Mumbai Indians (MI) announced Hardik Pandya will continue as captain for IPL 2025, despite a challenging season in 2024, where MI finished at the bottom of the standings for only the second time in franchise history. Alongside Pandya, MI retained key players Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma, securing their core group for a combined INR 75 crore, leaving INR 45 crore available for the mega auction.
MI retained Bumrah at INR 18 crore, making him their top retention for the first time. Hardik and Suryakumar were each retained at INR 16.35 crore. Rohit, who recently retired from the format, expressed satisfaction at his position as the fourth retention, viewing it as an ideal setup for the team’s future. MI retained Tilak at INR 8 crore.
In a video statement, Hardik Pandya expressed gratitude to MI, emphasizing that the franchise has been integral to his journey in cricket. Reflecting on MI’s past successes, he highlighted their determination to come back even stronger in 2025. Furthermore, he cited a deep sense of unity and brotherhood within the team.
Owner Akash Ambani expressed confidence in MI’s core, highlighting Bumrah, Suryakumar, Hardik, Rohit, and Tilak as players who truly embody MI’s cricketing values. Moreover, he noted that the team’s core and coaching staff have collaborated closely to build a unified vision, thus reinforcing the franchise’s commitment to its fans and stakeholders.
After a tough 2024, MI has also reinstated Mahela Jayawardene as head coach, aiming to revitalize their approach and recapture their winning form in the upcoming season.
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