IPL 2025 SRH Retention List: 5 Players likely to be retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad

2025 is set to be the year of the mega auction. After two mini auctions in 2023 and 2024, it is time to turn the gears up! As it happens during the mega auctions, teams have a higher chance of shuffling their squads.

As per Cricbuzz, the franchises are reportedly in favour of retention through the Right To Match (RTM) Card. It would allow franchises to retain their existing players at real-time rates, fixed at the auction table. In the meantime, Each team might retain 5 players (2 Overseas, 2 Capped Indians, 1 Uncapped Indian).

Let’s take a look at those 5 players who are likely to be retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

1. Pat Cummins (c)

The Australian captain is likely to be the 1st preference for the Sunrisers. Cummins has picked up 18 wickets in 16 matches of the IPL 2024. Besides, they wouldn’t want to lose a captain like him. Cummins was bought at 20.4 crore in the last year mini auction.

2. Rahul Tripathi

Tripathi (Capped Indian) should be retained by SRH due to his batting consistency and flexible outfield fielding. He might not get most of the matches in the IPL 2024, but he scored 165 runs in 6 matches. The batter was bought at 8.50 crore in the last IPL auction.

3. Heinrich Klaasen (wk)

The South African wicket keeper was retained by SRH last season. The most consistent batter from SRH is most likely to be retained again this year. Klaasen was bought by SRH at 5.25 crores in the IPL 2023 mini auction.

4. Thangarasu Natarajan

Natarajan has performed consistently throughout the IPL. He has picked up 19 wickets in 14 matches in the last season. The Indian capped bowler was bought by SRH in the last Mega Auction with a price of 4 crores.

5. Abhishek Sharma

The left handed batter has impressed by his batting season by season. Being a part time left arm orthodox, he might be the best option for SRH as an uncapped Indian. He was bought by SRH at 6.50 crore in the last Mega Auction.

RTM is an option teams can use on players that match a bid during the auction to ensure the player is retained. Each team will get the chance to apply RTM for the remaining slots they will have after pre-auction retention. e.g. if a team retains only 1 player in their retention list, they will have 4 RTM card opportunities. Similarly, if a team retains two players, they will have 3 RTM card opportunities and so on. But if a team has already retained 5 players, they will lose all the RTM cards.

The IPL retention rules and salary cap play a crucial role in shaping teams during the mega auction. Here are the key aspects that were set by the BCCI for player retention in the last mega auction 2022:

For 1 Player Retained:

Player Number: 1

Salary: INR 14 Crore

For 2 Players Retained:

Player Number: 1

Salary: INR 14 Crore

Player Number: 2

Salary: INR 10 Crore

Total: INR 24 Crore

For 3 Players Retained:

Player Number: 1

Salary: INR 15 Crore

Player Number: 2

Salary: INR 11 Crore

Player Number: 3

Salary: INR 7 Crore

Total: INR 33 Crore

For 4 Players Retained:

Player Number: 1

Salary: INR 16 Crore

Player Number: 2

Salary: INR 12 Crore

Player Number: 3

Salary: INR 8 Crore

Player Number: 4

Salary: INR 6 Crore

Total: INR 42 Crore

However, this rule might change this Mega Auction if 5-player retention rule comes.