"I think Rohit Sharma has played his last match for the Mumbai Indians" - Aakash Chopra picks 4 players MI should retain ahead of IPL 2025 auction

Aakash Chopra has picked four players the Mumbai Indians (MI) should retain ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. He doesn't see Rohit Sharma playing for the franchise next season.

Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit as the MI skipper ahead of IPL 2024. The five-time title-winning captain had a mixed season, aggregating 417 runs in 14 innings at an average of 32.08 and a strike rate of 150.00.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that Ishan Kishan and Rohit won't be among the Mumbai Indians' retentions.

"I think they will let Ishan Kishan go. They might use the 'Right to Match' card because 15.5 crores is just too much money. I don't think Ishan will be retained. I think Rohit Sharma has played his last match for the Mumbai Indians, whether he doesn't want to be retained or the franchise lets him go," he reasoned (4:25).

"Either way, I see them parting ways. I don't think you will be seeing Rohit Sharma in the Mumbai Indians jersey again. That's just my understanding. I might be wrong but I feel, either which way, Rohit Sharma will not be playing for the Mumbai Indians when you start the next season," the former India opener added.

Kishan scored 320 runs at an underwhelming average of 22.86 and a strike rate of 148.83 in 14 innings in IPL 2024. He was acquired for a whopping ₹15.25 crore at the IPL 2022 auction but might not have to be retained at the same price if MI opt not to let him go.

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"This team will 100% want to retain Suryakumar Yadav" - Aakash Chopra on the Mumbai Indians' potential retentions

Suryakumar Yadav amassed 345 runs at a strike rate of 167.47 in 11 innings in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]

Aakash Chopra reckons Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah will be the Mumbai Indians' first two retentions.

"I feel the first retention will be Suryakumar Yadav. I am not saying first or second but this team will 100% want to retain Suryakumar Yadav. The second player, I feel you want to 100% retain Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah might be the first retention and Suryakumar Yadav might be the second retention. These two players are absolutely confirmed," he said (3:25).

The cricketer-turned-commentator feels the five-time champions will want to retain captain Hardik Pandya.

"The third, I would say Hardik Pandya. You need Hardik Pandya because it wasn't a short-term investment. You had picked the player for long-term gain, and Hardik Pandya is an integral part of the blueprint you had made to take the team forward," Chopra explained.

While naming Tilak Varma as the fourth potential retention, Chopra opined that Tim David could be reacquired using the 'Right to Match' card.

"I feel the fourth should be Tilak Varma. All four are Indians thus far. I don't think this team will want to or will be able to retain any overseas player. They might keep Tim David by using the 'Right to Match' card but I don't see anyone in the overseas contingent seeing whom you would say that you will be at a massive loss if you let him go," he elaborated.

Varma was MI's second-highest run-getter in IPL 2024, with his 416 runs at a strike rate of 149.64 in 13 innings being just one short of Rohit Sharma's tally. David, meanwhile, aggregated 241 runs at a strike rate of 158.55 in 11 hits in the recently concluded season.