IPL 2025: Rating teams based on releases and retentions

KKR vs SRH. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

The 10 Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises submitted their list of retained players on Thursday, October 31, as the journey to the 18th edition of the cash-rich league got underway. Most of the retentions and releases were quite obvious, ones that fans and experts had predicted long ago. However, some others took many in the cricket fraternity by surprise.

Ahead of the mega-auction, teams had to release the bulk of their players as a maximum of six retentions were allowed. The teams that did not retain the full quota of six players will get the chance to use the Right To Match (RTM) cards to bring back some of their released players during the mega-auction.

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) understandably held onto six of their players from the previous season. Inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) were the only other team to retain the full quota of six players. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings retained the fewest players (two) and will have the maximum number of RTM cards at the mega-auction.

Since the retentions were announced, experts and analysts have been discussing and dissecting how the teams planned their way forward. CricTracker brings the fans a comprehensive analysis of how the teams fared by ranking them based on their retentions.

Rating teams based on releases and retentions:

10. Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings finished sixth, eighth, and ninth in the last three editions of the IPL, respectively, after the previous mega-auction was held ahead of the 2022 season. They registered some excellent wins to instil hope in their fans at the start of each season. However, towards the fag end of the round-robin phase, when the top teams used to go into overdrive, the Kings lost steam and left their supporters disappointed.

The 2014 finalists decided to start from scratch as they retained just two players – Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh. The two uncapped players were retained for INR 5.50 crore and INR 4 crore, respectively. Punjab have the biggest purse remaining in the auction as they have INR 110.50 crore to play with.

The biggest surprise from the Punjab camp was the release of the talented Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm pacer played a crucial role in India’s triumphant run in the T20 World Cup 2024. He hasn’t been at his best in the last couple of seasons in the IPL but a player of his calibre can win many matches by himself when he is on song. In an ideal world, the youngster could have been the first retention for Punjab alongside the two uncapped players they retained.

Going into an auction with the biggest purse looks great as the management can outbid their competitors to rope in players. However, the planning has to be appropriate as the dynamics of the player auction are highly unpredictable. In the past, Punjab have gone into auctions with staggering purses and roped in big players. However, they have not been able to play as a unit to bring glory to the franchise.

9. Delhi Capitals

Interestingly, Delhi Capitals released their captain Rishabh Pant ahead of the auction. The wicketkeeper-batter led Delhi in 44 matches across IPL 2021, 2022, and 2024. The Capitals won 24 out of those games and lost 19.

According to reports, Axar Patel is set to take up captaincy. The spin-bowling all-rounder has been retained for INR 16.50 crore. Fellow India spinner Kuldeep Yadav has also been retained for INR 13.25 crore. Meanwhile, South African wicketkeeper Tristan Stubbs has extended his stay at the franchise for INR 10 crore. The talented wicketkeeper-batter, Abhishek Porel, who played some dashing knocks in IPL 2024, has been retained for INR 4 crore as the uncapped player.

The Capitals will have a budget of INR 73 crore and two RTM cards to play with in the mega-auction. If Axar takes charge as the skipper, the management will look to reinforce their batting department after releasing the likes of Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, and Mitchell Marsh among others. The fast-bowling department also needs strong additions.

Delhi have retained two experienced spinners and two talented young wicketkeepers. The rest of the squad will have to be picked tactically as the franchise looks to win its elusive first IPL title. The Arun Jaitley Stadium, which is the home ground of Delhi, has produced some phenomenal batting surfaces, where bowlers haven’t had much assistance. The Capitals will need some explosive batters and fiery fast bowlers to take advantage of home conditions.

8. Lucknow Super Giants

It is the end of the KL Rahul era in Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). After his verbal tussle with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka following a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad last season, tensions were rising in the camp. Rahul came to meet Goenka in Kolkata and it seemed that the two had buried the hatchet.

However, in the days leading up to October 31, there were reports of the Karnataka batter getting ready to find a new home in the IPL. The reports were validated when Lucknow retained Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Ayush Badoni.

Pooran was the first retention for LSG for INR 21 crore. Capped players Bishnoi and Mayank received INR 11 crore each. Meanwhile, the uncapped duo of Mohsin and Badani were retained for INR 4 crore each. It was interesting to see that the Super Giants let go of star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who played some remarkable knocks for them over the last three seasons and also contributed with the ball.

