Mumbai Indians Might Not Retain Bumrah, Hardik, Surya, and Rohit Ahead of IPL 2025 Mega Auction !!

For the mega auction of IPL 2025, all 10 teams have to inform the BCCI about their retentions by 31 October 2024. Each team can retain a maximum of 6 players through retention and RTM. A maximum of five capped and two uncapped players can be included in this. The team can retain the uncapped for Rs 4 crore, while for capped players, the team can retain two players for Rs 18 crore each, two players for Rs 14 crore each, and one player for Rs 11 crore. However, this salary cap has become a bone of contention for Mumbai Indians as they have four such players who fit in the bracket of Rs 18 crore. Apart from this, there are some more capped players whom the team would like to retain, while there are also some uncapped players who seem to be contenders for retention.

Mumbai Indians can retain only two players for Rs 18 crore each, while the other two players can get a maximum of Rs 14 crore each. However, if we look at the current team, Mumbai Indians have four players who are List A cricketers. These include Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. There is not a single name among those who are not entitled to Rs 18 crore. Looking at the mega auction at this time, hardly any of these players are ready to take 14 or 11 crores, because other teams are also in the race, who can pick them from the mega auction.

First of all, Mumbai Indians will have to get out of the dilemma of how to retain these four. If MI is successful in retaining these four for 18-18 and 14-14 crores, then there are also Ishan Kishan and Tilak Verma, who are contenders to be retained. Apart from this, there are some uncapped players as well. In such a situation, Mumbai Indians may have to release one of Bumrah, Surya, Pandya, and Rohit. If Mumbai retains 5 capped and one uncapped player, then only Rs 41 crore will be left in the purse for the mega auction. If Mumbai retains 6 players (4 capped and 2 uncapped), then they will have Rs 48 crore left for the auction. If MI spends more than half of its money on retention, then the team will sit with the least amount in the mega auction.

Why is there a fight for 18 crores?

Jasprit Bumrah is at the top of the race of players getting Rs 18 crore. If Mumbai does not retain him for 18 crores, then it will be an insult to the ability of this bowler. However, if he comes to the auction, he can also get 25 crores. In such a situation, Mumbai will give him at least Rs 18 crore.

Hardik Pandya left Gujarat Titans last season and rejoined Mumbai Indians on his terms. In such a situation, he would not want to move away from the 18 crore bracket.

Suryakumar Yadav is also entitled to get Rs 18 crore because he is currently the captain of the T20 team and his performance in the T20 format has been better than any cricketer for the last several years. He is also entitled to get this amount.

Rohit Sharma is also a player worth 18 crores. Even though he was stripped of the captaincy last season and has also retired from T20 International cricket, what kind of player and captain he is is not hidden from anyone. If MI releases him, then there will be a queue of people to buy him.