IPL 2025 Mega auction: We are just a few weeks away from the much-awaited event, which is the mega auction ahead of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League. There will be some big names who might not be retained because of the retention rule of limited players. The retention list has become a hot topic for discussion, and the 2016 IPL winner and last edition’s finalist Sunrisers Hyderabad have dropped a massive hint.
A IPL franchise can retain a maximum of six players (4 through direct retention and two through Right To Match cards). But retaining six players will also burn a lot of money. However, according to the exclusive update from ESPN Crcinfo, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are all set to reveal their aces. The Hyderabad-based franchise is likely to retain star South Africa batter as their frist pick.
IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Sunrisers Hyderabad to retain Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins and Abhishek Sharma as their first three picks
As updated by ESPN Crcinfo, Heinrich Klaasen is likely to be the first pick, and SRH will be retaining him at a price of INR 23 crore. Meanwhile, captain Pat Cummins, who brought a new mindset to the team and was purchased for INR 20.5 crore in the last auction, is said to be the second pick.
SRH will retain him for a price of INR 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Opener Abhishek Sharma, who hit most sixes in the IPL 2024 and was one key reason that SRH made it to the final, is likely to be the third retention. The franchise is all set to retain him for a price of INR 14 crore. Abhishek has made his international debut recently and has mixed performances.
It will be interesting to see whether the youngsters will be able to repay the faith of the franchise or not. Choosing Abhishek over Travis Head is a big decision. But the franchise is planning to retain Head along with Nitish Kumar Reddy for fourth and fifth place. Head scored 567 runs in 15 innings at a blistering strike rate of 191.55 in 2024.
SHR are planning to get back Nitish at the IPL 2025 mega auction through the RTM card. The RTM card allows a franchise to buy back one of their released players at the price that he got sold at the auction. Notably, the deadline for all the teams to submit their retention list is October 31.
IPL 2025 Mega Auction: SRH set to release Aiden Markram, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan
With only limited retention available, SRH has to take the hard decision of releasing some key players. Former captain Aiden Markaram can be one of those. He led the team before Cummins in 2023. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been part of the franchise since 2016 and is their leading wicket-taker. He has taken 157 wickets for them.
He is another big name to be released. Left-arm pacer T. Natarajan can be another shocking name. He has taken 65 wickets for them in 55 matches since 2020 and was their leading wicket-taker in 2024. However, SRH might look to buy them back at the IPL 2025 mega auction, but it won’t be easy as some other franchises might also look to sign them.
