The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction is fast approaching, and the future of Mumbai Indians (MI) legend Rohit Sharma with the franchise remains uncertain. With the BCCI allowing teams to retain up to six players, including Right-To-Match (RTM), tough decisions lie ahead for MI.
Rohit’s retention status is unclear, with speculation rife that the six-time IPL winner could enter the upcoming mega auction. Last season, MI sacked Rohit as captain, appointing Hardik Pandya in his place. The decision to remove Rohit as captain was met with criticism from fans, and MI ultimately finished last in the 10-team points table.
Amid the ongoing discussions, former India and MI spinner Harbhajan Singh has weighed in on the possibility of Rohit entering the IPL auction. Harbhajan believes it would be “fascinating” to see how many teams bid for Rohit if he does enter the auction.
“It will be interesting to see whether he will be retained or not. If he goes into the auction pool, it will be fascinating to see which team bids for him. I’m sure many teams must be thinking along those lines,” Harbhajan said.
Harbhajan also praised Rohit’s leadership qualities and batting prowess, emphasizing that the 37-year-old can still command a lucrative contract if he enters the auction.
“Rohit Sharma, as a leader and a player, is amazing. He’s a top-quality player, top-quality captain, and leader. He’s a proven match-winner. Even at 37, he still has a lot of cricket left in him. If Rohit enters the auction, he will fetch big bucks. It will be exciting to see the auction unfold,” he added.
IPL franchises can now retain six players from their existing squad, either through retention or RTM. The combination of retentions and RTMs can include a maximum of five capped players (Indian and overseas) and two uncapped players.
