“Will discuss Rohit Sharma’s future”- Aakash Chopra on MI’s potential retentions for IPL 2025

Former Indian opener and commentator Aakash Chopra believes that IPL team Mumbai Indians will have a detailed discussion with the 5 times IPL winner captain Rohit Sharma about his future with the team before finalising their retentions for the IPL 2025 auction. According to Chopra, Rohit will play a significant role in deciding his own future with the five-time champions, as Mumbai will focus on retaining their Indian core ahead of the mega auction.

BCCI announces new retention rules for IPL 2025

Chopra’s remarks followed the announcement of new retention and auction rules by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Each franchise will be allowed to retain up to six players using both the retention and Right To Match (RTM) options. The salary distribution for retained players includes Rs 18 crore each for the first and fourth choices, Rs 14 crore each for the second and fifth choices, and Rs 4 crore for the third player. If a team chooses to retain five players, it will spend Rs 75 crore from its total auction purse of Rs 120 crore.

Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are likely first choices

Speaking to Jio Cinema on Sunday, September 29, Chopra expressed confidence that Jasprit Bumrah would be Mumbai Indians’ top retention at Rs 18 crore, with current captain Hardik Pandya also earning Rs 18 crore and securing a spot in the retentions.

“The most challenging part is retaining the Indian core. Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have both won five trophies each, primarily due to strong Indian cores,” Chopra said. “Overseas players can be replaced easily, but Indian players are much harder to find. Can you think of a like-for-like replacement for Jasprit Bumrah?”

Rohit Sharma’s future with Mumbai Indians uncertain

Chopra went on to discuss the retentions, highlighting that players like Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Bumrah are automatic choices. However, Mumbai Indians will likely engage in discussions with Rohit Sharma regarding his future with the team.

“After Hardik, Surya, and Bumrah, I think MI will sit down with Rohit Sharma to discuss his future. It will be interesting to see if he stays with Mumbai or moves on. The decision will likely be made with his consent. After that, it could be Ishan Kishan or Tilak Varma.”

The speculation surrounding Rohit’s role

Rohit Sharma stepped down as captain ahead of IPL 2024, and Hardik Pandya took over as captain after being traded from Gujarat Titans. This decision sparked widespread speculation within the cricket fraternity, with many wondering if there was unrest within the Mumbai Indians camp. Despite the buzz, Rohit played the entire season, while Hardik struggled as captain, facing criticism from fans as Mumbai finished at the bottom of the points table.

Retaining the Indian core: A key strategy for MI

Aakash Chopra further pointed out that Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav would likely be retained without hesitation. However, the order of retention remains a critical question.

“The interesting part will be how they rank the players. Bumrah is my first-choice retention, followed by Hardik Pandya, who could be the fourth retention with Rs 18 crore. Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, will fit in the Rs 14 crore category. Then you have players like Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Ishan Kishan, who was retained for around Rs 15.5 crore. It will be a tough decision.”

Uncapped player rule returns for IPL 2025

Chopra also mentioned that IPL organisers have revived the ‘Uncapped Player’ rule, which allows teams to retain any Indian player who has not played international cricket for five years or does not hold a BCCI central contract. These players can be retained for Rs 4 crore, adding more flexibility to the retention strategy.

Tough choices ahead for MI

Mumbai Indians face a challenging task in determining their retention for IPL 2025, as they aim to balance star players like Bumrah, Hardik, Suryakumar, and potentially Rohit Sharma, alongside emerging talents like Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan. The coming months will reveal how MI navigates these tough decisions to maintain its strong core for future seasons.