IPL 2025: The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) will have a mega auction that will make every team release most of their players. Only a limited number of players can be retained by the teams.
That’s where the big news came out: the BCCI is likely to bring back the old retention where a franchise can retain a retired player from an international for five or more years. The five-time champion Chennai Super Kings pushed this suggestion to the BCCI to bring back this rule, which was scrapped in 2022.
CSK did it to retain MS Dhoni, who retired in 2020. But this will also offer an option to other franchises who can look to bring some former crickets. Hence, we will talk about three players who can come in the IPL 2025 using the old retention rule.
Three players who can make comeback using old retention players in the IPL 2025
3. Suresh Raina
Famously known as “Mr. IPL,” Suresh Raina has a similar case to MS Dhoni. He also retired on August 15, 2020, a few months after MS Dhoni announced his retirement. Raina is still 37 years old and is very fit, as he has featured in a few T20 leagues and the Abu Dhabi T10 league.
He still has cricket left in him, and if he can be available as an uncapped player in the IPL 2025, there will be a number of franchises who will love to have him in their side. His experience is valuable.
2. DJ Bravo
Another such case comes from the Chennai Super Kings, who is Dwayne Bravo. Though it looks very hard that Bravo will register himself as an uncapped player at the IPL 2025 auction. But like MSD, there can be an option for him.
Bravo retired from international cricket in 2018 and from the IPL in 2022. But he has been active in other T20 leagues around the world and doing pretty well. In the IPL, he played 161 games, scored 1560 runs, and took 183 wickets. He is an IPL legend, and any team will love to have him in the IPL 2025.
1. AB de Villiers
It was a heartbreaking moment for the fans when AB de Villiers announced his retirement from the IPL in 2022. He retired from international cricket in 2018 and is eligible to feature as per the old retention rule.
De Villiers’ comeback can be a massive moment in the IPL 2025. He hasn’t played many leagues after that, but if given a chance, he will love to play in the IPL 2025 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru again.
Also Read: MS Dhoni all set to play in IPL 2025 as Uncapped player; BCCI to bring old retention rule
