The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been an explosive cricket platform where teams sign in their best domestic and international talent and contest at the highest level. The Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise is yet to bounce back after a disappointing 2024 IPL season in which they ended the season in the relegation zone and with a revamped squad featuring some brilliant signings and retainers to look forward to in IPL 2025. Finally now the IPL 2025 mega auction is over; let’s get into those players MI have retained and the new faces they have introduced in their RCB full Squad, all while trying to pick themselves up after a terrible IPL 2024 performance.
Mumbai Indians Retained Players
MI’s leader Ilesh Manral spoke about their retention strategy for IPL 2025 and how they wanted their core of experienced campaigners to stay together. MI had planned to stick with their superstar quartet of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, who have been nothing less than lucky charms to MI’s past success.
Rohit Sharma
- Rohit (Rs 16.30 crore): He remains MI’s captain in calm, adversity, or leadership acumen. First of all Rohit is one of the most successful captains of IPL history but besides, he is a cog who must remain a key player with both the bat and as a tactical leader. The opener will hope to repeat the form again that saw him instrumental in MI reaching the final in both previous title wins.
Jasprit Bumrah
- Jasprit Bumrah (Rs 18 crore): Finally Bumrah is back after recovering from injury and MI’s bowling attack needs him. He’s the premier pacer out of all the bowlers and has been quite significant in the death overs.
Hardik Pandya
- Hardik Pandya ( Rs 16.35 crore): After a tumultuous 2024 with MI as captain Hardik Pandya will come back stronger. Being an all-rounder Hardik is set to make a memorable show for MI in IPL 2025 with his power-hitting, handy bowling and leadership experience.
Suryakumar Yadav
- Suryakumar Yadav (Rs 16.35 crore): Things have been clicking for the smasher, both in T20s and Tests, and MI are going to put their full trust in Suraykumar to anchor their middle order. The ability to play innovative shots, and accelerate at will means he is one of the most dangerous batters in T20 cricket.
Tilak Varma
- Tilak Varma (Rs 8 crore): The first Left-hander youngster has been retained after a breakthrough season that saw him become the first Indian to score three consecutive T20 centuries. His explosive batting along with the ability to finish will fill in the much-needed depth in MI’s batting lineup.
New Additions: Fresh Faces
Mumbai Indians made some interesting, and smart, moves at IPL 2025 mega auction while making some emotional reunions. With a clear intent to bring depth into both batting and bowling, the team management went back to former MI players who had been in the team previously.
Trent Boult
- Trent Boult (Rs 12.50 crore): Trent Boult has been one of MI’s best bowlers in recent seasons bringing a lot of positives to MI’s bowling attack. Powerplay specialist Boult knows a thing or two about flowing through the gears and will partner with Bumrah to make up for a slow start in games.
Naman Dhir
- Naman Dhir (Rs 5.50 crore): The uncapped all-rounder has been bought by MI to offer flexibility to the squad. With many all-around performances under his belt during domestic cricket, Dhir could emerge as a good choice as an MI off-choice for MI senior all-rounders.
Robin Minz’s
- Robin Minz’s (Rs 65 lakh): A young wicket-keeper batsman, Robin Minz’s acquisition provides MI with some very much-needed depth in its backup wicketkeeping options. In tight matches, aggressive batting in the lower middle order from Minz could provide a late surge for MI and can make the opposition collapse.
Karn Sharma
- Karn Sharma (Rs 50 lakh): MI have brought A familiar face, Karn Sharma, back. The veteran leg spinner’s ability to bowl at the middle overs and take key wickets for fairly crucial moments in the game could go a long way in helping them control the match at the key stages.
Robin Minz
- Robin Minz (Rs 1 crore): The South African wicketkeeper batter had a good season in domestic leagues which could result in him being a very good deputy for Ryan Rickelton behind the stumps. His aggressive batting style makes an already versatile MI top order stronger.
Deepak Chahar
- Deepak Chahar (Rs 9.25 crore): He is the swing bowler with serious heat compression in the powerplay, is a big-ticket buy. Chahar with his ability to pick wickets upfront with the new ball adds balance to MI’s bowling attack and gives it vital breakthroughs upfront.
Allah Ghazanfar
- Allah Ghazanfar (Rs 4.80 crore): The mystery spinner from Afghanistan, further strengthens MI’s stock of spinners. Ghazanfar’s ability to bowl in middle overs and variations with the ball are his biggest attractions for MI in IPL 2025.
Will Jacks
- Will Jacks (Rs 5.25 crore): The English all-rounder is another cog in MI’s middle-order batting and bowling. Jacks is a hard hitter in the middle overs but also can be an effective bowler. He was in RCB full Squad last year IPL.
Mitchell Santner
- Mitchell Santner (Rs 2 crore): The New Zealand allrounder provides more balance to MI’s squad. Santner is a handy player in both defensive and attacking roles as a result of his spin bowling and ability to bat.
Reece Topley
- Reece Topley (Rs 75 lakh): A less popular left-arm pacer, Topley’s inclusion in Mi’s bowling unit will offer MI options to bowl in the death overs amid difficult conditions.
Arjun Tendulkar
- Arjun Tendulkar (Rs 30 lakh): The son of the cricket legend Sachin, Arjun has performed with MI in past seasons but hasn’t made a big impression. MI’s want to develop him further under senior bowlers can be understood from his inclusion at a margin price.
Then there are other Uncapped Talents like Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Venkata Satyanarayana Raju and Bevon Jacobs who can make decent runs. If these uncapped players perform well in domestic cricket, the IPL can take a chance on them and try and prove themselves.
Conclusion
RCB full Squad with a well-rounded team of players is set to battle with any of the top teams in this IPL. This could take MI closer to the trophy and winning the touranment. While teams like RCB are ready to make a strong show in IPL this season, MI have a full strong squad with a few key signings and a great retainership in the way. The Mumbai Indians fans will be hoping that the blip of 2024 was just a temporary hiccup and they can go back to winning ways.
