The IPL 2025 is generating excitement day by day as the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has announced some strict rules and regulations for player retention ahead of the upcoming season. Preparations for the IPL 2025 Mega Auction have already started as all the participating teams have announced their retention list on 1st November.

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians have chosen to retain their core group of five Indian players from their 2024 squad ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2025 mega auction. Among them, star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has extended his contract with MI for β‚Ή18 crore. Additionally, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma were retained at β‚Ή16.35 crore, β‚Ή16.35 crore, β‚Ή16.30 crore, and β‚Ή8 crore, respectively. Following these retentions, MI also confirmed Hardik Pandya as their captain for the 2025 season of this much-awaited Cricket league.

With a strong lineup of retained Indian talent, the Mumbai franchise is now expected to focus on securing top-quality overseas players, along with several impactful Indian stars in the mega auction, to enhance their roster for a robust IPL title bid in 2025. As many former MI players are now back in the auction pool after being released by other franchises, here’s a look at three former players MI could potentially target in the upcoming mega auctions.

1. Jos Buttler: After releasing from the Rajasthan Royal’s retention list, the star English cricketer already become a ‘hot topic’ in the auction pool. All participating teams are eager to have Buttler on their side. Buttler made his IPL debut in 2016 for MI and played a couple of seasons for the Mumbai-based franchise under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. He joined Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018 mega auctions and in the last seven years hammered 3055 runs for them in 83 matches. Despite being a crucial part of RR’s recent success, the Jaipur-based team released Buttler, making him available for MI to buy at the IPL 2025 mega auctions. Buttler will be a good wicketkeeper as well as an opening batter option for MI after they did not retain Ishan Kishan for the upcoming season of IPL.

2. Trent Boult: The Kiwi Pacer also joined MI in a trade deal. He was traded from the Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2020, and during his two-year association with the Mumbai franchise, he played 29 matches and dismissed 38 batters. The 35-year-old left-arm pacer is one of the best bowlers of present times and is known for taking wickets with the new ball. He was associated with the Rajasthan Royals in the last three seasons and did well for the Pink Army. Despite his brilliant performance, RR released him for the 2025 season. So It will be a great opportunity for MI if they can pick him to add more power in their pace attack.

3. Quinton de Kock: South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock joined Mumbai Indians (MI) from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in a trade deal before the 2019 IPL season and went on to play three seasons with the team. In 43 matches for MI, he scored 1,329 runs and helped the franchise win two IPL titles. Despite his solid performance of 901 runs in 30 matches for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), he was not retained by them.