Explored: IPL 2025 Strongest Retained and RTM Indian Players list

Rohit Sharma sure to retain from MI in our strongest retained and RTM Indian players list for all 10 teams for IPL 2025. 

The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League, the IPL 2025 will kick-start in November with two things – the IPL 2025 player retentions and the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Both these events have significant traction from a fan’s perspective. Fans, in general, are eager to know whether their favourite players are retained or not. And if retained, at what price?

Unlike the Mini Auctions, the Mega Auctions are more so important in defining how a team looks at a player.  Also, the retentions in general are tilted more towards the Indian players as teams are aware of the fact that Indian players with decent quality are often bid heavily in the Auction. Hence, teams in general focus on retaining Indian players more than Foreign players.

In addition, with the presence of an uncapped player rule this time, it is for sure that each team will at least retain one Indian uncapped player. Also, if we observe the teams, each team has at least one star Indian player, who is either the Captain of the side, or is most-likely their star player. So, let’s observe the current squad for each time, and find out the strongest possible retained and RTM Indian players list for all 10 teams ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. 

IPL 2025 Best Retained Indian Players List for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad – 18 Cr
2. Ravindra Jadeja – 16 Cr
3. MS Dhoni – 4 Cr

RTM Options: Shivam Dube & Tushar Deshpande

The CSK team will mostly retain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni among the Indian players for IPL 2025. While Ruturaj should get 18 CR, Ravindra Jadeja may demand for 16 Cr, and MS Dhoni should get retained for 4 Cr. Among the RTM options, CSK will mostly go after Shivam Dube and Tushar Deshpande in order of priority. 

IPL 2025 Best Retained Indian Players List for Delhi Capitals (DC)

1. Rishabh Pant – 18 Cr
2. Axar Patel – 14 Cr
3. Kuldeep Yadav – 11 Cr
4. Abhishek Porel – 4 Cr

RTM Options: None

Talking about Delhi Capitals, their retentions should be pretty straightforward forward with Rishabh Pant for 18 Cr, Axar Patel for 14 Cr, Kuldeep Yadav for 11 Cr, and Abhishek Porel for 4 Cr. With these four Indian names sorted, Delhi may not go after any Indian player via RTM in the Auction, and will mostly focus on Overseas players. 

IPL 2025 Best Retained Indian Players List for Gujarat Titans (GT)

1. Shubman Gill – 18 Cr
2. Mohammed Shami – 11 Cr
3. Mohit Sharma – 4 Cr

RTM Options: Sai Sudharsan & Rahul Tewatia

For Gujarat Titans, their top 3 Indian retentions look pretty sorted. Shubman Gill should get the highest retention at 18 Cr. Whereas two pacers, Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma should get 11 Cr and 4 Cr respectively. Among RTM options, Gujarat Titans will mostly go after Sai Sudharsan and Rahul Tewatia among Indian players in order of priority. 

IPL 2025 Best Retain Indian Players List for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

1. Shreyas Iyer – 16 Cr
2. Rinku Singh – 11 Cr
3. Harshit Rana – 4 Cr

RTM Options: Varun Chakravarthy & Venkatesh Iyer

Coming to the KKR side, the team will retain Shreyas Iyer for 16 Cr, Rinku Singh for 11 Cr, and uncapped Harshit Rana for 4 Cr. With three solid options being retained, KKR will then go after Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer for RTM card among the Indian players in order of priority. 

IPL 2025 Best Retained Indian Players List for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

1. KL Rahul – 18 Cr
2. Mayank Yadav – 11 Cr
3. Ayush Badoni – 4 Cr

RTM Options: Ravi Bishnoi 

Lucknow Super Giants will go after their star Indian player, KL Rahul as the top retention at 18 Cr. Also, now that Mayank Yadav is a capped player, he shouldn’t be sent to Auction, and LSG should retain him for 11 Cr. For the uncapped played, Ayush Badoni should be their top pick for 4 Cr. Finally, for the RTM option, LSG should go after Ravi Bishnoi among the Indian players.

IPL 2025 Best Retained Indian Players List for Mumbai Indians (MI)

1. Hardik Pandya – 18 Cr
2. Jasprit Bumrah – 18 Cr
3. Suryakumar Yadav – 14 Cr
4. Rohit Sharma – 14 Cr
5. Ishan Kishan – 11 Cr
6. Nehal Wadhera – 4 Cr

RTM Options: None

Mumbai Indians, the biggest beneficiary of the new IPL 2025 Retention rules will go all out before the Auction by retaining all 6 players, and all being Indians. It feels as if MI will be able to convince Rohit Sharma to stay with them, and with that Hardik and Bumrah should be the top retentions at 18 Cr, SKY and Rohit Should follow them at 14 Cr. Whereas Ishan Kishan and Nehal Wadhera should be retained for 11 and 4 Cr respectively. Given all 6 places are filled, there won’t be any RTM. options for MI in IPL 2025.

IPL 2025 Best Retain Indian Players List for Punjab Kings (PBKS)

1. Shashank Singh – 4 Cr
2. Prabsimran Singh – 4 Cr

RTM Options: Arshdeep Singh

Punjab Kings will be the only team in the tournament to retain only uncapped players. Given the price sensitivity, Punjab Kings don’t have players that are valued at 18 or 14 Cr, hence they will retain uncapped Shashank Singh and Prabsimran Singh for 4 Cr. However, for the RTM options, Punjab Kings may go after Arshdeep Singh for sure.

IPL 2025 Best Retained Indian Players List for Rajasthan Royals (RR)

1. Sanju Samson – 16 Cr
2. Yashasvi Jaiswal – 14 Cr
3. Sandeep Sharma – 4 Cr

RTM Options: Riyan Parag & Yuzvendra Chahal

Rajasthan Royals have pretty straight forward retentions with Sanju Samson being retained for 16 Cr, and Yashasvi Jaiswal following him at 14 Cr. For the uncapped player, Rajasthan Royals may mostly go after Sandeep Sharma. With these three retained, Rajasthan Royals will go after Riyan Parag and Yuzvendra Chahal in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction via RTM option.

IPL 2025 Best Retained Indian Players List for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

1. Virat Kohli – 18 Cr
2. Mohammed Siraj – 11 Cr
3. Yash Dayal – 4 Cr

RTM Options: Rajat Patidar

Coming to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Virat Kohli should once again be the top retention among Indian players at 18 Cr. Siraj is likely to be the second Indian retention at 11 Cr, and Yash Dayal should mostly be the uncapped retention at 4 Cr. Among the RTM options, RCB will mostly go after Overseas players, and among Indian players, only Rajat Patidar will be on the radar.

IPL 2025 Best Retained Indian Players List for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

1. Abhishek Sharma – 14 Cr
2. Nitish Reddy – 11 Cr
3. Abdul Samad – 4 Cr

RTM Options: None

Finally, talking about Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team has made the intentions pretty clear by retaining Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Reddy among the Indian players aside from 3 Overseas players. Abhishek Sharma is expected to get 14 Cr, and Nitish Reddy is expected to get 11 Cr. From the uncapped players, Abdul Samad seems the best fit at 4 Cr. So, with 5 capped retentions already retained, SRH may not go after RTM options in the Auction. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your take on the retained Indian players list for all 10 teams for IPL 2025? Please share your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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Adesh Kothari

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.