Every team must announce its list of retentions by October 31. Each side can retain a maximum of six players, including through the Right to Match option. All the rules and regulations for retention can be read here.

Mumbai Indians, despite their performance last season, have one of the strongest sides on paper. They have an enviable core group and the franchise will have several dilemmas over their auction strategy.

What happens to the Big Four?

Mumbai has three of the best current Indian players in Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. Each brings with them unique skill sets and are indispensable. Hardik was also the captain of the team last season, after a much-headlined trade from Gujarat Titans that saw him displace the successful Rohit Sharma as captain of the team.

Suryakumar is India’s current T20I skipper and along with deciding the order of retentions, Mumbai will also need to ponder over their decision of the captain for the 2025 season.

Rohit Sharma’s will be an interesting decision. He led India to the T20 World Cup trophy this year before announcing his retirement from the international format. Rohit has not been able to leave much of an impact in the IPL of late. Before the 2024 edition, he last averaged over 25 and struck more than 130 in 2016, but his current aggressive approach will tempt Mumbai to hold on to him, despite him allegedly suggesting he would not want to continue with the team.

However, Mumbai will look to avoid a similar scenario to last year, which saw the home crowd flip against them after they unceremoniously removed Rohit as the skipper this year. He is also one of India’s biggest superstars - beyond the field, his presence is crucial as well.

Cricketing-wise, while it makes sense to have Rohit as the third retention, at INR 11 crore, it will not be as straightforward. This year, a comment from Rohit’s wife sparked discussions over his displeasure with the franchise and being retained for the lowest amount after the successes he has brought them might not sit well with him. While Bumrah should definitely be the first retention, Hardik and Surya might not want to be retained at INR 11 crore either, likely lower than what they will get if they decide to enter the auction.

Both are at their peak and accepting a lower offer than their worth will also not be beneficial even as their stocks continue rising.

What about the Right to Match card?

If Mumbai retain all four India players, they will be left with less than half their purse for the auctions. The three other players they will most likely be interested in are uncapped players Nehal Wadhera and Aakash Madhwal, along with Tilak Varma.

Madhwal will be their top choice for retention as an uncapped player, for INR 4 crore. He is an Indian quick who gets the ball to skid through and the demand-supply chain could see Mumbai retain him over Wadhera.

If not very heavy on the purse, Mumbai will also look to buy back either Tilak or Wadhera via the Right to Match card.

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