The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction is one of the most anticipated events in the cricketing world, where franchises make strategic decisions to retain, release, or acquire players. Each team carefully analyzes their past performances and future prospects to build a formidable squad that can compete for the coveted IPL title. In this comprehensive article, we provide an exhaustive list of all the players retained by the IPL franchises for the 2025 season, along with insights into the reasons behind these crucial decisions.
Overview of the 2025 IPL Auction
The IPL Auction 2025 serves as a crucial platform where franchises can fine-tune their squads by retaining key players and acquiring new talent. With the auction, teams aim to strike the right balance between experienced players and emerging talent. The retention policy allows franchises to keep their core group of players intact, which is essential for maintaining team chemistry and continuity.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Retained Players
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK), known for their consistency and leadership under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, have retained a core group of players who have been instrumental in their success over the years.
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni: The iconic captain continues to be the cornerstone of CSK’s strategy, bringing unparalleled experience and leadership.
- Ruturaj Gaikwad: A young and promising opener, Gaikwad has been retained for his consistent performances at the top of the order.
- Ravindra Jadeja: The all-rounder remains a vital cog in CSK's setup, contributing with both bat and ball.
- Moeen Ali: The versatile all-rounder has been retained for his ability to impact the game in both departments.
- Deepak Chahar: The pace spearhead has been retained to lead the bowling attack with his ability to swing the ball early in the innings.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Retained Players
The Mumbai Indians (MI), the most successful franchise in IPL history, have once again shown their faith in their core group of match-winners.
- Rohit Sharma: The captain and opener, known for his explosive batting and calm leadership, remains the face of MI.
- Jasprit Bumrah: One of the world’s best fast bowlers, Bumrah’s retention is a no-brainer for MI.
- Suryakumar Yadav: The dynamic middle-order batsman continues to be a key player for MI with his ability to accelerate the innings.
- Ishan Kishan: The wicketkeeper-batsman has been retained for his aggressive batting at the top and his agility behind the stumps.
- Kieron Pollard: The veteran all-rounder, known for his big-hitting and crucial overs, remains an integral part of MI’s plans.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Retained Players
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), a team that has consistently showcased top batting talent, has IPL 2025 retained players for RCB.
- Virat Kohli: The former captain and batting maestro continues to be the linchpin of RCB’s batting lineup.
- Glenn Maxwell: The explosive all-rounder has been retained for his ability to change the course of a game with both bat and ball.
- Harshal Patel: The Purple Cap winner of previous seasons, Patel’s ability to take wickets in the death overs makes him indispensable.
- Mohammed Siraj: The fast bowler has been retained for his consistent performances with the new ball.
- Devdutt Padikkal: The young opener, known for his elegant stroke play, has been retained as a future star for RCB.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Retained Players
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have strategically retained players who offer a blend of experience and young talent, crucial for their quest to reclaim the IPL title.
- Shreyas Iyer: The captain and middle-order batsman, Iyer’s retention was crucial for KKR’s batting stability.
- Andre Russell: The explosive all-rounder, known for his match-winning abilities, remains a key player for KKR.
- Sunil Narine: The mystery spinner, who has been with KKR for several years, continues to be a vital part of their bowling attack.
- Varun Chakravarthy: The young spinner has been retained for his ability to pick wickets in the middle overs.
- Venkatesh Iyer: The all-rounder, who burst onto the scene with impactful performances, has been retained for his dual role.
Delhi Capitals (DC) Retained Players
Delhi Capitals (DC), a team known for its youthful exuberance, has retained players who have consistently performed for the franchise.
- Rishabh Pant: The dynamic captain and wicketkeeper-batsman remains the backbone of DC’s batting lineup.
- Prithvi Shaw: The aggressive opener, known for his quick starts, has been retained to provide momentum at the top.
- Anrich Nortje: The fast bowler, with his express pace, continues to be a lethal weapon in DC’s bowling arsenal.
- Axar Patel: The all-rounder has been retained for his crucial role in both batting and bowling departments.
- Shimron Hetmyer: The hard-hitting batsman has been retained for his ability to finish games with his aggressive stroke play.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Retained Players
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have focused on retaining players who can provide stability and match-winning performances under pressure.
- Kane Williamson: The captain and top-order batsman, known for his calm demeanor, remains the pillar of SRH’s batting.
- Rashid Khan: The world-class spinner continues to be SRH’s go-to bowler in crucial situations.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The swing bowler has been retained for his ability to lead the bowling attack with precision.
- T Natarajan: The left-arm pacer, known for his yorkers, remains a key player in SRH’s bowling plans.
- Abdul Samad: The young all-rounder has been retained for his potential to be a future star for SRH.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Retained Players
Rajasthan Royals (RR), known for backing young talent, have retained a mix of experienced players and emerging stars.
- Sanju Samson: The captain and wicketkeeper-batsman, known for his explosive batting, remains the leader of RR.
- Jos Buttler: The destructive opener and wicketkeeper has been retained for his match-winning abilities.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: The young opener, known for his aggressive batting, has been retained as a future star.
- Jofra Archer: The fast bowler, known for his pace and bounce, remains a crucial part of RR’s bowling attack.
- Rahul Tewatia: The all-rounder has been retained for his ability to contribute in both batting and bowling.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) Retained Players
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have retained players who have shown consistent performances and have the potential to take the team to greater heights.
- KL Rahul: The captain and prolific run-scorer continues to be the mainstay of PBKS’s batting lineup.
- Mayank Agarwal: The opener, known for his solid technique, has been retained to provide stability at the top.
- Mohammed Shami: The experienced fast bowler, with his ability to take wickets upfront, remains a key player for PBKS.
- Nicholas Pooran: The explosive middle-order batsman has been retained for his ability to finish games with big hits.
- Arshdeep Singh: The young left-arm pacer has been retained for his ability to bowl in pressure situations.
Conclusion
The 2025 IPL Auction has seen teams making calculated decisions to retain players who can make a significant impact in the upcoming season. Each franchise has focused on building a squad that can compete at the highest level, with a mix of experience and youthful energy. As the season approaches, fans can look forward to some thrilling cricketing action with these retained stars leading the charge for their respective teams.
