he has scored 3594 runs in 150 matches at a strike rate of 145.33 with two tons and 24 fifties. He has hit 130 sixes and 385 fours.

Suryakumar Yadav’s stature has also increased as he is now the full-time India T20I captain and Mumbai Indians might as well dangle the captaincy carrot in front of Surya to pacify him for not getting the captaincy after Rohit.

3. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has been a huge contributor to MI’s success in the IPL in the last decade. He made his IPL debut in 2013 and picked 3/32 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, including wickets of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

Bumrah has been retained by Mumbai before every auction. His importance increased more once Lasith Malinga retired from the IPL after 2019. Bumrah has played 133 IPL matches and picked up 165 wickets with best bowling figures of 5/10. His economy is 7.30, which is amazing for a bowler who both both in the powerplay and in death overs.

Mumbai will want to retain Bumrah, who has also captained India in one test and 2 T20Is, which is a testament to him being rated as a thinking cricketer.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.