Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its 2025 mega auction, and all eyes are on Mumbai Indians (MI) as they finalize their retentions. Former MI captain Rohit Sharma's future with the franchise is uncertain, and his potential availability in the auction pool has sparked speculation.Harbhajan Singh, Rohit's former India and MI teammate, believes that the veteran opener would command a hefty price if he enters the auction. "Rohit Sharma is a top-quality player and leader. He's a proven match-winner, and even at 37, he still has a lot of cricket left in him," said Harbhajan. "If he goes into the auction, he will fetch big bucks."Harbhajan also praised Rohit's off-field qualities, describing him as a "yaaro ka yaar" (friend of friends). "Rohit respects his elders, and that's one of his best qualities," he added.Meanwhile, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed confidence that the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan, with all teams, including India, participating. However, Harbhajan has raised safety concerns, stating that Indian players should not travel to Pakistan."There are significant safety concerns in Pakistan," said Harbhajan. "I've always said, and I still believe, that if there's no guarantee of safety, our players shouldn't travel to Pakistan."Harbhajan also commended Jay Shah for his contributions to Indian cricket. "Having an Indian representative at the ICC level, especially as the chairman, is a huge achievement," he said. "Under Jay Shah's leadership, there have been many changes in Team India. Women's cricket, in particular, has received a financial boost thanks to his efforts."

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction on the horizon, the future of star batter Rohit Sharma at Mumbai Indians (MI) remains uncertain. Last season, MI removed Rohit as captain and appointed Hardik Pandya as his successor, a move that sparked controversy among fans who felt it was disrespectful to Rohit, who had led MI to five IPL titles. Rumors of a rift between Hardik and Rohit further fueled speculation about Rohit's future with the franchise.Amidst the uncertainty, former India batter Mohammed Kaif urged Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to acquire Rohit in the upcoming auction. However, RCB legend AB de Villiers dismissed the possibility of such a move. "I almost laughed at the Rohit comment," de Villiers said. "It would be a huge story if Rohit moved from Mumbai Indians to RCB. But I don't see it happening. I don't think MI will let Rohit go."De Villiers also expressed his support for Faf du Plessis as RCB's captain for the upcoming season, stating that even Virat Kohli would want the veteran South African to continue. "Age is just a number," de Villiers said. "Faf has been exceptional as a player, and I think Virat will back him with all his experience."

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction is set to be a pivotal event for all 10 franchises. With a mega auction on the horizon, teams must carefully consider their retention strategies to build competitive squads.According to the BCCI, franchises can retain a maximum of six players, either through retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option. The combination of retentions and RTMs can include up to five capped players (Indian or overseas) and two uncapped players. The auction purse for each franchise has been set at INR 120 Crore.For five-time champions Mumbai Indians, who endured a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign, the upcoming auction holds immense significance. The team boasts a star-studded roster, including Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma. However, the franchise faces a crucial decision regarding player retention.Former IPL-winning coach Tom Moody has expressed his reservations about Hardik Pandya's potential retention at the highest price of INR 18 crore. Moody believes that Pandya's recent struggles with fitness and performance may not warrant such a high valuation."When you dissect all of those areas with Hardik Pandya, does he deserve to be an 18 crore player? Is he worth it? If you've got to be an 18 crore player, you've got to be a genuine match-winner and do it regularly," Moody said.Moody also highlighted Mumbai Indians' past struggles at the auction table, particularly in retaining players at inflated prices. He cited the examples of Ishan Kishan and Jofra Archer, who failed to deliver consistent returns despite their hefty price tags."They've had a little bit of a problem at the auction table the last couple of years. They've gotten caught up in a way too loyal in some cases and tried to retain, or get players back into their squad, which has cost them dearly," Moody said.The Mumbai Indians management will have to make some tough decisions regarding player retention. They must balance loyalty with performance and value for money to build a squad capable of challenging for the IPL title in 2025.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has released its guidelines for player retention, sparking discussions among experts on which players franchises should prioritize ahead of the mega auction. With six players allowed for retention, including Right-To-Match, tough decisions lie ahead for teams.For Mumbai Indians (MI), the future of former skipper Rohit Sharma is a major talking point. However, former India batter Aakash Chopra believes MI should also make a crucial call on current captain Hardik Pandya.While many expect Hardik to be MI's top retention, Chopra argues that Jasprit Bumrah should take that spot. He considers Bumrah the No. 1 pick across all IPL teams, making him the top priority for MI as well."The most difficult thing is to retain the Indian core. MI and CSK have won five trophies each, and both have had strong Indian cores. Overseas players can be replaced, but Indian players are harder to find. Can you tell me a like-for-like replacement for Jasprit Bumrah?" Chopra said.Regarding Hardik, Chopra suggests he could be MI's fourth pick. Suryakumar Yadav could be the second choice (in the INR 14 crore category), while Rohit, Tilak Varma, and Ishan Kishan would compete for the remaining spots."Indian retentions for Mumbai Indians seem straightforward. Hardik, Surya, Bumrah, you have three. After that, I think they will discuss with Rohit Sharma about the next step. It's