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The Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council, after a deliberate meeting on Saturday, September 28, decreed that teams could retain up to six players ahead of the mega auction for the 2025 edition of the tournament.
This includes the usage of both the Right to Match card as well as retentions in general. The council also announced that the impact player rule is here to stay till the 2027 edition of the cash-rich league.
All teams will be given a purse of INR 120 crore in this auction, which is INR 20 crore more than what it was in the previous edition of the tournament. A maximum of two uncapped Indian players are also allowed to each side.
Given the frugality that these rules demand from each franchise, several big names will be let go by their franchises to make room for other players. While it may seem heartbreaking to some, franchises have to be pragmatic.
In this listicle, we take a look at five Indian international players who might be released ahead of the 2025 IPL auction:
#1 Ravichandran Ashwin (RR)
One of the biggest names in this list of released players ahead of the 2025 IPL might be that of Ravichandran Ashwin. The legendary off-spinner, who scored a century and picked up a five-wicket haul in the first Test of the bilateral series against Bangladesh in Chennai, may not be retained by the Rajasthan Royals.
RR may be more keen on retaining the likes of Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag and Yashasvi Jaiswal and perhaps go for Ashwin when he is back in the hunt among other teams. While the Tamil Nadu all-rounder has done well in the IPL, the current dynamics of the auction go against him.
#2 Ravi Bishnoi (LSG)
Another big name who might be released by their franchise is Ravi Bishnoi. The leg-spinner, who turns out for the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, may be let go by his franchise only for them to seek him again in the open market.
Bishnoi is a fascinating bowler who knows the tricks and trades of T20 cricket inside out. The 24-year-old played in all 14 games for his franchise last season and returned with ten wickets at the end of the campaign.
While he is known to deceive batters through his fast leg breaks, sliders and googlies instead of relying on deception through the air, Bishnoi is a prized commodity, and his 32 T20I caps for India speak as much.
#3 Ajinkya Rahane (CSK)
Along with that of Ashwin, another big name who might be released ahead of the IPL 2025 auction is Ajinkya Rahane. The former India vice-captain has been discarded by the selectors in favour of more young competitors of late, and the same may be the case with the Chennai Super Kings as well.
While he was given an extended run at the top of the order by CSK in the IPL last season, Rahane could not quite make a lasting impression and frankly struggled to get going. It is astonishing how the franchise continued to play him for 13 games in which he scored a measly 242 runs at an average of 20.16.
#4 Rajat Patidar (RCB)
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru may not choose to persist with Rajat Patidar, and it is highly likely that they will release him ahead of the auction. Despite winning a Test cap for India in the series against England earlier this year, Patidar had an average run in the IPL, and this could go against him.
The 31-year-old scored 395 runs at an average of 30.38. Although he scored five half-centuries, this may not be enough for RCB to retain him. He may be let go for greener pastures in the open market. Perhaps his greatest moment in the tournament came in the Eliminator of the 2022 edition in which he scored 112* against LSG.
#5 Mayank Agarwal (SRH)
India opener Mayank Agarwal, who last played a Test for the country in his hometown Bengaluru in 2022, looks increasingly likely to be released by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in this auction.
Agarwal was a major flop in the 2024 IPL, and did not quite live up to the billing. In the four matches that he played, he could amass just 64 runs. While he was unwell for a significant part of the tournament, he was later dropped from the side too.
SRH's batting unit reached great heights in the 2024 edition of the IPL, and they were unlucky not to beat the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final and clinch their second title. Agarwal, frankly, was not fitting into their batting order.
