IPL teams have released their retention lists, and while the majority are from India, another World Cup-winning nation remains the country from where the most number of foreigners have been retained
Teams for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 have released their retention lists, and it is no surprise that as many as 36 Indian players have been retained by 10 existing IPL teams. In this article, though, our focus is on players who have been retained from other countries. Which major foreign cricket-playing country has the most number of retained players in IPL 2025? Scroll down to find out!
West Indies tops the chart with as many as four players getting retained by the franchises. The four players are Kolkata Knight Riders' Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, Lucknow SuperGiants' Nicholas Pooran and Rajasthan Royals' Shimron Hetmyer.
In 2024, Narine played 15 matches, picking 17 wickets and also contributed heavily with the bat, scoring 488 runs. His compatriot also impressed with the ball, scalping 19 wickets and added 222 runs off the willow while maintaining a strike rate of 185.
Don't go to bed before watching the explosive highlights of our KING Sunil Narine's batting who brought up his half century in 21 balls.
— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) April 3, 2024
What a player, Geez!pic.twitter.com/qwfIUdVlI7
Next up is Nicholas Pooran, who scored 499 runs at an average of 62.38 and a strike rate of 178.21 in 14 games for the Lucknow Super Giants in 2024. With a maximum score of 75, he smashed three half-centuries and helped his side out with 35 fours and 36 sixes.
While the other Indies impressed with the bat or ball, Hetmyer's 2024 wasn't charming, with a campaign involving 113 runs at an average of 22.60 and a strike rate of 163.77 in 12 matches.
In 2024, Heinrich Klaasen was one of Sunrisers Hyderabad's best players. He scored 479 runs at a remarkable average of 39.92 and a strike rate of 171.07 over 16 games. Throughout the season, he recorded four half-centuries, and his highest score was an undefeated 80. Klaasen's ability to increase the scoring rate was demonstrated by his aggressive batting, which included 19 fours and 38 sixes. Not to forget, he was one of the reasons behind Hyderabad's rampage in almost every powerplay session.
Brilliant from Pat Cummins, Many franchises have approached Heinrich Klaasen but Cummins wanted him to be top retention for the SRH.
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) October 17, 2024
Even he took the pay cut to retain him. This is what we call a leader, The team comes first, selfless Pat Cummins.🫡pic.twitter.com/hAhiPgphOd
Youngster Tristan Stubbs also impressed with his bat while representing the Delhi Capitals. He scored 378 runs at an average of 54.00 and a strike rate of 190.91 while playing 14 games for the Delhi Capitals. Not to forget, he also struck 24 fours and 26 sixes and had three half-centuries, including a best score of 71.
Another bombastic batter for the Sunrisers, Australia's Travis Head, has been retained. And why not? He played 15 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 567 runs at an average of 40.50 and a strike rate of 191.55. Furthermore, he also recorded one century and four half-centuries, with a highest score of 102, hitting 64 fours and 32 sixes.
Travis Head has a 39 ball century in IPL 2024.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 2, 2024
Travis Head has a 37 ball fifty in IPL 2024.
- Head and his adaptability. 👌pic.twitter.com/F2kn6cq5tM
Under Pat Cummins's captaincy, Sunrisers reached the 2024 finale but lost to KKR. Nonetheless, 2024 was one of the best campaigns of the Hyderabad-based team. Cummins, on the other hand, took 18 wickets over 16 matches at an average of 31.44 and an economy rate of 9.28, with the best figures of 3/43.
Last but not least, one player each i.e., Rashid Khan and Matheesha Pathirana have been retained from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, respectively.
