The excitement is getting good as IPL franchises reveal their retentions for the IPL 2025 mega auction. After a month of speculation, leaks, and discussions, the retention lists are finally out, and each team has laid out its foundation for the upcoming season. With captains confirmed for several teams, fans are eager to see the strategies franchises bring to the auction. Here’s a look at the IPL teams heading into the 2025 auction with their captains.
CSK – MS Dhoni
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) once again places its faith in the legendary MS Dhoni, the five-time IPL champion, who will continue to lead the side. In a surprising twist, Dhoni, who hasn’t played international cricket in five years, now gets retained as an uncapped player due to a rule change by the BCCI. Retaining Dhoni has excited CSK’s fan base as they look forward to another season under his experienced leadership.
Mumbai Indians- Hardik Pandya
In a notable decision, Mumbai Indians (MI) have retained Hardik Pandya as captain for a second season. Pandya, previously successful as the captain of Gujarat Titans, faced a challenging season with MI in 2024, where the team ended at the bottom of the table. Despite this setback, MI trusts Pandya’s leadership and experience to steer the team toward a better season in 2025.
SRH – Pat Cummins
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) retained Australian Test captain Pat Cummins, who led SRH to their first finals appearance in years. After being acquired for ₹16.5 crore in last year’s auction, Cummins proved instrumental in the team’s resurgence. SRH is optimistic that Cummins’ leadership will continue to push the franchise to greater heights.
Rajasthan Royals – Sanju Samson
For Rajasthan Royals (RR), Malayali star Sanju Samson remains the trusted captain for another season. RR’s long-standing faith in Samson is evident, and this year, they have added a powerful ally in India’s World Cup-winning coach Rahul Dravid, who will guide the franchise as head coach. This partnership brings renewed hope for RR fans looking forward to IPL 2025.
Gujarat Titans- Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill, the young leader of Gujarat Titans (GT), is set to continue as the captain. After Hardik Pandya’s departure last season, Gill took charge of the team, but GT experienced a tough season, finishing eighth on the table. The franchise is confident that Gill will help them bounce back and recreate the magic of their back-to-back finals appearances in previous seasons.
With these retentions, teams have made it clear they’re investing in stability and proven leadership. As the auction draws closer, each franchise will now focus on building the ideal team around their retained captains. IPL 2025 will be exciting to watch, as these captains lead their squads with the goal of lifting the coveted trophy.
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