Aakash Chopra suggests the retention of four players by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for the upcoming IPL 2025 auction. Expressing doubts he predicts that Rohit Sharma may not feature in the team in the upcoming season.
Hardik Pandya has taken over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma for MI ahead of IPL 2024. This leadership change comes as a surprising development for fans. Rohit Sharma a fivetime titlewinning captain had a season with ups and downs managing to score 417 runs in 14 innings at an average of 32.08 displaying a remarkable strike rate of 150.00.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel Chopra firmly opined that Ishan Kishan and Rohit are not likely to feature in the Mumbai Indians retained players list.
“I think they will let Ishan Kishan go. They might use the ‘Right to Match’ card because 15.5 crores is just too much money. I don’t think Ishan will be retained. I think Rohit Sharma has played his last match for the Mumbai Indians, whether he doesn’t want to be retained or the franchise lets him go.”
“Either way, I see them parting ways. I don’t think you will be seeing Rohit Sharma in the Mumbai Indians jersey again. That’s just my understanding. I might be wrong but I feel, either which way, Rohit Sharma will not be playing for the Mumbai Indians when you start the next season.”
Aakash Chopra
Kishan notched up 320 runs at an unimpressive average of 22.86 and a striking rate of 148.83 in 14 innings during IPL 2024. Despite his acquisition for a staggering ₹15.25 crore at the IPL 2022 auction there remains uncertainty regarding his retention at the same price if MI opts not to retain him.
Aakash Chopra Confident in Mumbai Indians Retaining Suryakumar Yadav
Aakash Chopra believes Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah will be the Mumbai Indians’ first two retainers.
“I feel the first retention will be Suryakumar Yadav. I am not saying first or second but this team will 100% want to retain Suryakumar Yadav. The second player, I feel you want to 100% retain Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah might be the first retention and Suryakumar Yadav might be the second retention. These two players are absolutely confirmed.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator believes the five-time winners will want to keep skipper Hardik Pandya.
“The third, I would say Hardik Pandya. You need Hardik Pandya because it wasn’t a short-term investment. You had picked the player for long-term gain, and Hardik Pandya is an integral part of the blueprint you had made to take the team forward.”
Aakash Chopra
While listing Tilak Varma as the fourth probable retention, Chopra suggested that Tim David may be re-acquired using the ‘Right to Match’ card.
“I feel the fourth should be Tilak Varma. All four are Indians thus far. I don’t think this team will want to or will be able to retain any overseas player. They might keep Tim David by using the ‘Right to Match’ card but I don’t see anyone in the overseas contingent seeing whom you would say that you will be at a massive loss if you let him go.”
Aakash Chopra
Varma was MI’s second-highest run-getter in the IPL 2024, with 416 runs at a strike rate of 149.64 in 13 innings, one shy of Rohit Sharma’s total. In the just finished season, David hit 11 times and scored 241 runs with a strike rate of 158.55.