Before the mega auction for IPL 2025, all 10 franchises have released their lists of retained players. Chennai Super Kings delighted fans by retaining MS Dhoni for INR 4 crore, while Mumbai Indians retained Rohit Sharma for INR 16.3 crore. Amidst these announcements, franchises made some unexpected decisions that took everyone by surprise. Here, we discuss those surprising choices.
Ishan Kishan
Mumbai Indians did not retain Ishan Kishan in their list, a decision that shocked many. Last season, the wicketkeeper-batsman scored 320 runs in 14 matches, including a half-century. The 26-year-old had been with the team since 2018, but now he will be testing his luck in the mega auction.
Shreyas Iyer
Kolkata Knight Riders surprised fans by releasing their captain, Shreyas Iyer. Under Iyer’s leadership, KKR clinched the IPL 2024 title, marking their third championship win. Reports suggest Iyer had disagreements with management regarding his contract demands. Some sources even indicate he may join Delhi Capitals, a team he previously represented.
Jos Buttler
Rajasthan Royals retained six players, including five capped and one uncapped player, but they released star batsman Jos Buttler. Despite scoring 359 runs with two centuries last season, the franchise decided to part ways with him. Buttler, who had scored 863 runs with four centuries in IPL 2022, was expected to be a key player, making this decision surprising.
Rishabh Pant
Delhi Capitals released Rishabh Pant, who had returned this year after a two-year break. Speculation suggests he might join Punjab Kings, where Ricky Ponting, his former coach at Delhi Capitals, has recently been appointed head coach. This connection has fueled rumors of Pant’s potential move to Punjab.
Arshdeep Singh
Punjab Kings fully overhauled their core group, retaining only Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh. Surprisingly, they also released main bowler Arshdeep Singh. Since joining in 2019, Arshdeep has been a vital part of their bowling attack, taking 19 wickets last season. His release has raised eyebrows given his recent performances.
KL Rahul
Another surprising name on this list is KL Rahul, who was reportedly released by Lucknow Super Giants due to his inconsistent performances. Several factors contributed, including alleged disagreements with franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka and Rahul’s struggles with adapting to match situations in T20 cricket. These issues are said to have put him out of the running for retention at LSG.
