Preparations for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 have begun, and the BCCI is expected to announce the retention policy soon. This will determine how many players each team can retain, while the remaining players will be released into the auction pool ahead of the new season.
If a few big names are let go, it could lead to one of the most exciting auctions yet. Although no official announcements have been made, there is growing speculation about which key players could part ways with their teams this year.
Faf du Plessis: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has yet to secure an IPL title, but the franchise enjoys a fan following that outnumbers many other teams. At present, RCB is captained by Faf Du Plessis, who is approaching 40 years of age. IPL mega auction occurs every three years and Du Plessis is not active in international cricket. It's likely that RCB will search for a new captain in the upcoming auction, which could result in Plessis being left out of RCB's retention list.
Rohit Sharma: Five-time IPL winner Rohit Sharma is likely to be released by Mumbai Indians (MI) before IPL 2025 auction. Considering the recent developments at the Mumbai Indians, there's a real possibility that the senior opener could part ways with the team. With Hardik Pandya now serving as captain of MI, speculation suggests that Rohit may be released this time and enter the auction, where he could find himself playing for a different franchise.
Glenn Maxwell: Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is currently with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), but considering his performances in recent years, the team is unlikely to retain him. With a price tag over Rs 14 crore, RCB could use that budget to acquire more effective players. It will be interesting to see if the franchise decides to release their senior all-rounder and whether any other team will pursue him.
KL Rahul: KL Rahul, captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), has struggled to make a notable impact under his leadership, putting his retention in question. Furthermore, he has been dropped from India's T20 squad, and his own individual performance hasn't been impressive enough to secure his position. It wouldn't be surprising if he were released and found a new team.