IPL 2025: Abhishek Sharma's Retention from Sunrisers Hyderabad will Require Minimum of Rs 140,000,000

New Delhi: Former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Tom Moody predicts that the franchise may face a pleasant dilemma in managing the financial aspect of retaining Abhishek Sharma. The young left-handed batter has garnered attention after an impressive performance in the IPL 2024 season, while SRH also has several experienced international players vying for the top retention slots.

The new retention rule means that teams can retain two players for INR 18 crores each, two for INR 14 crores each, and one for INR 11 crores, severely impacting the INR 120 crores budget. SRH, the second runners-up in 2024 IPL, have the key performers like captain Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen in their considering list and are allowed to retain all three.

Tom feels that Abhishek Sharma would love to get retained at 14 crore, because he could get that amount of money if he goes to the auction pool.

“To me, SRH have got the hardest job out of a lot of the teams purely because I do not think Abhishek Sharma is going to be accepting a retention below INR 14 crore. Because he will be picked up for INR 14 crore plus at any other franchise or most other franchises,” Moody said on ESPN Cricinfo.

“So, they have got to somehow find a way to get their most influential players in Cummins and Head. In my head, they are the two along with Abhishek Sharma and still have the flexibility of right to match,” he added.

Abhishek Sharma has now also got into the national setup on the back of his IPL 2024 heroics. He made his debut in the T20I series against Zimbabwe in July, scoring a century in his third outing.

Sharma found an amazing opening partner in Travis Head for the 2024 season as the duo broke records with their attacking batting style. Sharma amassed 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.22 in the IPL 2024 edition.