Suryakumar Yadav to lead Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma or Hardik Pandya to be released: Report

Mumbai Indians have reportedly finalized their retention list ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2025 mega auction. The auction is likely to take place in December this year.

While the BCCI was expected to announce the retention rules in August, the announcement was delayed. The board is expected to announce the rules by the end of September.

In the last mega auction, the franchises were allowed to retain up to four players. As per reports, most of the franchises are keen on retaining at least five players ahead of the forthcoming mega auction in order to retain the core of their teams. Things will become clear once the BCCI announces the rules in the coming days.

Mumbai Indians' retained players list:

According to reports, Mumbai Indians have all but finalized the three players that they will retain ahead of the mega auction. According to RevSportz's Rohit Juglan, the five-time IPL champions have also decided to change their captain ahead of IPL 2025.

Juglan stated that Jasprit Bumrah is Mumbai's first retention. He also claimed that Suryakumar Yadav is not only the second retention but will also lead the team in the upcoming season. Suryakumar will be replacing Hardik Pandya as the captain of the side.

Mumbai re-signed Pandya for IPL 2024 through a trade deal with Gujarat Titans and named him their captain as well. However, Pandya failed to deliver as the Mumbai-based outfit finished at the bottom of the points table.

Even though Pandya starred with both bat and ball in India's victorious campaign at the T20 World Cup, Mumbai Indians have decided to remove him as their captain.

The decision might have been influenced by Suryakumar's appointment as India's T20 captain. Even though Pandya was the favourite to replace Rohit Sharma as the captain, the team management and the selectors named Suryakumar as the captain.

After confirming Mumbai Indians' first two retentions, Juglan stated that the franchise has retained one more player although he did not disclose the name. It means either Rohit or Pandya or both of them would be released by the franchise ahead of the mega auction.

"Bumrah first retention SuryaKumar Yadav (C) 👀 Now wait for the last one," wrote Juglan.

Bumrah first retention
SuryaKumar Yadav (C)
👀
Now wait for the last one

— रोहित जुगलान Rohit Juglan (@rohitjuglan) September 27, 2024