IPL 2025: Players retained by each team; Retention rules explained

With the retention deadline just arrived, the IPL 2025 preparation officially begins, as every team will be now to check the team and sort out the strategies for the upcoming mega auction to set a strong team. 

On October 31, each of the ten teams is going to reveal their retained players for the next IPL season. Here, we can know which crucial players will stay in the team at least for the next season. It also means that we may see some great names getting out of the squad and maybe create an intense auction war later. 

After the retention, the team will go through the mega auction to sort out the complete squad for the IPL 2025. 

Before learning about the retention of each team for the IPL 2025, we are just checking around the key retention rules for the IPL 2025.

IPL 2025 retention rules:

• Each team can have a maximum of INR 120 crore in the purse to set up a complete team. 

• Each team can retain a maximum of six players.

• Each team can retain a maximum of five capped players (no limitations on Indians or foreigners).

• Each team can retain a maximum of two uncapped players.

• Each team can spend up to INR 75 crore in total for the five capped players.

• Each team can spend up to INR 4 crore for a capped player.

• Indian players who haven’t been selected in the international playing XIs for the last five years can be retained as uncapped players.

• In case a team doesn’t use the maximum number of retentions, they can use the Right-to-Match (RTM) cards during the mega auction for the remaining numbers (maintaining the same proportion of capped and uncapped players’ rules along with a maximum number of retentions). In case a team retains six players, the team can’t use the RTM card during the mega auction.   

IPL 2025: Retentions

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) retentions

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders have set a good retention strategy. However, they haven't retained the IPL 2024 winning captain Shreyas Iyer. The three-time IPL champions will now need to set a strong plan for the IPL 2025 mega auction. 

Retention value: INR 57 crore (Official deduction INR 69 crore)

Retained players: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh

Purse remaining: INR 51 crore

SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) retentions

SunRisers Hyderabad, the IPL 2016 champions and the IPL 2024 runners-up, have brought the expected retention strategy. To ensure their continuous impressive on-field performances, SRH need another strong auction strategy.  

Retention value: INR 75 crore

Retained players: Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Nitish Kumar Reddy

Purse remaining: INR 45 crore

Rajasthan Royals (RR) retentions

Inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan Royals, who also played the IPL 2022 Final to finish as the runners-up, have set a strong-looking side by feeling up all the available retention options. However, one of their stunning exclusions was the English star Jos Buttler. Last season, they were eliminated from the Qualifier 2. 

Retention value: INR 79 crore

Retained players: Sanju Samson, Yashsavi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, and Sandeep Sharma

Purse remaining: INR 41 crore

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retentions

From the hopeless situation to battling in the Eliminator, three-time IPL runners-up Royal Challengers Bengaluru set a great and inspiring example in tournament history. However, before the IPL 2025 mega auction, they retained only three players. RCB will be one of the busiest franchises at the IPL 2025 auction.

Retention value: INR 37 crore

Retained players: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal

Purse remaining: INR 83 crore

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) retentions

Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings just missed out on the playoff spot last season under the new leadership. CSK's retention strategy hadn't much shocker. One of the greatest IPL teams needs a strong mega auction strategy to build up another powerful team.  

Retention value: INR 65 crore

Retained players: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, and MS Dhoni

Purse remaining: INR 55 crore

Delhi Capitals (DC) retentions

Rishabh Pant's exclusion was expected but still a shocker and a big loss for the Delhi Capitals. IPL 2020 runners-up need a strong strategy to set up another inspiring team for the new era of the tournament. 

Retention value: INR 43.75 crore (Official deduction INR 47 crore)

Retained players: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristian Stubbs, and Abhishek Porel  

Purse remaining: INR 73 crore

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) retentions

Lucknow Super Giants' retentions also move through the expectations. Their three seasons' captain KL Rahul has been excluded from the squad. After reaching the playoffs in their first two IPL seasons (2022 and 2023), LSG finished in seventh place in the points table despite having the same points as the fourth-placed side.  

Retention value: INR 51 crore

Retained players: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Ayush Badoni

Purse remaining: INR 69 crore

Gujarat Titans (GT) retentions

Gujarat Titans, who won the IPL trophy in their debut season (2022) and also finished as the runners-up in the 2023 season, ended the IPL 2024 in eighth place. They need a good auction strategy to build up another powerful team. 

Retention value: INR 51 crore

Retained players: Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, and Shahrukh Khan  

Purse remaining: INR 69 crore

Punjab Kings (PBKS) retentions

The IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings are struggling for a long time as they failed to reach the playoffs in the last 10 seasons. So, the franchise needs to set up a fresh team that can challenge every team and find glory after a long time. With more than 100 crores in the purse, PBKS will play a huge role in the upcoming mega auction. 

Retention value: INR 9.5 crore

Retained players: Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh

Purse remaining: INR 110.5 crore

Mumbai Indians (MI) retentions

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians had a horrible journey in the last season as they finished in the 10th or last position in the points table. However, the team management has maintained MI's long culture of setting up a family by looking at the great future. 

Retention value: INR 75 crore

Retained players: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Verma

Purse remaining: INR 45 crore