Mohsin and Badoni had one good season each but have not made much of an impact otherwise. There was the option of retaining Yash Thakur, who bagged a five-for last season, but the management decided to keep Mohsin in the side. They have one RTM option remaining and it will be interesting to see who they retain. Quinton de Kock might be a suitable option.

7. Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals made it to the playoffs in two out of the three seasons played after the last mega-auction. With such consistent returns, it was expected that they would retain most of their players. While they did retain six players, some of their picks were debatable.

Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma were retained for INR 18, 18, 14, 14, 11, and 4 crore, respectively. While captain Sanju and the explosive Yashasvi’s retentions were no-brainers, Parag and Jurel being retained for INR 14 crore each seems contentious.

Also Read: ‘Sanju had a big role to play’ – Rahul Dravid on Rajasthan Royals’ retentions and releases

The Assam captain had a stellar season in 2024 after flattering to deceive over the last few years. He has gone on to make his India debut in the two white-ball formats. There is no doubt about his talent but the Royals could have used the RTM card to acquire his services for a lower sum of money at the auction. Meanwhile, Jurel has played just 27 IPL games and scored 347 runs at an average of 23.13 and a strike rate of 151.53. He has shown sparks of brilliance but retaining him for INR 14 crore is once again questionable.

Rajasthan released two IPL stalwarts in Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the mega-auction. Both of them made some match-winning contributions last season and it was a huge surprise for many to not see them continuing with the Men in Pink.

6. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) welcomed Faf du Plessis at the helm as he replaced Virat Kohli as the captain ahead of the 2022 season of the IPL. The South African led the team to the playoffs in two out of three editions after the previous mega-auction. However, the 40-year-old wasn’t retained by the franchise. They will, however, have the chance to have him back by using one of the three RTM cards available to them at the mega-auction.

RCB retained Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal for INR 21, 11, and 5 crore, respectively. The former is reportedly interested in taking charge of RCB once again. This means that RCB won’t have to go out in search of a new captain at the auction table. They will be able to use INR 83 crore to assemble a strong squad at the mega-auction.

It was a bold move from RCB to release Mohammed Siraj. The right-arm pacer had been an integral part of their side since he joined the franchise back in 2018. He could be brought back into the fold by using an RTM card.

Impactful foreigners like Glenn Maxwell, Will Jacks, and Cameron Green have also been released by the franchise. RCB’s director of cricket Mo Bobat later confirmed that Green will miss IPL 2025 due to injury and the franchise would have retained him had he been available.

5. Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans (GT) came on board in the IPL ahead of the 2022 edition. They went on to win the title under Hardik Pandya to mark their debut in the 10-team league. In the following edition, they were beaten by Chennai Super Kings off the last ball in the final. Shubman Gill replaced Hardik as the captain of the side after the latter completed a highly talked about move to Mumbai Indians before IPL 2024. The Titans had their worst season in the IPL as they finished at No. 8.

Titans retained Rashid Khan, Shubman, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, and Shahrukh Khan ahead of the mega-auction. There were reports of Shubman wanting to leave the franchise. However, on the contrary, the management was able to convince the youngster to be the second retention and take INR 16.50 crore, leaving INR 18 crore for the top retention, Rashid. Meanwhile, the supremely talented Sudharsan was retained for INR 8.50 crore. Uncapped finishers Tewatia and Shahrukh were retained for INR 4 crore each.

Titans have retained two top-order Indian batters, including their captain. They have the talismanic Rashid to spearhead the bowling attack and Tewatia and Sharukh will be in charge of finishing games. However, they will need to rope in some fast bowlers at the auction table. It was a bold call to leave out Mohammed Shami but the Bengal pacer can be picked up with the help of the solitary RTM card that they will have.

A remaining purse of INR 69 crore is good enough to allow them the chance to chase some big names at the auction table. After their decent outing in the IPL auction, Gujarat are in a good position to make some solid additions to their team and bounce back after a horrendous performance last season.

4. Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have managed to retain their iconic wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni for only INR 4 crore after the IPL Governing Council revived the Uncapped Player Rule ahead of this season. The rule allows Dhoni to play as an uncapped player and CSK the chance to have a bigger purse remaining to fill the remaining slots.

Apart from Dhoni, CSK have retained captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for INR 18 crore each. Meanwhile, Matheesha Pathirana and Shivam Dube have been retained for INR 13 crore and INR 12 crore, respectively. This leaves CSK with INR 55 crore at the auction.

