IPL 2025: One Best MVP Player Each Team Will Surely Retain
Virat Kohli, the standout from RCB in our list of one MVP player that each team will retain for sure for IPL 2025.
We are in the final week of the Indian Premier League retention submission, and needless to day, the excitement is at its peak for all the IPL fans. Everyone is looking forward to seeing their favourite players getting retained at a solid price. And even if they are not retained, they will be hoping their existing team will use RTM cards to buy them back hopefully.
A total of 60 players can either be retained or RTM in the Auction with a maximum of 50 capped players with no restriction on them being Indian or Overseas. Given this welcome step, most of the teams will be able to retain the core that they have built over the years. While every team has good 4-5 players in the squad, there is that one player who kind of takes the cherry when it comes to value centricity.
Yes, every team has that one player who is actually their MVP, and will be retained at any cost by them, irrespective of his price. The team is usually built around this player, and if they are young, the terms look at them as long-term prospect. So, in this article, we take a look at 10 such Most Valuable Players (MVP), and their predicted retention price, who will get retain for sure ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction.
IPL 2025 MVP Retained Player for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad – 18 Cr
For Chennai Super Kings, there will be a tough fight between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja for the MVP mark. While Ruturaj is an amazing opener, he is also the leader of the pack. Whereas Ravindra Jadeja differentiates himself as a superb all-rounder. It will be interesting to see who takes the crown of the MVP. But it looks like Ruturaj Gaikwad will get the highest amount, and will be the player CSK will not let go off.
IPL 2025 MVP Retained Player for Delhi Capitals
- Rishabh Pant – 18 Cr
Coming to Delhi Capitals, there is no doubt about who Delhi’s MVP is. Rishabh Pant started his career at Delhi Capitals, and just like Virat Kohli, he should continue to play for the side for as many seasons as possible. Ideally, Rishabh Pant should get 18 Cr, but just in case, he goes into the Auction, it will be interesting to see at what price is the RTM card used on Pant.
IPL 2025 MVP Retained Player for Gujarat Titans
- Shubman Gill – 18 Cr
For Gujarat Titans, look no other than Shubman Gill as their MVP player. Even as Rashid Khan is one of the greatest to have played in the IPl, and brings unique qualities to the table, GT will have no second thought in giving Shubman Gill 18 Cr, and will always be their first retention.
IPL 2025 MVP Retained Player for Kolkata Knight Riders
- Andre Russell – 14 Cr
The KKR team has a lot of quality players in their side like Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell. But when it comes to the first player they will want to retain and at a higher price, it has got to be Andre Russell. One of the most belligerent finishers, Russell is a complete package when he bowls those crucial 2-3 overs in every match. Overall, expect KKR to retain Andre Russell for 14 Cr.
IPL 2025 MVP Retain Player for Lucknow Super Giants
- Nicholas Pooran – 18 Cr
Lucknow Super Giants will have a big headache when it comes to their star payer, KL Rahul. KL is undoubtedly one of the most successful batters in the IPL, but has had diminishing returns in the last few years with Strike rate being his main pain point. While KL will definitely get good value if he goes into the Auction, for now, Nicholas Pooran is the MVP of LSG, and the team won’t mind spending 18 Cr on him.
IPL 2025 MVP Retained Player for Mumbai Indians
- Hardik Pandya – 18 Cr
Coming to Mumbai Indians, the team of MVPs of all sorts. MI have probably the best all-rounder among all teams, Hardik Pandya, the best batter among all teams, Suryakumar Yadav, and undoubtedly the best bowler among all teams, Jasprit Bumrah. With three MVPs already in the side, from this confirmation point of view, Hardik Pandya will still be their first-choice option, purely cause of his Captaincy.
IPL 2025 MVP Retain Player for Punjab Kings
- Shashank Singh – 4 Cr
Punjab Kings might be the only team that will have an uncapped player as their MVP before the Auction. Yes, the team does have quality in the form of Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, etc., but when it comes to retention, they might go ahead with only 1-2 uncapped players with Shashank Singh having the highest possibility.
IPL 2025 MVP Retained Player for Rajasthan Royals
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – 14 Cr
The Rajasthan Royals team has three solid players who will see retention without a second thought, and those are Captain Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and young dynamite, Yashasvi Jaiswal. These three players will see retentions for sure, but when it comes to one player that RR will never let go no matter what, it will be Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal is still very young, but has already established himself as one of the most important players, not just for RR, but also for the Indian team. Overall expect RR to retain Jaiswal for at least 14 Cr.
IPL 2025 MVP Retained Player for Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Virat Kohli – 18 Cr
Moving on to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, there should not even be a debate as to who their MVP is. Having been there with the team for 17 years in a row, Virat Kohli will continue his record of being the only player to have played for a single franchise for 18 years and counting in IPL 2025. Also, with the highest price retention set at 18 Cr, it has to be Virat Kohli taking that amount home.
IPL 2025 MVP Retain Player for Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Abhishek Sharma – 14 Cr
Finally, for Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team has many MVPs, just like Mumbai Indians. The team has one of the best openers, Travis Head, undoubtedly the best finisher, Heinrich Klaasen, and probably the best emerging talent, Abhishek Sharma. All these players deserve retention for sure, but from the three, if there is one name that will see retention for sure without an RTM thought in mind, it has to be Abhishek Sharma, who will also most-likely get 14 Cr as the retention amount.
Thanks for reading! What’s your take on the retain MVP player for each team for IPL 2025? Please share your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com
Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
