IPL 2025 is going to be full of surprises. There have been several rumors taking the internet by storm. On one hand, we are seeing news that a few players are all set to leave their franchises and join new teams. For instance, Rishabh Pant might be playing in yellow for CSK, while KL Rahul might return home to RCB. Amidst all this buzz, one of the big franchises in the IPL, the Mumbai Indians, who are going through a bit of turmoil, may witness a few legends waving goodbye.
When Hardik Pandya became the MI captain for IPL 2024, we saw a lot of turbulence in the team, which led to the possibility of significant changes in IPL 2025. So, who are the players who might leave this highly successful franchise? Let’s take a look at two big names who may leave the franchise and join new teams.
Rohit Sharma
With more than 6,000 runs and multiple IPL trophies, Rohit Sharma, whose name and game need no introduction, is the first name who may leave the franchise. Sharma was removed from the Mumbai Indians’ captaincy despite winning five IPL trophies, making him the talk of the town as a potential departure.
Rohit is one of the most loved cricketers in the country. This was evident when Pandya was announced as captain and MI’s fan base reduced, with the franchise losing 400,000 followers on Twitter within an hour of the news of Rohit Sharma’s removal as captain for the 2024 season.
With 6,628 runs at a strike rate of 131.11, including one century and 43 half-centuries, it’s clear that his stats alone cannot fully capture his caliber as a batter. According to reports, teams like LSG, DC, and Punjab Kings may target Rohit Sharma for IPL 2025.
Surya Kumar Yadav
Having played 150 matches to date with a total of 3,594 runs, Mr. 360, Suryakumar Yadav, is another batter who may leave MI according to reports. There is no question about how good a batter Suryakumar is, especially in the middle overs of the game, with his ability to play shots all over the field and rotate the strike effectively. SKY has always been invaluable to the franchise, whether with Kolkata Knight Riders or Mumbai Indians.
Reports suggest that SKY has not been very impressed with Hardik’s captaincy in IPL 2024, which led to disagreements. If these reports are accurate, we may see a significant turnaround in the IPL 2025 mega auction, where these two players might prefer to enter the auction rather than signing a retainer with Mumbai Indians. Teams like KKR might be eyeing Surya, since they need batters like him who can score 30-40 runs in the end and also rotate the strike. If KKR adds Surya, it will be a boon for the franchise.