5 things to look forward to ahead of IPL 2025 retention deadline ft. How many captains go without retention?

With the IPL 2025 mega-auction approaching, franchises face intense decisions regarding player retention. The retention rules allow each team to retain up to six players, using a mix of direct retentions and Right to Match (RTM) options.

Out of these, a maximum of five can be capped players, which may include both Indian and overseas players while up to two can be uncapped Indian players. Additionally, there is no limit on the number of overseas players that can be retained.

This framework gives franchises considerable flexibility in player selection ahead of October 31, the retention deadline.

This year’s IPL auction brings back the 'uncapped player rule'. Previously used before 2021, the rule allows Indian players without a central contract or those who have not played international cricket in the last five years to be classified as uncapped.

Teams will need to navigate these regulations to create a balanced squad that meets their needs for the season while positioning them well for long-term success.

As the IPL 2025 retention deadline date has almost arrived, here are five key aspects to watch out for.

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5 things to look forward to ahead of IPL 2025 retention deadline

#5 Veteran players’ future: Will they be retained?

A major point of interest will be whether franchises decide to retain experienced players who are reaching the twilight of their careers. Players like Faf du Plessis, who led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2024 season, David Warner, Piyush Chawla, Amot Mishra, Shikhar Dhawan, and Ravichandran Ashwin are among those who may or may not secure retention spots.

Although these veterans bring valuable experience, the long-term planning opportunity offered by the mega-auction might prompt franchises to look at younger talents. Deciding to retain or release these players will be critical to shaping team dynamics for the IPL 2025 season and beyond.

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#4 How many teams use the new uncapped player rule

Reinstating the uncapped player rule for the IPL 2025 mega-auction adds another interesting element to how the teams could go about their retentions.

Players like MS Dhoni (CSK), Piyush Chawla (MI), Amit Mishra (LSG), Mohit Sharma (GT), and Sandeep Sharma (RR) fall under this category, allowing teams to retain them with a base price of ₹4 crore.

The rule, which applies to Indian players without international appearances in the last five years, offers franchises a cost-effective way to keep experienced players on board without compromising their budget for capped players. It remains to be seen how many teams will leverage this option.

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#3 How many overseas players will be retained compared to previous mega-auctions

The Indian Premier League, throughout all seasons, has seen several star overseas players leave their mark. Overseas players have always been a major attraction, in high demand, and crucial assets for various teams.

Ahead of the previous IPL mega-auction in 2022, as many as ten overseas players were retained by teams (including an overseas player each selected by the two news teams ahead of the mega-auction).

It will be interesting to see how many overseas players are retained ahead of the mega-auction this time around. Further, it will also be interesting to see which category of players - bowlers, batters, or all-rounders, will get higher retention spots.

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#2 The retention dilemmas for teams like MI and SRH

Franchises like Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face challenging choices with a solid set of core players.

MI’s primary players, such as Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav, along with talents like Tilak Varma, Tim David, and Ishan Kishan compete for limited retention slots.

SRH similarly has a strong core featuring the likes of Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Glenn Phillips, and T Natarajan among others. Both teams will need to carefully strategize, potentially prioritizing their highest-impact players.

It remains to be seen if both sides go all-out to retain their core. If they choose to do so, it could result in a solid structure but will push the franchise to depend on more affordable options to complete the squad due to the smaller auction budget.

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#1 How many captains will go without retention?

Several captains, such as Faf du Plessis, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and possibly Rishabh Pant, face uncertainty over their retention status.

There are indications that RCB might release du Plessis, while KKR is reportedly considering moving on from Shreyas Iyer despite his successful leadership that led to the franchise’s third IPL title in 2024. Additionally, Rishabh Pant’s future with Delhi Capitals is also under speculation.

A captain is one of the most important aspects of any team. While some sides might want to retain their captain, others might want to look for new options during the auction.

With all the talks and reports going around, it will be interesting to see how many captains will be retained, and how many will go without retention.