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[Saba Sports News] Former Australian cricketer Brad Hogg has suggested that the Mumbai Indians (MI) should make Suryakumar Yadav their top retention pick ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
With MI facing tough decisions due to the wealth of talent on their roster, Hogg believes that Suryakumar stands out as a clear first choice, even above team stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya.
Hogg shared his admiration for Suryakumar in a recent video on his YouTube channel, noting that the Indian batter has emerged as a game-changer for MI, thanks to his explosive 360-degree batting style. Suryakumar’s ability to hit sixes all around the park makes him a formidable asset, one that Hogg believes MI cannot afford to lose.
“He’s able to hit sixes in all parts of the ground, and he just sets himself up so beautifully,” Hogg explained. “That’s why I think Mumbai Indians will have to look at keeping him as their number one player rather than Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya because he just blows opposition teams away.”
Beyond his batting prowess, Hogg also highlighted Suryakumar’s emerging leadership skills, which have developed significantly during his time with the Mumbai Indians. His journey with MI has transformed him from a follower into a mentor and leader, guiding the younger talents in the squad.
Hogg shared that he saw the beginnings of this evolution firsthand during a coaching stint at MI.
“When I played with him at Kolkata Knight Riders, I just thought he was more of a follower there,” Hogg recalled. “I didn’t see the leadership side of it then, but when I went and did a bit of coaching at the Mumbai Indians, there was a change. He felt like part of the team and was starting to think like a leader. He was taking the youngsters under his wing.”
Suryakumar has recently been appointed as India’s T20I captain after the 2024 T20 World Cup, further solidifying his role as a leader in Indian cricket. Under his captaincy, India recently achieved a 2-0 T20I series win over Bangladesh and a whitewash against Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series.
His next assignment will be a five-match T20I series against South Africa in November, as he continues to expand his leadership on the international stage.
With new IPL retention rules allowing teams to keep up to six players, including Right to Match (RTM) options, Hogg sees Suryakumar’s retention as a natural decision, especially with the INR 18 crore salary cap for first-choice picks. Notably, as Team India gears up for a three-match Test series against New Zealand at home, starting October 16 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Suryakumar’s growing importance on both domestic and international fronts makes him an invaluable player for MI moving forward.