Rashid Khan set to play for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025? Here's the update

The Gujarat Titans are keen on retaining star spinner Rashid Khan ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction, recognizing his immense value to the team. However, they face stiff competition from the Mumbai Indians, who are equally interested in signing the renowned Afghan bowler. Reports suggest that the Mumbai franchise has already held discussions with Rashid regarding a potential move, indicating their serious intent to bolster their squad with his exceptional skills. Rashid has emerged as one of the most impactful players in the IPL over the last three seasons, amassing an impressive total of 56 wickets in 45 matches. His ability to deliver in crucial moments has solidified his reputation as a match-winner. Notably, he played a pivotal role in Gujarat's triumph in 2022, helping the team secure its maiden title by taking key wickets during the final against Rajasthan.

In the 2023 season, Rashid continued to showcase his talent, finishing as the joint second-leading wicket-taker while guiding the Titans to a runners-up finish. With both franchises vying for his services, Rashid Khan's future in the IPL is a hot topic of discussion. His decision will significantly impact the dynamics of the league and the fortunes of whichever team he ultimately chooses to represent.

The Gujarat Titans are not likely to part with a valuable asset like Rashid Khan, expecting to retain him in one of the top salary brackets alongside captain Shubman Gill. However, Rashid’s connections with the Mumbai Indians complicate matters. He plays for several franchises owned by the same group globally and has a strong rapport with the owners, which may leave the door open for a potential shift to Mumbai.

Despite this, the Mumbai Indians face challenges in acquiring him. Unlike last year’s trade of Hardik Pandya, there is no trade window available for Rashid. The only path for the Mumbai franchise would be to convince him to enter the auction and then pursue him aggressively. Even so, securing Rashid in the auction is far from guaranteed, as many franchises are likely to compete fiercely for his signature, willing to spend significant amounts to bring him on board. Ultimately, while the Titans will do everything in their power to keep Rashid, the allure of the Mumbai Indians and the dynamics of the auction could create an intriguing scenario in the lead-up to IPL 2025.

Currently, the Mumbai Indians are focused on retaining key players, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. This strategy could significantly reduce their budget, as they would need to allocate at least INR 75 crore to keep these top performers. Given this situation, one potential avenue for acquiring Rashid Khan could be through the trade window before IPL 2026. The Mumbai franchise had previously attempted to secure the star spinner ahead of IPL 2023 but was unsuccessful. However, the possibility of leveraging the trade window in the future remains a viable option.

Mumbai's interest in Rashid is underscored by his outstanding performance in the IPL, making him a valuable asset. Retaining their core players while navigating the trade dynamics could shape the franchise's strategy moving forward.