The five-time champions finished at No. 5 last season after agonisingly missing out on the playoffs due to net run-rate (NRR). They have retained their core group and would want to bolster their side with the addition of some formidable players at the auction.

Chennai have always had a soft corner for all-rounders. Expect them to have an eye on some of them at the auction table. However, it was surprising to see them not retaining Devon Conway, who formed a brilliant understanding with Ruturaj at the top of the order over the past few seasons. Conway could have also taken over the wicketkeeping duties after Dhoni’s retirement. CSK will have one RTM card available to them and they could bring back the New Zealander into their setup.

3. Kolkata Knight Riders

The three-time champions were one of the teams who pushed for more retentions than the six which were allowed as they wanted to retain most of the players who brought them glory in IPL 2024. They had to bid farewell to captain Shreyas Iyer, who reportedly wanted to assess his value at the auction. Therefore, the Knights will be one of the franchises who will need to rope in a player who can lead the side.

The Kolkata-based franchise retained Rinku Singh for INR 13 crore and the trio of Andre Russell, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Sunil Narine for INR 12 crore apiece. Meanwhile, the uncapped duo of Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh will continue with the franchise for INR 4 crore each. So, the Knights will not have any RTM cards at the auction table.

Also Read: ‘He was number one on our list’ – KKR CEO Venky Mysore opens up Shreyas Iyer’s exit

Kolkata have done a commendable job with their retentions as they have two world-class all-rounders – Russell and Narine, and a capable mystery spinner in Varun in their ranks. Also, Harshit and Ramandeep had impressive seasons for KKR last year and have been in good form in the domestic circuit after the tournament.

Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player in the IPL last year as KKR had roped in at the mini-auction table for a whopping INR 24.75 crore. However, the Australian veteran couldn’t hold onto his spot in the side, even after putting in Player of the Match performances in Qualifier 1 and the final. KKR will need to pick a seamer who can take wickets with the new ball and also strike at the death. Ideally, if they get an experienced player like Shami or Bhuvneshwar Kumar, it could stand them in good stead. They will have INR 51 crore in their purse at the auction.

2. Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians (MI) are blessed with a very strong core of Indian players and it didn’t come as a surprise when they retained five of them ahead of the auction. Jasprit Bumrah was the first retention and it is quite fitting as he is arguably the finest white-ball bowler in world cricket at the moment. He will get INR 18 crore.

Meanwhile, captain Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have been retained for INR 16.35 crore each. Five-time IPL-winning captain Rohit Sharma settled for INR 16.30 crore, quashing speculations of his exit from the franchise. Also, Tilak Varma has been retained for INR 8 crore.

Mumbai have two dependable batters, one of the best seam-bowling all-rounders in world cricket, and the best death overs bowler to have played for India in their ranks. Tilak Varma is also a player who can serve them for a long time and even lead the side in the future.

The five-time champions finished last in IPL 2024 and will want to come back strongly in the impending season. They have INR 45 crore left in their purse and an RTM card as well. However, they can only pick an uncapped player with the RTM card. Nehal Wadhera or Akash Madhwal could be one of the players who could be roped in with the RTM option.

1. Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) finished last in IPL 2023 and they decided to revamp their squad ahead of IPL 2024. They brought in Pat Cummins for a whopping INR 20.50 crore at last year’s auction and appointed him as the captain. Some other key players were added to the squad, including Travis Head, who formed a destructive opening duo with Abhishek Sharma. SRH reached the finals on the back of some brilliant performances from these three players and also the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, while their teammates also chipped in.

The management kept Klaasen as their first retention with a record sum of INR 23 crore. No other player has been retained for this much amount in IPL history. Meanwhile, Cummins settled for INR 18 crore and would continue to lead the side. The flamboyant opening duo of Head and Abhishek have been retained for INR 14 crore each. Also, the talented Nitish Kumar Reddy will continue donning the Orange jersey for INR 6 crore.

Sunrisers will have INR 45 crore to spend at the auction. They will also have the chance to retain a player through the RTM card but he will have to be uncapped. It is expected that Abdul Samad will be brought back to the Orange Army with the RTM card.

Sunrisers have not had a quality wrist spinner in their ranks in the last couple of seasons. To acquire the services of a quality leg-spinner could be one of SRH’s targets at the auction. The former champions already have an explosive lineup of players who can win matches on their own. Some clever decisions at the auction table could help them assemble an intimidating squad that could help them go the distance over the next three-year cycle.

Disclaimer: This latest news is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.