IPL 2025 Retention: Shubman Gill Expected to Stay with Gujarat Titans

As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 retention deadline approaches, reports suggest that Shubman Gill is set to be retained by the Gujarat Titans (GT) as captain, alongside star spinner Rashid Khan. With a mega auction looming, the Titans are keen to maintain their core team while building a competitive squad for the upcoming season.

Leadership Under Scrutiny: Shubman Gill stepped into the captaincy role after Hardik Pandya's departure from the franchise. However, his debut season as captain was challenging; the team finished eighth in the IPL 2024 standings, missing out on the playoffs with just 12 points. Over 14 matches, the Titans recorded five victories and suffered seven losses, ending with a disappointing net run rate of -1.063. Despite the team's struggles, Gill performed respectably as an opener, amassing 426 runs with an average of 38.73 and a strike rate of 147.40.

Loyalty and Commitment: Sources within GT have indicated that Gill is committed to staying loyal to the franchise and aims to help build a stronger team moving forward. “Many big teams were eyeing him and were looking to have him in the auction. Gill wants to stay loyal to GT and build a strong team,” a GT source shared with ANI.

Retention Speculations: The retention buzz isn't limited to GT, as attention also turns to other franchises, particularly the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Speculation surrounds whether MS Dhoni will be included in the retention list. If retained, he would likely be listed as an uncapped player, allowing CSK to retain him for a nominal fee of Rs 4 crore from their budget of Rs 120 crore. Each IPL franchise is permitted to retain up to six players ahead of the 2025 mega auction, creating a strategic landscape for teams to navigate.

As the countdown to the retention deadline continues, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how teams shape their rosters for what promises to be an exciting IPL 2025 season.