IPL 2025 Auction: Team-Wise Top Buys with Player Names and Prices

IPL Auction 2025: Mega Deals and Record-Breaking Bids

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction, held at the Abadi Al Johar Arena in Jeddah, lived up to its hype, with jaw-dropping bids and intense competition among franchises. A whopping ₹467.95 crores were spent on Day 1 alone as teams battled fiercely to secure the best talent for the upcoming season. The auction saw a mix of record-breaking deals and surprise bargains, underlining the unpredictable nature of the event.

Pant Creates History

Rishabh Pant stole the spotlight as he became the most expensive player in IPL history. The star wicketkeeper-batter was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for a staggering ₹27 crores. Lucknow edged out Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad in a fierce bidding war before Delhi Capitals considered using their Right to Match (RTM) card. However, Delhi declined to match the record bid, allowing Lucknow to secure Pant, who is now the cornerstone of their lineup.

Shreyas and Venkatesh Shine

Close on Pant’s heels was Shreyas Iyer, who fetched ₹26.75 crores from Punjab Kings, momentarily becoming the highest-priced player in IPL history before Pant surpassed him. Meanwhile, Venkatesh Iyer’s ₹23.75 crores deal with Kolkata Knight Riders stunned everyone. The pace all-rounder saw his value skyrocket from ₹8 crores last season, marking him as one of the most valuable assets of the auction.

Top Domestic and International Picks

The auction saw Indian talent dominate, with players like Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal attracting ₹18 crores each. Among foreign players, Jos Buttler led the pack with ₹15.75 crores, acquired by Gujarat Titans, followed by Jofra Archer, Kagiso Rabada, and Mitchell Starc, who all crossed the ₹10-crore mark.

In contrast, some prominent names, including David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, and Piyush Chawla, remained unsold on Day 1, raising questions about their form and demand.

Team Highlights

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Star Signing: Rishabh Pant (₹27 crores)

Other Key Buys: Avesh Khan (₹9.75 crores), David Miller (₹7.50 crores)

Strategy: Lucknow made a statement with their aggressive bidding for Pant, positioning him as their marquee player. With ₹14.85 crores remaining, they have room for strategic additions on Day 2.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Star Signing: Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75 crores)

Other Key Buys: Yuzvendra Chahal (₹18 crores), Arshdeep Singh (₹18 crores)

Strategy: Punjab went all-out to secure top-tier players, focusing on building a balanced core.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Star Signing: Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crores)

Other Key Buys: Anrich Nortje (₹6.50 crores), Quinton de Kock (₹3.60 crores)

Strategy: Banking on Venkatesh Iyer’s all-round capabilities, KKR has built a dynamic squad.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Key Retentions: Jasprit Bumrah (₹18 crores), Suryakumar Yadav (₹16.35 crores)

Star Signing: Trent Boult (₹12.50 crores)

Strategy: Mumbai balanced marquee signings with value buys, leaving ₹26.10 crores for additional acquisitions.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Star Signing: KL Rahul (₹14 crores)

Other Key Buys: Mitchell Starc (₹11.75 crores), T Natarajan (₹10.75 crores)

Strategy: With ₹13.80 crores left, Delhi has prioritized leadership and bowling strength.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Star Signing: Jos Buttler (₹15.75 crores)

Other Key Buys: Mohammed Siraj (₹12.25 crores), Kagiso Rabada (₹10.75 crores)

Strategy: Gujarat targeted match-winners, focusing on a strong batting and bowling lineup.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Star Signing: Jofra Archer (₹12.50 crores)

Other Key Buys: Wanindu Hasaranga (₹5.25 crores)

Strategy: Rajasthan invested in all-rounders and retained key players like Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Star Signing: Ishan Kishan (₹11.25 crores)

Other Key Buys: Mohammed Shami (₹10 crores)

Strategy: With ₹5.15 crores remaining, SRH focused on securing experienced Indian players.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Star Signing: Noor Ahmed (₹10 crores)

Other Key Buys: Ravichandran Ashwin (₹9.75 crores), Rahul Tripathi (₹3.40 crores)

Strategy: CSK prioritized building depth with a mix of experience and young talent.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Star Signing: Josh Hazlewood (₹12.50 crores)

Other Key Buys: Phil Salt (₹11.50 crores), Jitesh Sharma (₹11 crores)

Strategy: With ₹30.65 crores remaining, RCB has the highest balance for Day 2.

Surprise Bargains and Unsold Players

Some players were acquired at unexpectedly low prices, while others went unsold:

Bargain Buys:

Aiden Markram (₹2 crores, Lucknow)

Mitchell Marsh (₹3.40 crores, Lucknow)

Rachin Ravindra (₹4 crores, Chennai)

Unsold Stars:

David Warner

Jonny Bairstow

Devdutt Padikkal

Day 2 Expectations

As the auction moves into its second day, franchises will focus on filling key gaps and finalizing their squads. With ₹15–30 crores remaining for most teams, Day 2 promises more action and surprises as franchises look to build balanced squads for IPL 2025.

The stage is set for an exciting season as teams prepare to translate their big investments into on-field success.