'It all depends on whether we have the money in our pocket' - Sanjay Bangar on Punjab Kings' chances of targeting Rohit Sharma in IPL 2025 auction

Sanjay Bangar decided to beat around the bush when asked whether Punjab Kings (PBKS) would target Rohit Sharma in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction.

Rohit led Mumbai Indians (MI) to five IPL titles before being replaced at the helm by Hardik Pandya ahead of last season. However, the Mumbai-based franchise didn't have a great campaign, finishing last on the points table after the round-robin phase of the tournament. The decision to remove Rohit as the skipper didn't sit well with his fans and they voiced their disapproval during Mumbai's matches, especially by booing Hardik.

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Reports also came out suggesting a rift in the dressing room between Hardik and Rohit, with the latter not being happy with his unceremonious demotion. Recent reports have hinted that the legendary batter might be on his way out of the Mumbai setup to join some other franchise. Punjab Kings is one of the franchises which do not have a captain on their side and that is why some cricket enthusiasts are wondering whether it could be the perfect next destination for the T20 World Cup-winning India captain.

Punjab Kings' Head of Cricket Development, Bangar, said that a lot of teams would want to go for Rohit in the upcoming auction. The former India all-rounder acknowledged that Rohit can go for a huge sum of money if he puts his name in the auction. Bangar said that the Kings are waiting how many and which players are put into the auction before making a call on Rohit.

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"We will have to wait and watch (will Rohit head to the auction?). I played with Rohit at one point for the Deccan Chargers. From there, he has been a Mumbai boy. Yes, there was a change in direction as far as Mumbai Indians are concerned. But, it all depends on the retentions, because that is a topic which is under consideration. Once there is clarity on the retentions, then we get to know the number of players. We need to know the players that are released by the teams. Only then we will know who will come into the auctions and which is the team that will run after a particular player," Sanjay Bangar told The Rao Podcast.

"It all depends on whether we have the money in our pocket. Because if Rohit comes into the auction, I certainly believe he is going to go for a very high price," Bangar added.