Will Mumbai Indians strategically retain Rohit Sharma for IPL 2025?

With the IPL 2025 mega auction approaching, the retention rules have sparked a wave of speculation. Teams face tough choices on which players to retain directly, use RTM (Right to Match) cards for, or release. The Mumbai Indians (MI), a franchise synonymous with its long-standing captain Rohit Sharma, find themselves in a position to make strategic decisions about their squad. Rohit, who has been the heart of the MI team for 13 years, led the franchise to five IPL titles and has become one of its most cherished players.

Fans remember the chants of “Mumbai Cha Raja, Rohit Sharma” echoing around stadiums, even as newly appointed skipper Hardik Pandya walked to the boundary during IPL 2024. While the love for Rohit in Mumbai remains unparalleled, the team’s decisions around retentions will determine if the “King of Mumbai” continues to don the MI jersey next season.

Will Rohit Sharma Be Retained by MI?
There seems to be little reason why MI would let go of Rohit. With 5731 runs at an average of around 30 across 221 games, his batting, coupled with his outstanding leadership, has made him invaluable to the team. Despite MI’s challenges in IPL 2024, Rohit remains a key asset, and it is likely the franchise will prioritize his retention.

Under the new retention rules, there are designated slabs for the first six retained players. The first and fourth retained players receive a minimum of ₹18 crores each, followed by ₹14 crores for the second and fifth, and ₹11 crores for the third. Given Rohit’s contribution to the team, he will likely fall into the top bracket, receiving at least ₹18 crores.

Who Could Earn the Highest Salary in MI?
While Rohit Sharma is expected to be one of the highest-paid players, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav could also contend for the top salary spot. Both players have been exceptional for MI over the years—Bumrah with 168 wickets in 136 games as the team’s most lethal bowler, and Suryakumar with 3,033 runs in 98 matches, making him one of the most dynamic batsmen in the league. Considering Suryakumar’s current role as India’s T20I captain and Bumrah’s match-winning abilities, either of them could end up being the highest-paid player for MI in the 2025 season.

What About Hardik Pandya?
After a lackluster 2024 season, Hardik Pandya’s position in the team appears uncertain. However, if retained, he could likely be the fifth player on MI’s retention list. Given his all-round abilities and the balance he provides to the side, Pandya’s role remains important, though he may not surpass the likes of Rohit, Bumrah, Suryakumar, or even rising star Tilak Verma in the retention hierarchy.

Ultimately, MI will need to balance experience and emerging talent while keeping within the salary caps, as they aim to build a team that could reclaim their title in IPL 2025.