IPL 2025 Retained and RTM Overseas Players List – All 10 Teams

Rashid Khan and Jos Buttler confirmed in our best retained and RTM overseas players list for all 10 teams for IPL 2025. 

As soon as the IPL 2025 player retention rules were announced by BCCI, one thing that immediately popped up in my mind was the price structure of the retentions. The pricing is defined in such a way that every capped player that is going to get retained will at least get INR 11 Cr. This is almost double the amount from IPL 2022, where the minimum offered pricing for a capped retained player was INR 6 Cr. 

Given such hefty pricing, one thing thing is for sure, each team will retain more Indian players than Overseas players. Each team needs 4-5 quality Overseas players, which will ultimately be a part of their regular playing 11. But with a maximum of 6 capped players being allowed to retain, each team also has quality Indian players, who in a way will get more than 11 Cr, if they go into the Auction. 

With such a strategy, teams will mostly avoid retaining Overseas players, unless there’s supreme quality like Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, or Andre Russell. Instead, teams will plan to use RTM cards on those players, and that way they might get those players at a lesser price, or may also not mind giving more price for quality ones. So, with such insights, let’s look at the best retained and RTM overseas players list for all 10 teams for IPL 2025. 

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

1. None

RTM Options: Matheesha Pathirana, Devon Conway & Rachin Ravindra

Starting with the Chennai Super Kings, they will mostly not retain any Overseas players, and instead will play to use RTM cards on two potential players. With Ruturaj, Jadeja, and Dube as potential capped retentions, retaining a fourth capped player will cost 18 Cr to CSK. Hence, it won’t be wise for CSK to retain more than three players, and instead can use RTM cards on Matheesha Pathirana, Devon Conway, or Rachin Ravindra. 

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

1. None

RTM Options: Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk

Similar to CSK, Delhi Capitals will refrain from retaining a single Overseas player, and instead will plan to use RTM cards on them. Delhi should retain Pant, Axar, and Kuldeep among capped options, and will plan to use RTM cards on Tristan Stubbs, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Mitchell Marsh in order.  

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

1. Rashid Khan – 14 Cr

RTM Options: David Miller

Talking about Gujarat Titans, they will for sure retain Rashid Khan, but at a price of 14 Cr. Rashid can also get 18 Cr, if Shubman Gill is retained for 14 Cr or, both Rashid and Gill for given 18 Cr. Other than Rashid, GT will plan to use RTM on David Miller in the Mega Auction. Other than these two, GT can also think of using the RTM card on Noor Ahmed, if they don’t use the RTM card on Sai Sudharsan or Rahul Tewatia. 

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

1. Andre Russell – 14 Cr

RTM Options: Sunil Narine, Phil Salt & Mitchell Starc

Talking about KKR, there are quality Overseas players in their lineup, but given the retention dynamics, they will mostly retain only Andre Russell for 14 Cr with Iyer and Rinku being the other two capped retained players. With only one Overseas player being planned to retain, KKR will mostly use RTM cards on Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, and even Mitchell Starc.  

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

1. Nicholas Pooran – 14 Cr
2. Marcus Stoinis – 11 Cr

RTM Options: Quinton de Kock

Coming to Lucknow Super Giants, they have three quality Overseas players that they can think to retain, and those are Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, and Quinton de Kock. However, of the three, Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stonis look the best to get retained alongside KL Rahul. Whereas for RTM options, LSG will look at two from Quinton de Kock, Mayank Yadav, or Ravi Bishnoi. 

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

1. None

RTM Options: Nuwan Thushara

Mumbai Indians might be the only one that will not only refrain from retaining any Overseas players but will also not RTM any of those. The team has a strong Indian core, and will mostly focus on getting back those players. However, if at all they RTM any player, it will be Nuwan Thushara.

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

1. None

RTM Options: Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada & Jonny Bairstow

Punjab Kings will most likely not retain any Indian or Overseas capped player, and will instead use their RTM cards in the Auction. From the Overseas players’ perspective, PBKS will use their RTM cards on Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Kagiso Rabada, and Jonny Bairstow.

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

1. Jos Buttler – 14 Cr

RTM Options: Trent Boult

Rajasthan Royals have only two good Overseas players, viz., Jos Buttler and Trent Boult. But when it comes to their strategy for IPL 2025, RR will only retain Jos Buttler for 14 Cr, and then use the RTM card on Trent Boult. 

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

1. Glenn Maxwell – 14 Cr

RTM Options: Faf du Plessis, Cameron Green & Will Jacks

Talking about Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the team will retain Glenn Maxwell for 14 Cr, and then mostly use RTM cards on two from Faf du Plessis, Cameron Green, and Will Jacks in order. 

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

1. Pat Cummins – 18 Cr
2. Travis Head – 14 Cr

RTM Options: Heinrich Klaasen

Sunrisers Hyderabad are one of the two teams alongside Lucknow Super Giants to focus more on their Overseas players. SRH will mostly retain Pat Cummins and Travis Head, and then use the RTM card on Heinrich Klaasen. However, this is only under the assumption that Travis Head will go higher than Heinrich Klaasen in the Auction. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your take on the retained squad and 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.