Thu Oct 31 16:48:44 UTC 2024: ## IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Big Names Retained, Big Surprises Released

**Mumbai, India (November 2, 2024)** – The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction saw a mix of expected and unexpected moves as teams finalized their retention strategies.

While heavyweights like **Rohit Sharma**, **Virat Kohli**, and **MS Dhoni** were retained by their respective teams, several big names were surprisingly released.

Among those released were **Rishabh Pant**, **KL Rahul**, and **Shreyas Iyer**, former captains of their respective teams. **Mitchell Starc** also found himself on the release list.

Teams opted for diverse strategies, maximizing their retention slots while aiming for a balanced core. The IPL 2025 rules allowed for the retention of up to five capped players, two uncapped players, and a maximum of six players overall.

Interestingly, **MS Dhoni**, despite being a veteran of international cricket, was retained under the uncapped player category due to not having played international cricket in the last five years.

**Punjab Kings**, with no capped retentions, secured four Right-to-Match (RTM) options for the auction, while **Mumbai Indians**, focusing on capped players, retained five players.

**Kolkata Knight Riders**, despite releasing their title-winning captain **Shreyas Iyer**, opted to retain their core players including **Sunil Narine** and **Varun Chakravarthy**.

The mega auction, scheduled for later this year, promises to be an exciting event, as teams fight for coveted players and reshape their squads for the upcoming IPL season.

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