With IPL 2025 retentions finalised, several high-profile players have surprisingly entered the auction pool, signaling bold decisions from the franchises.
Here’s a breakdown of the major players released and what it means for their former teams.
KL Rahul – Lucknow Super Giants
KL Rahul’s release from Lucknow Super Giants is a significant shift for the franchise. By choosing to retain Nicholas Pooran as their highest instead, LSG seems focused on freshening up its top order while investing in a younger batting core. Rahul’s absence will undoubtedly reshape LSG’s auction strategy.
Rishabh Pant – Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals released Rishabh Pant, likely due to ongoing injury concerns and the emergence of other wicketkeeper options. With Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav retained, DC is clearly pivoting towards a spin-focused attack, banking on stability in their middle order rather than relying on Pant’s explosiveness.
Mohammed Siraj – Royal Challengers Bengaluru
In a surprising move, RCB let go of Mohammed Siraj, despite his impressive record with the new ball. RCB’s retention of Yash Dayal suggests a budget-conscious approach, as they aim to develop younger talent in the bowling department while making room for key acquisitions in the auction.
Jos Buttler – Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals decided not to retain Jos Buttler, a top-order powerhouse, as they focus on an Indian-centric core with Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal. With Parag and Hetmyer in their batting lineup, RR will look for a fresh overseas opener, as Buttler’s hefty price tag may have limited their auction flexibility.
Rachin Ravindra – Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings released Rachin Ravindra, but could still get him at the IPL 2025 auctions. Stalwarts like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ravindra Jadeja were retained alongside MS Dhoni, Matheesha Pathirana and Shivam Dube. With a strong domestic core, CSK likely chose to release Ravindra to try and open up options for the auction.
Shreyas Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders
Shreyas Iyer’s release from KKR opens up space in their middle order for emerging talents like Rinku Singh. KKR’s retention of Russell and Narine suggests a continued reliance on their long-standing power duo, while Iyer’s absence gives them room to target a new middle-order anchor in the auction.
David Miller – Gujarat Titans
David Miller’s release marks a significant shift for Gujarat Titans, as they look to streamline their finances with a younger core. With players like Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill retained, GT appears set to reimagine their batting lineup without Miller’s finishing prowess, banking on homegrown talent instead. It coudl also be that GT believe they could get Miller at a lower price at the auction.
Arshdeep Singh – Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings made the tough decision to release Arshdeep Singh, despite his consistent performances with the ball. By retaining Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, PBKS is indicating a shift towards younger batters, while they likely eye a new pace option with the flexibility gained from Arshdeep’s release. They could also use the RTM on Arshdeep.
Yuzvendra Chahal – Rajasthan Royals
Yuzvendra Chahal’s exit from RR signals a departure from their reliance on experienced spinners. By retaining Samson and Jaiswal, RR is focusing on a strong batting foundation, leaving room for a young spinner in the auction pool to replace Chahal’s experience in the bowling lineup.
Trent Boult – Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals’ decision to release Trent Boult is likely driven by budget considerations, allowing them to invest in all-rounders or emerging bowlers. With a core of Indian players like Jaiswal and Samson, RR is realigning their strategy, potentially targeting more cost-effective overseas bowling options in the auction. They could also use the RTM on Boult to get him at a lower rate.
Other notable releases
Some of the other notable releases include Ishan Kishan, with Mumbai Indians preferring Tilak Varma over him, Prithvi Shaw, Ravichandran Ashwin, Glenn Maxwell, Will Jacks, Kagiso Rabada, Abdul Samad, Washington Sundar, Quinton de Kock, Phil Salt, Venkatesh Iyer, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Faf du Plessis, Akash Deep, Tim David and Cameron Green.
Full list of IPL 2025 Retentions
Mumbai Indians:
- Jasprit Bumrah (INR 18 crores)
- Hardik Pandya (INR 16.35 crores)
- Suryakumar Yadav (INR 16.35 crores)
- Rohit Sharma (INR 16.3 crores)
- Tilak Varma (INR 8 crores)
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
- Virat Kohli (INR 21 crores)
- Rajat Patidar (INR 11 crores)
- Yash Dayal (INR 5 crores)
Chennai Super Kings:
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 18 crores)
- Ravindra Jadeja (INR 18 crores)
- Matheesha Pathirana (INR 13 crores)
- Shivam Dube (INR 12 crores)
- MS Dhoni (INR 4 crores)
Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Andre Russell (INR 12 crores)
- Sunil Narine (INR 12 crores)
- Rinku Singh (INR 13 crores)
- Harshit Rana (INR 4 crores)
- Varun Chakravarthy (INR 12 crores)
- Ramandeep Singh (INR 4 crores)
Delhi Capitals:
- Axar Patel (INR 16.5 crores)
- Kuldeep Yadav (INR 13.25 crores)
- Tristan Stubbs (INR 10 crores)
- Abhishek Porel (INR 4 crores)
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
- Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crores)
- Pat Cummins (INR 18 crores)
- Travis Head (INR 14 crores)
- Abhishek Sharma (INR 14 crores)
- Nitish Reddy (INR 6 crores)
Gujarat Titans:
- Shubman Gill
- Rashid Khan
- B. Sai Sudharsan
- Rahul Tewatia
- Shahrukh Khan
Lucknow Super Giants:
- Nicholas Pooran (INR 21 crores)
- Mayank Agarwal (INR 11 crores)
- Ravi Bishnoi (INR 11 crores)
- Mohsin Khan (INR 4 crores)
- Ayush Badoni (INR 4 crores)
Punjab Kings:
- Shashank Singh (INR 5.5 crores)
- Prabhsimran Singh (INR 4 crores)
Rajasthan Royals:
- Sanju Samson (INR 18 crores)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (INR 18 crores)
- Riyan Parag (INR 14 crores)
- Sandeep Sharma (INR 4 crores)
- Dhruv Jurel (INR 14 crores)
- Shimron Hetmyer (INR 11 crores)
