Ishan Kishan And...? 3 MI Rejects Who Can Be IPL 2025 MVPs For Their Teams

Debashis Sarangi

Ishan Kishan could be an MVP in IPL 2025 [Source: @mipaltan/X]Ishan Kishan could be an MVP in IPL 2025 [Source: @mipaltan/X]

The IPL 2025 mega auction is over, and all focus has now been shifted to the eighteenth season of the tournament. The ten concerned franchises have assembled their squads, utilising their purse amount in the mega auction. 

Regarding Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions released several impactful players, including Ishan Kishan, ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. They had retained Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah and tried to form a more formidable squad by purchasing the likes of Trent Boult, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner and Allah Ghazanfar. 

On the contrary, there are several released players who could be MVPs for their respective teams, as mentioned below. 

Ishan Kishan

  • Mumbai Indians purchased Ishan Kishan for a whopping amount of 15.25 Crores in the 2022 mega auction. The southpaw was an integral part of MI's IPL setup, playing a crucial role for them at top order. 
  • However, after MI released him, Ishan found a new home, with Sunrisers Hyderabad picking him up in the 2025 mega auction. The swashbuckling southpaw will likely bat at three, considering Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma open the batting for SRH in IPL. 
  • Being an aggressive batter, Ishan brings dynamism and flexibility to the table. In 99 IPL innings, he has struck 2644 runs at a strike rate of 135.87. So, given that he has ample experience in the IPL and is in sublime form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ishan could emerge as SRH's MVP in IPL 2025. 

Nehal Wadhera

  • Mumbai Indians' young middle-order batter Nehal Wadhera was purchased by Punjab Kings for INR 4.2 Crores in the 2025 mega auction. 
  • The stylish batter was impressive during his brief stint with MI and can torment the opposition with his flamboyant stroke play. In 16 IPL innings, he has amassed 350 runs at an impressive strike rate of 140. So, considering his talent, expect Wadhera to emerge as the Kings' wrecker-in-chief with the bat in the 2025 season. 

Romario Shepherd

  • Romario Shepherd is an experienced West Indies all-rounder who was purchased by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2025 auction. 
  • He is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball and can strengthen RCB's finishing department with his hard-hitting ability. Apart from that, Shepherd can be a valuable asset with the ball, providing RCB with a potent bowling option in the middle and death overs. He brings a multi-dimensional game to the table, something the Royal Challengers desperately need to break their wooden spoon streak.