Here are the most accurate retention predictions for IPL 2025 auction

With the IPL 2025 mega auction on the horizon, the official retention rules are finally out. Each franchise can now retain up to six players, with no more than five capped players. The flexibility doesn’t end there—teams can mix and match with retention slots and Right to Match (RTM) cards, giving them the ability to build their core strategically.

Here's a concise look at what each team might do, the likely retentions, and some of the tough decisions they face:

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Top Retentions: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma

Uncapped: Nehal Wadhera / Anshul Kamboj

Biggest Move: Likely parting ways with Rohit Sharma as he turns 38, freeing up purse space.

RTM: Unused—keeping their budget intact for fresh auction targets.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Top Retentions: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana

Uncapped: MS Dhoni (under new rule)

RTM Dilemma: Retain Shivam Dube at 14 cr or use RTM to re-acquire him?

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Top Retentions: Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar

Uncapped: Yash Dayal

RTM Focus: Prioritizing Will Jacks, but tempted to bring back Glenn Maxwell at the right price.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Top Retentions: Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh

Uncapped: Harshit Rana / Angkrish Raghuvanshi

Risk Factor: Rana might decline uncapped retention, chasing a bigger auction payday.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Top Retentions: Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma

Uncapped: Mayank Markande

RTM Puzzle: Retain Reddy or Natarajan—both critical assets.

Strategic Advantage: Unrestricted foreign player retentions allow flexibility.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Top Retentions: Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel

Uncapped: Abishek Porel

Minimal Disruption: Retaining the core without breaking the bank.

Auction Watch: RTM cards likely used for Tristan Stubbs or Jake Fraser-McGurk.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Top Retentions: KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi

Uncapped: Ayush Badoni

Likely Departure: Quinton de Kock, given budget and squad priorities.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Top Retentions: Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag

Uncapped: Sandeep Sharma

RTM Headache: Only one of Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, or R. Ashwin can be retained.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Top Retentions: Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan, David Miller

Uncapped: Abhinav Manohar / Rahul Tewatia

RTM Strategy: Likely to retain Sai Sudharsan through RTM.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Top Retentions: Sam Curran, Arshdeep Singh

Uncapped: Shashank Singh / Prabhsimran Singh

Wildcard Play: PBKS might enter the auction with minimal retentions and up to five RTMs for flexibility.

Risk Factor: Entering with only one uncapped retention could backfire.

Conclusion

The IPL 2025 retention strategy is all about balancing talent, experience, and budget. With limited slots and the new uncapped retention rule, franchises face tough calls—whether to retain aging veterans or bet on emerging talent. Teams that master these strategies will enter the auction with confidence and control over their purse.

Which team will make the smartest moves? The IPL 2025 auction promises plenty of surprises, and these retentions will set the stage for another thrilling season.