anybody's guess after what has transpired. Whether he will stay in Mumbai or go elsewhere, I think it will also be his will. I think that will be a discussion. And then Ishan Kishan or Tilak Varma," he added."The interesting aspect will be the order of retention. Who will be the first, who will be the second and all that? Jasprit Bumrah is my No. 1 retention. He will be the first retention in the overall IPL, across all teams. If Bumrah is your first, then you have captain Hardik Pandya. He can be your fourth retention (Rs 18 crore). Then you have India's T20I captain, he is Suryakumar Yadav. He will be come in Rs 14 crore category. Then you have Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma. Then there is the wicketkeeper-batter batter in Ishan Kishan, whom you retained for Rs 15 or Rs 15.5 crore. It's going to be a tough one."Tim David and Piyush Chawla are also potential retention candidates for MI. While Chawla fits well in the uncapped player category, David's chances of being retained remain uncertain.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has introduced a new retention formula that will require teams to pay a higher price for retaining more players. The formula, which can be described as 'pay more to retain more', stipulates that teams will have to pay a higher price for their fourth and fifth retained players.The auction purse for each team has been increased to Rs 120 crore. For the first three retentions, the deductions will be Rs 18 crore, 14 crore, and 11 crore, respectively. This means that if a team chooses to retain more players, they will have less money available to spend in the auction.The fourth and fifth retention will cost the franchise the same amount as Player No. 1 and No. 2. The price for the uncapped player has been pegged at Rs 4 crore. In total, retaining six players will cost Rs 79 crore, leaving the franchise with Rs 41 crore to build the remainder of their squad.Under the new regulations, each franchise can retain up to six players using a combination of Retentions and the Right to Match (RTM) options, with no restriction on the number of overseas players that can be retained. Teams are allowed to retain a maximum of five capped players and up to two uncapped players.For Mumbai Indians, the priority would be to retain their star-studded Indian core, including captain Hardik Pandya, India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, former skipper Rohit Sharma, and one of the world's top fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah. These four players are likely to be the marquee picks for five-time champions MI, meaning the franchise will have to pay a significant sum to retain them.If Hardik and Surya are retained as the first and second players at Rs 18 crore and Rs 14 crore, respectively, then Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah would be retained as the fourth and fifth players at the same amounts as the first and second retentions. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who was the most expensive player at the last mega-auction in 2022, can be their third retention at Rs 11 crore.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction guidelines have sparked discussions among fans and former cricketers. Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja has expressed his opinion on Mumbai Indians' retention strategy, suggesting that they should prioritize retaining Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.Jadeja believes that these three players are indispensable to Mumbai Indians and should be retained without hesitation. He also suggests that the franchise should use their Right to Match (RTM) card on Hardik Pandya, despite his injury concerns."I'd say, players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah, are undoubtedly the three players who will be retained by MI. It is impossible to get these players if put up for auction," Jadeja said.However, Jadeja acknowledges that using the RTM on Pandya could be risky. "The kind of player he is, you might not get him either (in the auction). But there is a chance that his injury tendencies might make the other franchises not be able to open up their banks for him," he added.Jadeja believes that sacrificing one of the other three players for Pandya would be a mistake. "If you have an RTM, they you can use to their advantage. I am not saying that this decides the player's caliber or power, but if you look at a player like Bumrah and his value and then Hardik Pandya on the market, it will be a difficult business," he said.Mumbai Indians have a number of other key players to consider, including Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Tim David, and Dewald Brevis. The franchise will have to make some tough decisions before the mega auction.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its next mega auction, scheduled for November or December 2025. This highly anticipated event will witness a significant shift in player retention rules, with franchises reportedly allowed to retain up to five players ahead of the auction.According to sources close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the decision to increase the retention limit from four to five players aims to provide greater flexibility to franchises in building their squads. However, the Right To Match (RTM) option will not be available in this mega auction.This change in retention rules is expected to have a major impact on team strategies. Mumbai Indians, for instance, could potentially retain their star-studded lineup of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and a fifth player of their choice.The IPL has held two mega auctions in the past decade, with four-year intervals in between. The first major auction was held in 2014, followed by the 2018 auction that marked the return of Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings after their two-year suspensions.The 2021 mega auction was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in teams extending the contracts of their players for an additional year. The upcoming IPL mega sale is likely to be a two-day affair, similar to the previous auctions held in 2022, 2023, and 2024.While some franchises advocate for a larger retention cap of up to eight players, others prefer the existing limit of four or five. The optimal number of retained players remains a topic of debate among IPL teams.

