The IPL 2025 Mega Auction was held in Saudi Arabia between November 24 and 25. It’s a short but intense event that happens once every three years. The auction involved 577 players (including Indian and overseas athletes), and each team should have a minimum of 18 names on their list.
Here’s what happened while the gavel was going up and down.
Betting on New Players
IPL Mega Auctions are arguably among the most important events in the league. During this period, entire rosters are usually rebuilt. So, those who enjoy a cricket betting app with top features must get ready to see plenty of new names. For instance, Mumbai Indians invested in six overseas picks that haven’t been tested in the league yet.
However, some names managed to get back to their old teams. IPL auctions have incorporated a unique rule called Right to Match (RTM), allowing teams to buy back old players for their original sold price. The team that uses the RTM as its final bid wins the bid. Otherwise, other teams have the chance to make a higher offer.
Surprises
While some bids and transfers were predictable, others surprised fans and observers with their unexpectedly high values. Rishabh Pant became the most expensive pick in the league’s history, with Lucknow Super Giants paying Rs 27 crore for the wicket-keeper.
Shreyas Iyer’s transfer wasn’t far behind, costing Rs 26.75 crore to the Punjab Kings. In fact, the Punjab Kings weren’t saving money that night . Yusvendra Chahal’s deal was signed for Rs 18 crore, reinforcing the squad’s firing power.
KKR could have bought back the players it wanted. However, its money fight for Venkatesh Iyer against RCB resulted in a jaw-dropping offer of Rs 23.75 crore, one of the largest in the entire event. Still, it’ll start the IPL 2025 with six names from its winning 2024 roster.
Delhi Capitals invested Rs 14 crore in KL Rahul, a superstar combining consistency and versatility. Gujarat Titans also attracted attention with their quite impressive bid (Rs 12.25 crore) for Mohammed Siraj. Siraj has proven to be a valuable asset in the previous season, which is why his value increased so much.
Capped Spinners and Forgotten Talents
Capped spinners were the stars of the event. Many teams tried to reinforce their bowling attack. Wanindu Hasaranga, a Sri Lankan leg spinner, was one of the most disputed names there. Rajasthan Royals managed to bring him to its squad, along with another high-profile spinner, Maheesh Theekshana. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad brought Adam Zampa from Australia.
Jonny Bairstow, Devdutt Padikkal, and Waqar Salamkheil were surprisingly among the uncalled names. Bairstow has an excellent track record as a wicketkeeper-batter, a position that was in high demand during the auction. IPL teams also forgot the Afghans Padikkal and Salamkheil despite their brilliance.
As always, the IPL Mega Auction was a thrilling and surprising event, with record-breaking values and shocking transfers. The next season is still months ahead, kicking off on March 15. Fans in India and worldwide just can’t wait.
About the Author:
Anshu Singh Bhadauriya
I am Anshu Singh Bhadauriya, a passionate YouTuber and a proud member of the Possible11 team. I manage our YouTube content, ensuring it stays engaging and informative for our audience. Along with creating video content, I oversee our social media platforms, helping the brand connect with fans and followers effectively. Occasionally, I also contribute by writing news articles to keep our website updated with fresh and exciting content. My goal is to deliver value across all platforms while staying true to our mission of serving sports and fantasy gaming enthusiasts.