RCB Mai Ajao: Fan Requests Rohit Sharma To Join Bengaluru Team For IPL 2025, Here's What He Said

A video featuring Rohit Sharma at M Chinnaswamy Stadium has taken social media by storm. In the clip, a fan humorously asked Rohit to join the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team. The Indian captain's response added to the light-hearted atmosphere during the ongoing 1st Test between India and New Zealand. The stadium was alive with "RCB-RCB" chants, blending seamlessly with cheers for the national team.

As Rohit made his way to the dressing room, fans cheered him on. An enthusiastic supporter asked which IPL team he would join in 2025. "Bhai IPL mein konsa team?" he queried. Although Rohit, a former Mumbai Indians captain, didn't reveal anything, the fan continued, urging him to join RCB with affection: "Bhai RCB mein aajao yar. Love you bhai."

IPL Retention Buzz

The anticipation for player retention ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction is palpable. Fans and experts are busy speculating about which players each franchise might retain or let go. This excitement has spilled over into cricket matches, as seen during the Test match in Bengaluru where fans were vocal about their hopes for player movements.

Fan: "Which team in the IPL"

Rohit Sharma replied "Where do you want"

Fan: "Come to RCB"

Typical Rohit Sharma 😄👌 pic.twitter.com/A4XHZF8A3p

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 19, 2024

Reports suggest that Rohit Sharma, India's T20 World Cup-winning captain, is likely to be one of four core players retained by Mumbai Indians for the upcoming IPL season. Alongside him, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav are expected to stay with the franchise.

Retention Rules and Costs

All IPL franchises must submit their final retention lists to the BCCI by October 31 before the mega auction in November. According to new rules, teams can retain up to six players-five capped (Indian or overseas) and two uncapped players. The retention process comes with significant costs.

The first player retained will cost ₹18 crore; subsequent retentions will cost ₹14 crore for the second player and ₹11 crore for the third. The fourth and fifth players will again cost ₹18 crore and ₹14 crore respectively. Teams must strategise carefully as these costs impact their overall budget significantly.

Mumbai Indians' Leadership Change

Last season saw Hardik Pandya replace Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians' captain. However, this change did not bring success; Mumbai finished last in the standings with only four wins from 14 matches. Hardik faced boos from sections of fans at Wankhede Stadium during his leadership stint.

This incident highlights how deeply intertwined IPL is with Indian cricket culture. As franchises gear up for crucial auctions, speculation about potential moves and player swaps continues to dominate conversations both online and offline.