Yash Dayal (Photo source: X / Twitter)
On October 31, all Indian Premier League (IPL) teams finalized their player retentions ahead of the 2025 mega-auction. The announcement became a topic of discussion as many players made it to the cut while some big names were omitted from the list.
The most surprising choice was Chennai Super Kings’ decision to retain MS Dhoni as an uncapped player for a mere INR 4 crore. Notable exits included the likes of KL Rahul from Lucknow Super Giants, Rishabh Pant from Delhi Capitals, and Shreyas Iyer from Kolkata Knight Riders. With 46 players retained across ten teams for a whopping INR 558.5 crore, some franchises may have overcommitted their purses.
The aggressive approach by KKR and RR, retaining six players each, could limit their flexibility in the auction. With a salary cap of INR 120 crore for a 25-member squad, these teams might struggle to build a balanced line-up. In contrast, Punjab Kings’ conservative approach of retaining just two players, will give them the largest auction purse. This could be important in the upcoming mega auction, where teams will fight for released stars like Pant, Rahul, and Iyer.
Meanwhile, many fans are also upset about some retention choices by their favorite teams. Though some stuck to their core groups, the others made some interesting choices by picking their players. Here are the five worst retentions of IPL 2025.
Here are the five worst retentions by franchises before the IPL 2025 mega auction:
5. Prabhsimran Singh (Punjab Kings – INR 4 Crore):
One of the most surprising retentions was made by, the Punjab Kings, who got the services of wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh for INR 4 crore ahead of the mega auction. The decision raised eyebrows considering the franchise releasing several star players including Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran. With several teams opting to give huge cheques to players, the side going for a conservative intent wasn’t much praised by the fans.
Prabhsimran’s retention shows Punjab’s faith in the young talent after scoring 756 runs in 32 matches at a strike rate of 146.23. Under new head coach Ricky Ponting, PBKS seems to be taking a fresh approach, retaining only two uncapped players, Prabhsimran and Shashank Singh (INR 5.5 Crore). With the largest auction purse of INR 110.5 crore under their belt, which could either prove to be a master stroke or a massive gamble.
4. Yash Dayal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru – INR 5 Crore)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) chose to retain fast bowler Yash Dayal for INR 5 crore ahead of the 2025 IPL season. This decision made headlines considering the franchise’s release of stalwarts like Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj. With several big names in the previous edition’s squad, the 2016 finalist’s decision to pick Dayal over their ace bowler Siraj drew criticism from all corners.
The left-arm pacer has had a roller coaster journey in the cash-rich league so far. After facing severe criticism when Rinku Singh hammered him for five consecutive sixes in IPL 2023, many thought his career might never recover. However, RCB’s faith in the left-arm pacer during the 2024 season, particularly in a crucial match against Chennai Super Kings, became his breakthrough moment.
Alongside Dayal, the side has also picked Virat Kohli (INR 21 crore) and Rajat Patidar (INR 11 crore) ahead of the mega-auction as they take the field once again in pursuit of their maiden IPL title.
3. Abishek Porel (Delhi Capitals – 4 Crore)
The 2020 edition runner-ups Delhi Capitals showed their faith in uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Abhishek Porel while releasing several established stars ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction. The decision to go with Porel was even more surprising considering the departure of explosive Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who had an impressive strike rate of 234.04 in IPL 2024.
The retention of the young Bengal keeper sees the franchise parting ways with veterans like David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, and Anrich Nortje. Meanwhile, the southpaw performed consistently in the previous season, scoring 360 runs in 18 matches, which convinced the DC management of his potential.
With INR 73 crore still available in their purse, the franchise has put itself in a strong position ahead of the mega auction. Additionally, Porel might be given a green signal for the wicketkeeper position, with the Capitals also ending a nine-year partnership with their previous captain Rishabh Pant.
2. Dhruv Jurel (Rajasthan Royals – INR 14 Crore):
Rajasthan Royals made a bold decision by retaining uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel for a staggering INR 14 crore ahead of IPL 2025. The decision was surprising considering the franchise letting go of stalwarts like Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Trent Boult.
While Jurel shows some faith in crises in the lower middle order, his numbers don’t quite justify the hefty price tag. The young keeper’s retention at this price point shows the Royals see something special in him than the mere numbers.
The franchise has prioritized youth, with Jurel joining Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag in their ambitious long-term vision. Along with captain Sanju Samson (INR 18 crore) and Caribbean powerhouse Shimron Hetmyer (INR 11 crore), they’ve committed INR 79 crore of their purse already. With 19 slots to fill and INR 41 crore remaining, the pressure is now on Jurel to do justice to this bold investment.
1. Shimron Hetmyer (Rajasthan Royals – INR 11 Crore):
Rajasthan Royals also made another big choice by retaining West Indies power-hitter Shimron Hetmyer, despite having international stars like Jos Buttler, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Trent Boult in their ranks.
The Caribbean left-hander, who has scored 1,244 runs in 72 IPL matches at a strike rate of 153.20, has been a key player in Rajasthan’s recent success. The Royals’ faith in Hetmyer shows their long-term vision, having reached the finals in 2022 and finishing third in the 2024 season, where they won eight out of 14 matches before being eliminated by Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2.
With INR 41 crore still available in their salary cap and 19 slots to fill (including 7 overseas positions), the decision to retain Hetmyer over other established T20 specialists has sparked discussion among experts. However, the Royals’ management seems to value the 26-year-old’s explosive batting skills and match-winning abilities.