The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shaken things up, making player retention more expensive and tactical. The 2025 retention slab shakes things up, making the retention game — especially for the star-packed Mumbai Indians — a thrilling watch!
A Twist in the Retention Slab
In 2022, the retention slab followed a downward cost pattern: the first player retained cost 16 crores, the second 12 crores, the third 8 crores, and the fourth only 6 crores. This allowed teams to hold onto multiple players without breaking the bank.
But in 2025, the retention costs have taken an unpredictable turn: 18 crores for the first player, 14 crores for the second, 11 crores for the third, and a whopping 18 crores for the fourth. A fifth player can also be retained, but at a steep price of 14 crores.
It will no longer be wise to retain players just for the sake of keeping a solid squad. Strategic decisions will need to be made to ensure the best balance between experience, talent, and budget. Teams like RCB, lacking consistent T20 match-winners aside from a few, should be cautious about utilizing all their retention slots. In contrast, a team like KKR or SRH, with a more balanced roster of impactful players, can confidently use their full allotment of retentions.
The Retention Dilemma
Mumbai Indians have faced auction missteps in recent years. Heavy investments in Ishan Kishan meant they couldn’t afford a quality pacer to support Jasprit Bumrah. Injuries to Bumrah and Jofra Archer added to their woes. None of the foreign players fired like they were supposed to, leaving everyone scratching their heads! And then came the blunder of letting Cameron Green slip away last season. What a shocker!
Anyways…. What’s done is done—time to shift our focus to 2025!
Jasprit Bumrah, A Must-Keep Player
It is obvious that Jasprit Bumrah will be retained. At 18 crores, his retention is an absolute bargain for what he brings to the table and shouldn’t pose any issues for the franchise owners. They’ll pull out all the stops to keep him—maybe even toss in Antilla residency if that’s what it takes to seal the deal!
Who Else Should Stay?
Mumbai Indians can retain up to five players. Alongside Bumrah, several other key players stand out: Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma. However, with only four retention spots left, not everyone can be kept.
Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya possess unique skills. Both are indispensable, and it would make sense to keep them. But the question arises: Will Hardik accept a retention price of 14 crores, a slight reduction from his previous 15 crore deal? Likewise, will Suryakumar be happy with 11 crores when his last contract was already a low 8 crores?
Due to the BCCI’s new retention slab structure, retaining just three players doesn’t seem like a viable option for Mumbai Indians. It makes far more sense to aim for either four or five retentions.
If Mumbai Indians opt for four or five retentions, Hardik Pandya will automatically move into the 18-crore bracket, while Suryakumar Yadav will fall into the 14-crore category. This leaves MI with a decision: they must either retain one player at 11 crores or two players, one at 11 crores and the other at 14 crores.
The Tough Choices: Rohit, Ishan, or Tilak?
Choosing between Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma will be difficult. Each of these players will attract high demand if they are sent into the auction pool. However, the easiest decision of the three could be to retain Tilak Varma for 11 crores, an upgrade from his previous salary of 1.7 crores.
The biggest dilemma lies between Rohit and Ishan. Rohit earned 16 crores last season, and Ishan 15.25 crores. Asking them to accept 14 crores may feel like a downgrade. On one hand, Rohit is the heartbeat of Mumbai Indians, even though his recent form hasn’t been great for the franchise. But we all know what he has been doing for the national team. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan’s explosive batting and wicket-keeping skills make him a valuable asset, despite a slight dip in form.
Retaining both would not be possible, meaning Mumbai Indians will have to part ways with either one or both stars. Re-targeting them in the auction might seem like an option, but it would be a costly blunder. Pursuing them in the auction would mean shelling out well beyond 14 crores. This would significantly disrupt the squad balance.
The Auction Approach
Assuming five players are retained, Mumbai Indians would be left with 45 crores to spend in the auction. This budget should be enough to buy a bowler in the 10-15 crore range to partner Bumrah, along with three other players in the 4-7 crore range. The remaining budget could be spent on lower cost players to round out the squad.
Ideal T20 IPL XII Composition
An ideal T20 composition for any IPL team should be versatile. Here’s a glimpse of what their core could look like after the retentions:
While the retained core fills several key roles, there are some glaring gaps. The team will need to focus on acquiring a spinner, a reliable power hitter, and a quality left-arm pacer. Unfortunately, none of the current Mumbai Indians players in these positions justify being retained, meaning the franchise will have to look to the auction to fill these critical spots.
There has been considerable talk about retaining Piyush Chawla as an uncapped player for 4 crores, but this decision raises questions. Why spend such a hefty amount on a player who is unlikely to attract much attention in the auction? It simply doesn’t make sense.
Nehal Wadhera and Anshul Kamboj are two other uncapped players who could be considered for retention at 4 crores. However, it seems more prudent to let them enter the auction pool. With the auction scheduled for the end of November, and minimal cricket being played before then, these players are unlikely to be at the forefront of other teams’ minds. Mumbai Indians could easily secure them at a lower price during the auction, maximizing their budget for other key acquisitions.
Retaining a strong Indian core of five players will give Mumbai Indians the freedom to target overseas players, who are usually in lower demand during mega auctions. This provides an opportunity to secure some bargain buys.
A High-Stakes Auction
While uncertainty remains about whether Mumbai Indians will get their auction strategy right this time, one thing is certain: the IPL auction will be one of the most anticipated and fiercely competitive events to watch on television. Fans can expect an exhilarating display of strategy and drama as teams vie for the best talent available.
Our Article in June, Mumbai Indians: Paving the Path for Next Season