IPL 2025 Retention: How Mumbai Indians were able to retain Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya under INR 75 crore?
After a disappointing IPL 2024 season, the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise have made several pivotal decisions to stabilise its core, retaining a solid group of India players to anchor the squad heading into the IPL 2025 mega auction. The IPL 2024 season saw significant shifts within MI, particularly with Hardik Pandya taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma—a move that initially sparked controversies but eventually paved the way for a new team dynamic.
Having retained Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Tilak Varma, MI seems set to regain their winning momentum. Additionally, the return of Mahela Jayawardene as head coach signals a return to familiar leadership to guide this strong Indian lineup.
A robust core of India players
Mumbai’s retention decisions reflect a focus on maintaining a strong India players’ core, blending experienced players with emerging talent. Jasprit Bumrah, the highest-paid player on the retention list at INR 18 crore, is set to spearhead the bowling attack once again, with his experience as a world-class pacer proving invaluable. Suryakumar Yadav, another central figure in MI’s lineup and India’s T20 captain, brings versatility to the batting lineup, while Tilak Varma continues to establish himself as a promising young talent.
The retention amounts, however, reveal MI’s balanced approach to team composition. Rohit Sharma, while no longer the captain, was retained at INR 16.3 crore, slightly below Hardik and Suryakumar at INR 16.35 crore each. MI’s decision to keep Rohit at this position reflects respect for his contribution while prioritising younger players who represent India internationally.
A tumultuous transition in leadership
The 2024 season saw MI grappling with challenges as Hardik Pandya assumed the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, marking the beginning of a transition phase that didn’t come without its share of friction. After a decade of leading MI, Rohit was relieved of his captaincy, a decision fueled by an underwhelming season with the bat and some internal team dynamics. Despite a commendable tally of 417 runs, including a century against Chennai Super Kings, Rohit’s form and fitness made MI’s management consider changes in leadership.
Hardik, who had already established himself as a confident leader with the Gujarat Titans, embraced the captaincy role for MI. After the retentions, Hardik expressed his excitement, emphasizing the camaraderie within the squad. “Five people who we all have cherished a lot of good memories together. We are as one. We are five fingers but one fist. We are going to come in all guns blazing, with brotherhood and friendship,” he remarked, underscoring his commitment to building a supportive and united team atmosphere.
For Rohit, staying with MI despite losing the captaincy was a personal choice deeply rooted in his connection to the city and the franchise. He shared, “Since I have retired from the format, I think this is the perfect [retention] spot for me. The players who are representing the national team at the highest level should get the preference. That’s what I believe in, and I am quite happy with it.” With Hardik now firmly at the helm, Rohit is set to open for MI and bring his experience and leadership skills, even if not in a captain’s role.
Mahela Jayawardene’s return
The return of Mahela Jayawardene as MI’s head coach is perhaps the most strategic move the franchise has made for the upcoming season. Known for his astute cricketing insights and a proven record with MI (guiding them to three IPL titles from 2017-2022), Jayawardene’s comeback is expected to instill discipline and a renewed sense of purpose within the team.
Under Mark Boucher, MI’s 2024 campaign ended dismally, with the team finishing at the bottom of the table, securing only four wins out of 14 matches. Boucher’s departure paves the way for Jayawardene to reestablish his previous vision for the squad and reinforce a performance-driven culture.
Jayawardene expressed his enthusiasm upon returning: “In 2017, the focus was on bringing together a talented group of individuals to play the best cricket ever, and we did very well. Now, to return...where we look ahead at the future and the opportunity to further strengthen the love of MI...is an exciting challenge I am looking forward to.”
Mumbai Indians' Auction strategy
MI head into the 2025 auction with a purse of INR 45 crore and one Right to Match (RTM) card. This substantial budget allows the franchise to fill gaps left by other departures and add strategic foreign players. With the total salary cap raised to INR 120 crore, and a new match fee of INR 7.5 lakh per player per game, MI is well-positioned to leverage the increased auction purse effectively.
MI’s focus will likely be on bolstering their middle-order stability and adding depth to their spin department, areas that emerged as weak links in their 2024 campaign. Jayawardene’s return offers the franchise an edge, as his previous coaching experience with MI and involvement in global T20 leagues makes him well-equipped to maximise MI’s resources effectively.
The road ahead
With a refreshed leadership setup and a solid foundation of retained players, MI aims to restore their winning legacy in IPL 2025. Jayawardene’s presence as head coach, alongside Hardik’s captaincy and a cohesive India players’ core, promises an exciting journey for the team. This season, MI’s management appears to have struck the right balance between loyalty to veteran players like Rohit and faith in rising stars like Tilak Varma.
The road to reclaiming their past glory will be challenging, but Mumbai Indians are well-prepared to rebuild and pursue another title with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper bond between their key players.
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