IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Irfan Pathan Says If Mumbai Indian Releases Rohit Sharma Then There Will Be A War

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) mega auction, former cricketer Irfan Pathan has made a big statement on former Mumbai Indian's skipper Rohit Sharma, who was sacked from his duties only to bring in Hardik Pandya. Reviewing everything that happened in last edition of IPL, Irfan Pathan said if five times IPL winning captain will be released from the squad, then is it surely going to be a hot topic.

Reports suggested that in last edition, Rohit was unhappy with management's decision, causing unrest within the MI camp.

As teams prepare for the upcoming IPL edition, a mega auction is on the horizon. Although retention rules are yet to be officially announced, Rohit Sharma's recent IPL form suggests he might not be among MI's top retentions.

Players like Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya are likely to be prioritized. If MI releases their former captain, will other teams bid for him at the auction?

Potential Bidding War for Rohit Sharma

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan believes there will be intense competition for Rohit Sharma if he is released. He emphasized Rohit's vast captaincy experience and his record of winning the IPL five times. "Jung hogi Jung (There will be a huge bidding war for Rohit Sharma I am telling you). He brings one special thing with him and that is 'captaincy experience'. Every team will wish to have a captain like him," Irfan stated in an exclusive interview with India TV.

Irfan also highlighted that having an Indian captain like Rohit would allow teams to better utilize the Impact Player rule. This rule can sometimes force teams to keep an overseas captain in the playing XI regardless of performance. "In the form of Rohit, they will get an Indian captain and therefore will be able to make good use of the Impact Player rule as having an overseas captain at times forces teams to keep him in the playing XI irrespective of his performance," Irfan added.

Fitness Over Form

When questioned about whether Rohit's recent IPL form would affect his final price at the auction, Irfan Pathan dismissed this notion. He pointed out that franchises would focus more on Rohit's fitness rather than his form. "Not at all, We all know what Hitman Rohit can do with the bat. Yes, one thing that each team will keep a keen eye on, will be his fitness. If Rohit Sharma is FIT, he will be HIT," Irfan remarked.

The upcoming mega auction promises significant changes as teams look to strengthen their squads. While retention rules remain unclear, players' recent performances and fitness levels will undoubtedly play crucial roles in their selection and bidding wars.

The anticipation surrounding these decisions adds another layer of excitement to the IPL season ahead. Fans and franchises alike are eager to see how these dynamics unfold and which players emerge as key assets for their respective teams.