IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Top Retained Overseas Player List for Each Team

IPL 2025 Mega auction will come with many surprise. The mega auction ahead of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League might take place between December 2024 and January 2025. This will allow all ten teams to rebuild their teams that can perform well in the IPL 2025.

All ten teams will be able to retain only a maximum of six players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. At Crictips, we have discussed the possible retentions and list of released players for the IPL 2025. However, we will discuss here about the possible overseas retentions for all ten teams.

Every team has some big overseas stars who are their core players, and some teams are made around them. Hence, retaining overseas players will also be very important for all franchises. So, let’s discuss the possible retentions of overseas stars for all teams ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Must note that, going into IPL 2025 Mega Auction, BCCI has removed all the restrictions on overseas player retention, meaning that teams can retain any number of overseas players within the 5 retention limit for capped and overseas player.

IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Best Retained Overseas Player List

Here are likely retentions of overseas players for each franchise in the IPL.

1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are one of the most popular teams in IPL history, but they have not won the title until now. They will surely be looking to end this drought in the IPL 2025. RCB have some really great overseas options in their disposal, be it their captain Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Will Jacks or Cameron Green. However, RCB might be looking to move on from Faf du Plessis and look to bring in a new face as captain, especially an Indian.

Glenn Maxwell’s performance for RCB has not been satisfying enough and there is no doubt that the Australian all-rounder will be shown the gates. That leaves RCB with Cameron Green and Will Jacks as viable options for retentions. Will Jacks is a hard-hitting batter who can win matches on his own. Cameron Green meanwhile will add much all-round depth in the squad.

2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

The five-time champion Chennai Super Kings missed the chance to make it to the playoffs and finished in fifth place. They won the 2023 edition and will be focusing on the sixth title in the IPL 2025. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni are likely to be retained, but when it comes to overseas picks, Devon Conway and Matheesha Pathirana are the frontrunners.

Conway has been with the team since 2022 and done pretty well. He missed the last season due to injury and will be back for the IPL 2025. Conway scored most runs for the team when they won the 2023 edition. Meanwhile, Pathirana has become the go-to bowler for CSK. They use him whenever they need a wicket, and he has always performed well. Hence, he is likely to be the second overseas pick.

3. Mumbai Indians (MI)

The five-time champion Mumbai Indians didn’t have great last few seasons. They have finished at the bottom twice in the last three seasons. That is why they will be desperate to outbreak the sackles and add another title to their cabinet. Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be their main retentions.

If we look at their overseas picks, they don’t have many options, but Tim David and Gerald Coetzee can be the two overseas picks. MI can use the Right To Match (RTM) card to retain these two at the IPL 2025 mega auction. David has been with the team for the last three seasons, and Coetzee has a decent debut season for MI.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

The defending champions will have a big challenge on their shoulders to retain their title in the IPL 2025. Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer are likely to be the Indian players to be retained. But if we have to choose overseas picks, then Sunil Narine and Andre Russell will without a doubt be their choices.

Both West Indian all-rounders have been the core members of the team. Narine has been part of the team since 2011 and has played a key role in all three titles. Russell joined KKR in 2012 and became a key member of the team.

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Sunrisers Hyderabad missed out on the IPL 2024 crown badly, losing single-handedly against KKR in the final. However, throughout the season, they played some wonderful cricket, smashing various records. SRH is set to keep the Indian duo of Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

For overseas picks, SRH is set to continue with their holy trinity of Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen and Pat Cummins. Cummins is likely to continue as the captain while Head and Klaasen brings fire-power into the team.

6. Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals are another franchise that will enter the IPL 2025 in search of their maiden IPL title. The franchise is desperate, which is why they have made some big changes to their coaching staff, and Ricky Ponting has been axed. With the reports that Rishabh Pant could be headed out of the team, Delhi Capitals might enter the auction with only one retention picks, Axar Patel.

However, on 2nd thoughts, if Delhi Capitals decide to keep some overseas players in their team, then the duo of Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs will be considered favourite. Jake is a classy batter at the top of the inning who smashes from ball one. Tristan Stubbs can be a great finisher for the team, whose responsibility will be to win the matches for his team with his batting lower down the order.

7. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Since making their IPL debut in 2022, Lucknow Super Giants have made playoffs in a couple of seasons. But they have not gone past the playoff mark. They will be keen to win the title this time around. With reports that KL Rahul is set to leave Lucknow, LSG will be looking to keep hold of Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and Caribbean batter Nicholas Pooran, who could be made the captain of the team.

Pooran doesn’t have a replacement. He is one of the best strikers in the world and among the most demanded players in overseas leagues. Stoinis also comes with his match-wining ability with bat and ball. That’s why he is very important for both teams.

8. Gujarat Titans (GT)

The 2022 champion Gujarat Titans couldn’t make it to their third consecutive final as they finished in 7th place in 2024 under Shubman Gill. Everything will depend on the decision of the franchise in the IPL 2024 mega auction. Gill along with Sai Sudharsan might be retained as Indian picks.

Rashid Khan and David Miller can be the two overseas stars who can be retained. Without a doubt, Rashid will be one of their retentions because he is a global T20 star and is a core player for them. Miller is another name who has been a match-winner for them in the IPL.

9. Rajasthan Royals (RR)

The 2008 winner came close to winning their second title in 2022 but lost the final to Gujarat Titans. Sanju Samson and his men have been pretty consistent in the last few seasons, but they need a win. Speaking about their retentions, Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag are likely to be retained.

Although various reports recently states that Rajasthan Royals and England batter Jos Buttler is likely to be released ahead of Mega Auction, but, if Rajasthan decides to retain some overseas players, Jos Buttler’s name will be at the top of the list. The other overseas player that Rajasthan might want to retain will be the Kiwi pacer Trent Boult. Boult has been in great form for the franchise and will also be hoping to continue with the same side.

10. Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Punjab Kings have been the underperformer in IPL, as they have only made to the top four twice in 17 seasons. There has been a lot going on within the franchise as well as other chopping and changing with the team and coaching staff. Shikhar Dhawan is retired, and they need a new captain now. Arshdeep Singh, who was once looking likely a sureshot retention, the Punjabi pacer is reportedly likely to enter the mega auction. PBKS is said to be considering retaining only Shashank Singh as an uncapped player for just 4 crore.

But, if PBKS change their mind at the last moment, then the team’s best choice will be the duo of Sam Curran and Kagiso Rabada. Curran can lead the side, as he has been doing for a while in the absence of Dhawan. On the other hand, Rabada is one of the best pacers going around.

Also Read: IPL 2025 Retained Players List Each Team