There is nothing more interesting than discussing the five-time champions and IPL 2024’s ’10th’ team, Mumbai Indians, one of the most loved franchises. However, they have certainly experienced a hiccup in the last few years, particularly in the 2022 and 2024 seasons. During these two seasons, MI faced their worst performances with poor results, which affected the team. Now, with the IPL 2025 auction approaching, there is a chance for a revamp.
There are high hopes for this lineup, but it’s likely that some big players will leave the team. Reports suggest that India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma and the bowler known for his yorker deliveries, Jasprit Bumrah, are potential departures. It is rumored that both players were unhappy with Hardik Pandya’s captaincy during IPL 2024 and may seek to change teams.
If they do leave, the list of players the Mumbai Indians might retain is not very surprising, given the few top-notch names available. However, there are a few candidates who could be retained. Let’s look at three names that could be retained by MI for IPL 2025.
MI retained players for IPL Mega Auction
Hardik Pandya
While Hardik Pandya’s chances of being retained as a player rather than a leader could be high, his name will remain under scrutiny despite his impressive performances in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Injury concerns might stop the Mumbai Indians’. But everyone is well aware of his role and how valuable he could be. There is a chance that the star all-rounder will be retained, possibly playing under a different captain.
The events of IPL 2024, where Pandya faced significant criticism and was booed at every venue, are well-known. His captaincy was criticized, and he struggled to make an impact with the bat, scoring 216 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of over 143. Despite this, many of his runs did contribute to the team’s wins. With the ball, he captured 11 wickets but faced criticism for not utilizing his best bowlers effectively and for taking on difficult situations himself, which did not significantly benefit the team.
Suryakumar Yadav
There is no doubt that Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) will be retained, and he could potentially become the captain as well. According to some reports, Hardik Pandya’s captaincy clause was for just one season, which suggests there is a possibility of SKY taking on the captaincy role, especially if Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma leave the team. Recently, SKY was announced as the new T20I captain of the Indian team.
Known for his dynamic fielding and freestyle batting, he scored 345 runs in 11 games with an average of 35 and a strike rate of over 167. Although he was unavailable for the first few games, he made a strong comeback, contributing significantly with the bat and even scoring an unbeaten century in the tournament. There is a good chance that he could be appointed captain this time as well.
Tilak Varma
This name could be debatable, as Mumbai Indians also have the option to retain Ishan Kishan. However, considering the immediate priority for MI is to have batters who can anchor the innings well, Tilak Varma’s recent performances make a strong case for him. He made a significant impact in the last season, scoring 416 runs with a strike rate of nearly 150, which opens up a strong possibility for his retention.
Varma has proven himself with power-packed batting and provides a bowling option, although he hasn’t bowled much in his IPL career for now, just 4 overs. While this doesn’t give a clear picture, he could still serve as a useful sixth bowling option and might be used regularly. Therefore, it is unlikely that he will be excluded from retention.
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