IPL 2025 Best Retained Overseas Players List for All 10 Teams

25 Overseas players under contention as we look at the strongest retained players among foreign players list ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. 

The greatest T20 tournament in cricket history, the Indian Premier League is entering its 18th year, and we are in for the most exciting pre-tournament event, the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. While the tournament has a lot of focus on nurturing young Indian talent, what is equally important is the involvement of the Overseas players, the best chosen ones from different countries. 

With 10 teams now officiating the tournament, we see nearly 80 Overseas players from different parts of the world every year. Except for Pakistan whose players are banned from playing in the IPL, the tournament sees a lot of players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies, and England. Also, the paycheck of these players is usually on the higher side given the quality they bring to the table. 

With the tournament going into Mega Auction next year, all teams will be eager to finalize the Overseas players they would like to retain. Given the financial and max players limit, it will not be easy for any team to retain as many Overseas players as they would want. So, considering the best possible probability, let’s look at the IPL 2025 strongest list of Overseas retained players.  

IPL 2025 Overseas Retained Players List for Each Team

Chennai Super Kings

1. Matheesha Pathirana
2. Devon Conway

Starting with the Chennai Super Kings, the team would ideally like to retain as many as 6 Overseas players. But given the restrictions surrounding the maximum number of players one can retain, CSK will retain Matheesha Pathirana if only 4 players are allowed to retain. Whereas they will also retain Devon Conway if 6 players are allowed to be retained. It’s very difficult to see BCCI allowing more than 6 players per side to get retained, hence CSK may not be in a position to retain more than 2 Overseas players. 

Delhi Capitals

1. Mitchell Marsh
2. Jake Fraser-McGurk
3. Tristan Stubbs

Coming to Delhi Capitals, the team does have a few quality Overseas players in their side. With 3 Indian players being sure shot for Delhi Capitals from retention POV, the team will retain Mitchell Marsh if 4 players are allowed to retain. They will add Jake Fraser-McGurk if 5 players are allowed to retain, and Tristan Stubbs if 6 players are allowed to retain. 

Gujarat Titans

1. Rashid Khan
2. David Miller

The Gujarat Titans are one team that is mostly Indian player-centric. The team does have a lot of quality Indian players in the side. But when it comes to Overseas players, the team has only two good options, and those are Rashid Khan and David Miller. Ideally, Rashid is a sure-shot retention. Whereas GT will add Miller if BCCI allows to retain 6 players. 

Kolkata Knight Riders

1. Sunil Narine
2. Andre Russell

Coming to Kolkata Knight Riders, there are two Overseas players who will get into retentions without any debate. The true match-winners for their side for a lot of years, Sunil Narine and Andre Russell will get retained irrespective of how many players does BCCI allow to retain. Other than these two, KKR can think of Phil Salt, but he will only get retained if more than 6 players are allowed. If not, these two will KKR have to live with. 

Lucknow Super Giants

1. Nicholas Pooran
2. Marcus Stoinis
3. Quinton de Kock

Talking about Lucknow Super Giants, the team has three solid Overseas players, and ideally would like to retain all three of them. But if LSG are allowed to retain only four players, Nicolas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis will be the first two names on the table. But if they are allowed to retain five players, Quinton de Kock will be the third name that LSG may like to retain. 

Mumbai Indians

1. Tim David
2. Nuwan Thushara

Mumbai Indians are one team that is devoid of quality Overseas players in their side. It’s a fact that MI are heavily invested in Indian players, and if they are given an option, they will retain 0 Overseas players. But given the BCCI rule, the team will retain Tim David if four players are allowed, and they will retain Nuwan Thushara if 6 players are allowed to retain. 

Punjab Kings

1. Sam Curran
2. Kagiso Rabada
3. Jonny Bairstow

Punjab Kings will be the team that would not want to retain any player barring uncapped players. The team doesn’t have any quality Overseas players who deserve a higher price. So, it will be very tough for PBSK to retain any Overseas player with financial restrictions that BCCI may impose. But if those restrictions are lifted, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, and Jonny Bairstow will be the three names that PBKS may want to retain.  

Rajasthan Royals

1. Jos Buttler
2. Trent Boult

Rajasthan Royals have two solid Overseas players that they will want to retain at any cost. But it is the restrictions that RR will have to live with. So, If only 4 players are allowed to get retained, RR will look to retain Jos Buttler. Whereas if 6 players are allowed to get retained, RR will then include Trent Boult too. 

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

1. Glenn Maxwell
2. Faf du Plessis
3. Cameron Green

Meanwhile, talking about Royal Challengers Bengaluru, their biggest headache will be whether they continue investing in Faf du Plessis. Faf is getting older, and will be turning 41 next year. But his form and fitness still remain top-notch. So RCB may want to invest in Faf for one more year. So, alongside Faf, expect RCB to retain Glenn Maxwell and Cameron if 6 players are allowed to retain. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad

1. Heinrich Klaasen
2. Pat Cummins
3. Travis Head

Finally, talking about the Overseas players heavy, Sunrisers Hyderabad, they are also one team alongside Chennai Super Kings who would want to retain as many Overseas players as possible. However, given the restrictions, they won’t be allowed to retain more than 3. So, considering their top three choices, it has got to be Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Travis Head. 

So, that’s about the best retained players list when it comes to Overseas players for IPL 2025. Overall, we can expect around 20-25 Overseas players that will see the retentions for IPL 2025. Whereas other players will be targetted in the Auction. 

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