KL Rahul, who joined Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 17 crore ahead of IPL 2022 mega auctions, is all set to be released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2025 mega auctions.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to X on September 29 to announce rules for player retention ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, and according to that, all 10 IPL teams will be allowed to retain as many as six players, of which one has to be an uncapped Indian player. While the majority of the teams would like to keep hold of as many players as possible from the 2024 squads, there are a few franchises that are set to release many high-profile players and start afresh in the mega auctions.
Ahead of the deadline day for IPL 2025 player retention, here’s a look at the top 5 rumours:
LSG to release KL Rahul: Lucknow Super Giants signed KL Rahul for Rs 17 crore ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auctions, but the Sajiv Goenka-owned side is set to release the 32-year-old star batter, who led and top-scored for LSG in the 2024 edition of the world’s richest franchise cricket league. According to a report in ESPNCricinfo on Monday (October 28), barring any last-minute change of mind from both parties, Rahul will not be retained by the Lucknow-based franchise. Rahul is LSG’s leading run scorer in the IPL and has also won 20 out of 37 matches played as captain in the last three seasons.
KKR unsure about Shreyas Iyer: India’s middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer led KKR to the IPL title win in 2024, but according to a report in IANS on Monday, the retention status of 29-year-old Iyer is lining on unsure currently. Iyer, who made his IPL debut in 2015 for the Delhi Capitals, joined KKR in the 2022 mega auctions but missed the 2023 season due to a back injury. If circumstances cause Iyer to enter the mega auction pool, then franchises in search of a captain will have a chance of roping him in to their respective sides and giving him the leadership role.
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Rishabh Pant to leave Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant is Delhi Capitals most-capped player and leading run scorer in the IPL, but if reports are to be believed, then the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter will enter the mega auction. As per the available information, DC is keen to retain Pant but not offer him a leadership role, which has raised the possibility of him leaving the side.
PBKS to clear out house: Mohali-based IPL team Punjab Kings, which last managed to qualify for IPL playoffs in 2014, is reportedly looking to release all the players from the 2024 squad and make a fresh team in the IPL 2025 mega auction. It has been reported that the franchise may use RTM for Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, and Kagiso Rabada, along with Jitesh Sharma, in the mega auction later this year.
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Klaasen to be highest paid player: Sunrisers Hyderabad is set to retain South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen along with Australia’s Pat Cummins and India’s Abhishek Sharma. According to a report in ESPNCricinfo, the Hyderabad-based franchise has offered a contract of Rs 23 crore for Klaasen, who joined them in the IPL 2023 auction and impressed with his batting performances in the last two seasons of the cash-rich league.
In addition to these, it is almost confirmed that MS Dhoni will participate in the 2025 edition of the IPL, and the Chennai Super Kings can retain him as an uncapped player for Rs 4 crore.
