IPL 2025: Retention or Auction? What will Happen to Top Five earners of IPL 2024?

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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season will be kicking off next year, but the temperature has already started to rise with the retention deadline closing in on October 31.

The ten IPL franchises will announce the players they want to continue with for next year, and it promises to be a huge moment for the teams, players and fans. With the IPL structuring out the retention investments, franchises will have to spend a fortune to keep their star players from last season.

As we are closing in on the deadline, the anticipations have gone up. There have been a plethora of theories on the retained players, and reports have claimed some key stars may leave their current team and seek pastures new in the auction.

Also, the new rule of IPL on retaining players value has created another crossroad. Previously, the players used to earn more from the retention cap but the franchise was deducted only the IPL-determined retention amount. For example, player X of team Y may have a retention value of Rs 10 crore, but he can earn Rs 15 crore from the franchise. But the franchise was only deducted Rs 10 crore from their auction purse.

But now, the higher sum will be stripped from the franchise's balance, which means the Indian players may be inclined to fetch a higher money in the auction table. Amid this, a number of big-money signings from last season are likely to leave their current franchise and appear in auction.

IPL 2024: Five Most Expensive Players

Mitchell Starc (KKR) - Rs 24.75 crore

Pat Cummins (SRH) - Rs 20.5 crore

Sam Curran (PBKS) - Rs 18.5 crore

Cameron Green (RCB) - Rs 17.5 crore

KL Rahul (LSG) - Rs 17 crore

Sam Curran: Sam Curran took over the captaincy duties for Punjab Kings due to an injury for Shikhar Dhawan. But the Englishman won't be retained by the Punjab franchise after yet another dismal season for them. They spent a lot of money on the England all-rounder in the IPL 2023 auction, but is likely to release him.

KL Rahul: KL Rahul's relationship with Lucknow Super Giants has become untenable and as per reports, Rahul rejected a retention proposal from the franchise. The incident earlier this year following a defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka was publicly seen chastising Rahul was not well received, and that is likely the tipping point where Rahul may have had decided to leave the franchise. He was the 5th most expensive player in IPL 2024, but looks set to seek pastures new.

Mitchell Starc: Kolkata Knight Riders went all in for Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 auction and signed the Australian pace star for the record price of Rs 24.75 crore. Although Starc had a dismal start to his campaign, the Aussie came back strongly in the playoffs and played a key part in KKR winning the IPL 2024 title. But the franchise looks unlikely to keep the left-arm pacer and he may appear in the auction.

Australia's Pat Cummins was the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad and he is likely to be retained, the same goes for his fellow compatriot Cameron Green, who may continue with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.