Which teams should target Rohit Sharma if MI releases him ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction?

What is Rohit Sharma’s future in the IPL? Will he remain in the MI mix for the upcoming edition, or can we expect some changes in MI’s retention strategy? Since six retentions are now allowed, it’s likely that Rohit could be part of the retained pack, as MI can afford to retain five superstars before the auction and use one Right to Match (RTM) card later. However, it’s unlikely that MI would use the RTM for Rohit Sharma.

Also, if we go by current reports, it seems highly likely that we will not see the usual MI retention strategy, where Rohit Sharma was a core player in the past. There is a chance that he may not be part of the team anymore. Assuming MI does not retain Rohit Sharma and he enters the auction as a superstar, which teams are likely to go after him? See three teams that desperately need a good captain and should strongly consider bidding for Rohit Sharma in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Punjab Kings

The best team for Rohit Sharma, if he doesn’t return to MI, is PBKS. This might come as a surprise, but Rohit could be the player to stabilize the struggling Punjab Kings. Considering PBKS’s current scenario, they are facing multiple issues, including top-order batting concerns. With the retirement of Shikhar Dhawan, they may also lack a strong leader.

Now that Ricky Ponting is set to coach the team, and given his strong record in team management, as seen with Delhi Capitals and his success with Washington Freedom in the MLC 2024, we could see Ponting doing everything possible to bring Rohit Sharma to PBKS. Adding Rohit would provide PBKS with two crucial elements, an aggressive batting capable of destroying bowlers in the first 10 overs and a proven leader, which Rohit is well known for.

Lucknow Super Giants

Now, speaking about another team that is debatable, but what will happen if KL Rahul is not retained by LSG, as IPL 2024 was a lost season for this superstar as skipper, and if he doesn’t return, it leaves LSG without a captain or a key batter. This clearly hints that Rohit Sharma could be a potential candidate for LSG.

Since Rahul usually opens for LSG, and Rohit does the same for MI, there’s no doubt that the team would look at him as an opener first. As for captaincy, the chances are high that Rohit could take on that role as well. While players like Marcus Stoinis or Krunal Pandya have the potential to be captains, Rohit’s CV as a captain is incredible, and we could very well see him leading this camp.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Could we see Rohit Sharma playing alongside Virat Kohli in the IPL? The idea seems intriguing. At RCB, things have changed significantly, with the possibility that Faf du Plessis may not return for IPL 2025. This leaves RCB without a clear leader at the moment. Could Virat Kohli take on the captaincy again? It would certainly be interesting. If not, the best option for them might be to bring in Rohit Sharma.

Hitman’s experience as a leader could prove invaluable, and with his ability to chip in with runs at the top of the order, RCB could greatly benefit if Rohit were to play for them. From a fan perspective, it would be extremely exciting to see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma batting together in IPL 2025.