IPL 2025 Mega auction will come with many surprises. The mega auction ahead of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League might take place between December 2024 and January 2025. This will allow all ten teams to rebuild their teams that can perform well in the IPL 2025.

All ten teams will be able to retain only a maximum of six players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. At Crictips, we have discussed the possible retentions and list of released players for the IPL 2025. However, we will discuss here about the possible overseas retentions for all ten teams.

Every team has some big overseas stars who are their core players, and some teams are made around them. Hence, retaining overseas players will also be very important for all franchises. So, let’s discuss the possible retentions of overseas stars for all teams ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. A team can retain a maximum of two overseas stars as per the retention rule.

IPL 2025: Complete List of Top Retained Overseas Players for Every Team

Here are the likely retention rates of overseas players for each franchise in the IPL.

1. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are one of the most popular teams in IPL history, but they have not won the title until now. They will surely be looking to end this drought in the IPL 2025. As per two retentions, Will Jacks and Glenn Maxwell can be the two overseas retentions. Faf du Plessis might be axed as the franchise might look to have a young captain or Virat Kohli.

But because Jacks and Maxwell bring their all-round and power-hitting games to the table. Jacks is still young and had a brilliant debut season for RCB in the IPL 2024. He is also a brilliant performer in different T20 leagues. Maxwell has been with the team since 2021 and has performed consistently except for the last season.

2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

The five-time champion Chennai Super Kings missed the chance to make it to the playoffs and finished in fifth place. They won the 2023 edition and will be focusing on the sixth title in the IPL 2025. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and MS Dhoni are likely to be retained, but when it comes to overseas picks, Devon Conway and Matheesha Pathirana are the frontrunners.

Conway has been with the team since 2022 and has done pretty well. He missed the last season due to injury and will be back for the IPL 2025. Conway scored the most runs for the team when they won the 2023 edition. Meanwhile, Pathirana has become the go-to bowler for CSK. They use him whenever they need a wicket, and he has always performed well. Hence, he is likely to be the second overseas pick.

3. Mumbai Indians (MI)

The five-time champion Mumbai Indians didn’t have a great last few seasons. They have finished at the bottom twice in the last three seasons. That is why they will be desperate to outbreak the sackles and add another title to their cabinet. Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be their main retentions.

If we look at their overseas picks, they don’t have many options, but Tim David and Gerald Coetzee can be the two overseas picks. MI can use the Right To Match (RTM) card to retain these two at the IPL 2025 mega auction. David has been with the team for the last three seasons, and Coetzee has a decent debut season for MI.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

The defending champions will have a big challenge on their shoulders to retain their title in the IPL 2025. Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer are likely to be the Indian players to be retained. But if we have to choose overseas picks, then Sunil Narine and Andre Russell will without a doubt be their choices.

Both West Indian all-rounders have been the core members of the team. Narine has been part of the team since 2011 and has played a key role in all three titles. Russell joined KKR in 2012 and became a key member of the team.

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

The biggest problem in choosing the overseas retentions will be for the 2016 IPL winner. Pat Cummins came and made this team a force in 2024. He was signed for a price of INR 20.5 crore and totally repaid the faith of the franchise. Abhishek Sharma and T. Natarajan are likely to be the Indian retentions.

For overseas picks, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen might get an edge. Cummins might be released, and the franchise can pick him again at the IPL 2025 mega auction at the price they had him earlier. But Head and Klaasen are two big match-winners and are among the best T20I stars in the world.

6. Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals are another franchise that will enter the IPL 2025 in search of their maiden IPL title. The franchise is desperate, which is why they have made some big changes to their coaching staff, and Ricky Ponting has been axed. Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav are likely to be retained, then Jake Fraser McGurk and Anrich Nortje might be those two overseas retentions.

Nortje has been with the team for a few seasons now. He is one of the best T20I pacers going around. He is still young and can be with the team for the coming seasons. Meanwhile, Jake Fraser announced himself with a bang and showed his power hitting. He is also young and will be an ideal replacement for David Warner.

7. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Since making their IPL debut in 2022, Lucknow Super Giants have made playoffs in a couple of seasons. But they have not gone past the playoff mark. They will be keen to win the title this time around. KL Rahul, and Mayank Yadav are likely to be retained. Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran are likely to be the overseas retentions.

Pooran doesn’t have a replacement. He is one of the best strikers in the world and among the most demanded players in overseas leagues. Stoinis also comes with his match-winning ability with bat and ball. That’s why he is very important for both teams.

8. Gujarat Titans (GT)

The 2022 champion Gujarat Titans couldn’t make it to their third consecutive final as they finished in 7th place in 2024 under Shubman Gill. Everything will depend on the decision of the franchise in the IPL 2024 mega acution. Gill along with Sai Sudharsan and Mohammed Shami might be retained as Indian picks.

Rashid Khan and David Miller can be the two overseas stars who can be retained. Without a doubt, Rashid will be one of their retentions because he is a global T20 star and is a core player for them. Miller is another name who has been a match-winner for them in the IPL.

9. Rajasthan Royals (RR)

The 2008 winner came close to winning their second title in 2022 but lost the final to Gujarat Titans. Sanju Samson and his men have been pretty consistent in the last few seasons, but they need a win. Speaking about their retention, Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag are likely to be retained.

Jos Buttler will be among the first few retentions, as he has been very consistent for them over the years. Buttler’s ability with the bat can’t be replaced. The second choice is Shimron Hetmyer. Samson has used Hetmyer smartly, and he has performed well in limited chances.

10. Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Punjab Kings have been the underperformer for PBKS, as they have only made to the top four twice in 17 seasons. There has been a lot going on within the franchise as well as other chopping and changing with the team and coaching staff. Shikhar Dhawan is retired, and they need a new captain now. Arsheep Singh, Shashank Singh, and Ashutosh Sharma can be retained.

For overseas picks, they have a better choice of Sam Curran and Kagiso Rabada. Curran can lead the side, as he has been doing for a while in the absence of Dhawan. On the other hand, Rabada is one of the best pacers going around.