(Image source from: Instagram.com/rohitsharma45)
The Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma supported retaining the national team players in the Mumbai Indians squad for the IPL 2025 season. Franchise captain Hardik Pandya described it as "five fingers but one fist." Mumbai Indians chose to keep five Indian players after the IPL teams submitted their retention lists, ending weeks of speculation. The retained players were Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma. Rohit, the former MI captain, said this was the perfect retention spot for him since he had retired from that format. He believes that the players representing the national team at the highest level should be given priority. Retaining players in a fresh auction can be very challenging. After a poor last season where they finished at the bottom, Rohit said Mumbai Indians will aim to perform better in the next edition. The team has always tried to maintain a core group of players.
We can have a successful auction and build a team of players who can win matches for us. We will make the right moves and restore the team's legacy to its rightful place. There has been a lot of discussion about Rohit's future with the team after he was replaced by Hardik as captain before last year's tournament. Rohit has played a lot of cricket for Mumbai Indians and is happy to be there. They haven't had the best seasons in the last few years, but they are determined to change that. They will support each other and hope to turn things around. Mumbai Indians has a rich history of winning trophies and matches in remarkable circumstances. Since Rohit has retired from international cricket, this is the perfect opportunity for him. Hardik will be eager to start fresh after last season's disappointment, as he has achieved great success with this franchise as a player. Everything Hardik has accomplished in his life has been a part of Mumbai Indians. They remember their victories in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
"We don't know the details of what occurred during that time period. However, we're determined to return even more formidable in 2025," he stated. "Victory and defeat happen on the field. It's all about getting ready. I enjoy working hard and preparing thoroughly," Hardik was quoted as saying by the team. The Mumbai Indians have retained Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik, Rohit, and Tilak Varma, leaving them with Rs 45 crore. Hardik described these five players as cherished friends who are united like a fist with five fingers. They will play with brotherhood, friendship, and support for each other no matter what. In the Punjab Kings franchise, Shashank Singh was retained for Rs 5.5 crore as his skills are highly valued, while Prabhsimran Singh was retained for Rs 4 crore based on the team's great expectations for him.
