The IPL retention rules for auction 2025 have just led everyone into a lot of guess work..Who will be retained, who will be retained by RTMs, and what players will be let go? So, let’ just start with Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma. The former MI skipper has been with the franchise for 13 years, and had led them to 5 IPL trophies, and is the most-loved cricketer, undoubtedly.
Everyone remembers how chants of ‘Mumbai Cha Raja, Rohit Sharma’ would reverberate the stadium, when newly appointed skipper Hardik Pandya would come to the boundary during IPL 2024. That, that love would never go. Rohit is, and always be Mumbai’s most cherished player from this generation, but it remains to be seen if he stays with the outfit for next year’s edition.
Will Rohit Sharma be Retained by MI?
There is just no reason why Rohit won’t be retained. He has won numerous matches for the team, be it with his batting or leadership, and still has a lot to offer. In 221 encounters for the team, he has scored 5731 runs at an average of around 30. So, that kind of record makes him indispensable for any team, especially Mumbai, after having a torrid time in the last edition.
Addressing the next issue, if he has to be retained, how much money could he get? The answer is pretty simple. This time the BCCI has come up with slabs for six retained players. As per that, the first and fourth retained player will get at least INR 18 Cr, followed by 14 Cr for player 2 and 4, while the third one gets at least 11 Cr. So Rohit will be in the highest bracket.
Who Should Get the Highest Salary in MI?
Well, it seems that Rohit might be among the highest salary-drawers from the team, but not the highest. Despite his huge demand and worth, he might be pipped by players like Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav. To be fair, they have been brilliant over the years, and won many matches for their team, respectively. Bumrah has is the most lethal bowler for the team having picked 168 wickets in 136 games, while Surya has scored 3,033 runs in 98 matches. In fact, he is the current India T20I skipper, so the duo definitely deserve more.
What About Hardik Pandya?
After the 2024 debacle, one gets a feeling Hardik Pandya might not be retained. But if at all he does, given the balance he brings to the team, he might be the fifth pick in retention. He doesn’t look like beating the likes of Rohit, Suryakumar, Bumrah and even someone like a Tilak Verma.