IPL Retention 2025: Mumbai Indians May Not Retain Rohit Sharma, Doubts MI Legendary Bowler

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Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, former Mumbai Indians (MI) spinner Harbhajan Singh shared his thoughts on MI's retention strategy, raising questions about the future of Rohit Sharma.

Despite the five-time champions' disappointing 2024 season, where they finished last in the points table under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, the franchise is set to make crucial decisions on player retentions.

While speaking on Star Sports, Harbhajan predicted that MI would likely retain captain Hardik Pandya, star bowler Jasprit Bumrah, and dynamic batter Suryakumar Yadav as their key players for IPL 2025. However, he expressed doubts about Rohit Sharma's retention given the recent challenges faced by the team and Rohit's mixed performance last season.

Harbhajan highlighted that while MI did remove Rohit from captaincy in 2024, leading to some internal and fan dissatisfaction, retaining the experienced campaigner could hinge on his recent success as India's captain in the T20 World Cup. Rohit scored 417 runs in IPL 2024, including a memorable second IPL century, but averaged just over 32, which raises questions about whether MI will continue to invest in him as a retained player.

"Mumbai Indians is a team that hasn't played well in the last two to three years. They've been a champion team, and as far as I know, they will definitely think of building a team for the future. Last year, they made Hardik Pandya captain, and I think he will definitely be retained. Jasprit Bumrah will be retained, Suryakumar Yadav will be retained, and the question remains whether Rohit Sharma will be retained," said Harbhajan.

The former MI bowler also mentioned that if MI decides to retain four players, Rohit's inclusion could be pivotal, alongside young rising star Tilak Varma. Varma has showcased his potential and could be a valuable asset for the team's future campaigns. Harbhajan also suggested the inclusion of uncapped all-rounder Nehal Wadhera, who has shown promise and could contribute significantly to MI's plans.

Harbhajan's insights provide an intriguing perspective on MI's retention strategy, as the franchise looks to rebuild and bounce back after a lacklustre 2024 season. With the retention deadline approaching and a mega auction on the horizon, MI's approach will be crucial to regaining their dominance in the IPL while focusing on experienced players and nurturing emerging talent.