The Indian Premier League is all set to return with its 18th season in 2025. However, before the start of the season, the mega auction will mark its return for the first time since 2022. The maximum number of eyes will be on Mumbai Indians, as to who they retain and release, ahead of the closure of the retention window on October 31. The franchise had their worst ever season in IPL history, as they finished bottom of the table in 2023. There were reports of a rift between former captain Rohit Sharma and newly appointed skipper Hardik Pandya after the captaincy change fiasco.

According to a report by The Indian Express, Rohit Sharma is all set to be retained by Mumbai Indians as one of their four capped players. The other three that the franchise are looking to retain ahead of the auction are Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah Suryakumar Yadav. All three seem automatic choices given that they are ke members of the India side, with Suryakumar Yadav being the regular captain of the national T20I team.

The Indian Express report also states that Australian all-rounder Tim David will be the Mumbai Indians' choice for the Right To Match card, while they would aim to buy back Ishan Kishan at the auction. If MI retain 4 players, then according to the rules, they will have 2 RTM cards.

According to the IPL retention rules, a team can make a maximum of six retentions. No more than five capped players, and no more than two uncapped players can be retained. The first capped retention will cost Rs 18 crore, the second 14 crore and the third 11 crore respectively. The fourth retention will again cost Rs 18 crore. Hence, if Mumbai retain Rohit, Hardik, Surya and Bumrah, then they will head into the auction with a purse of Rs 61 crore.

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