Rohit Sharma to RCB? Photo: BCCI
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Rohit Sharma was removed as Mumbai Indians captain before IPL 2024
- He could leave MI before IPL 2025
- Hardik Pandya now leads MI
The preparations for IPL 2025 are underway and the owners of the IPL franchises recently met the BCCI. Some of the franchises want the BCCI to conduct a mega-auction while others are against it. The franchises will only be able to retain 4 to 6 players if there’s a mega-auction. The BCCI will soon announce the complete details of the auction.
The franchises will be allowed to trade players if there’s a mini-auction while that won’t be the case if the BCCI conducts a mega-auction. As the franchises wait for a word from the BCCI, here we have a look at 5 dream trades that can take place if there is a mini-auction before IPL 2025 –
Rohit Sharma joins RCB as captain
Rohit Sharma captained Team India to a title win in the 2024 T20 World Cup and he would want captaincy in IPL 2025. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are yet to end their title drought and imagine them bringing in Rohit via trade. Rohit ended Mumbai Indians’ (MI) wait for an IPL trophy in his very first season as captain and he can end RCB’s wait too. He led MI to five IPL title wins.
Rishabh Pant to Chennai Super Kings
CSK will never be able to fill MS Dhoni‘s shoes once he retires from IPL. But there is one player who can do the job behind the wickets in Dhoni’s absence. Rishabh Pant has proven his mettle in Test cricket and is hoping to do wonders in white-ball cricket too. Rishabh joining CSK and replacing Dhoni behind the wickets could be the best thing for them in the long run.
Yuzvendra Chahal returns to RCB
RCB made a shocking call to release Yuzvendra Chahal before the IPL 2022 mega-auction. They didn’t make even bid for the IPL’s highest wicket-taker. Chahal excelled for Rajasthan Royals (RR) during his three-year stint. RCB might want Chahal once again and it would be a dream trade if it happens.
KL Rahul to Sunrisers Hyderabad
KL Rahul was part of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) early in his career and played for them in IPL 2014 and 2015. But the franchise released him after two seasons. SRH would surely bring back Rahul if there’s an option to trade him. They have a well-settled opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. Rahul has batted in the middle order in T20s and can do the same job at SRH.
Faf du Plessis to Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings tried to re-sign Faf du Plessis in the IPL 2022 mega-auction but missed out. du Plessis captained RCB in three seasons but failed to win an IPL trophy. With an aim to win another IPL title with CSK, du Plessis might agree to move back to the franchise if there’s an option. The right-handed batsman played under MS Dhoni from IPL 2011 to 2021 (barring IPL 2017).