Pakistan-born fast bowler Zahoor Khan, who represents the UAE cricket team, had a memorable stint with the Mumbai Indians (MI) as a net bowler in 2014. Despite not featuring in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Zahoor gained invaluable experience and insights from his interactions with some of the world's top cricketers.In a recent interview, Zahoor shared his experiences with MI, particularly his encounters with Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma. He revealed that Bumrah was so impressed by his slower deliveries that he sought advice on his grip."I spent three months with Mumbai Indians and had the opportunity to interact with Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah," Zahoor said. "Bumrah was particularly interested in my slower ball and asked me how I grip the ball. It was a huge honor for me, considering he's the world's No. 1 bowler."Zahoor also recalled bowling to Rohit Sharma in the nets and noted that the Indian skipper struggled to pick his slower delivery. "I bowled a slower ball to Rohit, and he couldn't believe how slow it was," Zahoor said. "He even commented that even if a batter picked it, it would never go for a six."Zahoor praised Rohit Sharma's leadership and humility, describing him as a legend who treats everyone with respect. He also commended Bumrah's resilience and determination, highlighting his impressive return to form after an injury layoff."Rohit is a true leader and a wonderful human being," Zahoor said. "Bumrah is a superstar, but he's also a great person. He's shown that he's back to his best after his injury."Zahoor's time with MI provided him with a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best in the game. His interactions with Bumrah and Sharma have undoubtedly enriched his cricketing knowledge and will serve him well in his future endeavors.

Jasprit Bumrah's Iconic Bowling Action Remains Unchanged: Mumbai Indians' Viral Video Sparks ExcitementMumbai Indians ignited a frenzy on social media with a captivating video showcasing Jasprit Bumrah's signature bowling action. The post, part of the "10-year challenge," juxtaposes Bumrah's bowling technique from 2014 to 2024. Despite the passage of time, fans were mesmerized by the uncanny resemblance in his unique delivery, underscoring why Bumrah is hailed as one of India's greatest fast bowlers.The video's release coincides with Bumrah's unexpected inclusion in India's squad for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Having last featured in red-ball cricket in March 2024, many anticipated Bumrah's exclusion, particularly given the demanding international schedule ahead, including Tests against New Zealand and a highly anticipated series against Australia later this year. However, selectors, led by Ajit Agarkar, appear to have a different strategy.Bumrah's selection for the Bangladesh series is likely a calculated move to ensure the pacer remains match-fit for the upcoming crucial fixtures. Bumrah has been India's indispensable bowler in overseas conditions, especially in Australia, where his ability to generate bounce and swing has been instrumental. With 32 wickets in just seven matches in Australia, his record speaks volumes. His potential to play a pivotal role in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy means India cannot afford to have a rusty Bumrah stepping straight into action.The first Test against Bangladesh, commencing in Chennai, provides an ideal opportunity for Bumrah to gradually reintegrate into red-ball cricket. While spin is expected to dominate the series, Bumrah's workload will likely be carefully managed, possibly playing just one Test to fine-tune his rhythm.Bumrah's inclusion in the Test squad has sparked a debate among cricket enthusiasts. Some argue that it is a prudent decision to ensure his fitness for the upcoming challenges, while others believe it is unnecessary to risk his well-being in a series where spin is likely to play a more significant role.Regardless of the differing opinions, Bumrah's iconic bowling action remains a sight to behold. The Mumbai Indians' viral video serves as a testament to his unwavering consistency and exceptional talent. As India gears up for a challenging international schedule, Bumrah's presence in the squad provides a sense of reassurance and anticipation.