IPL 2025 Mega Auction Dates and Venue announced by BCCI

IPL 2025 Auction Likely to be Held in Riyadh on November 24-25

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction has always been a much-anticipated event, drawing global attention as teams battle to build the best squads. For the 2025 season, the excitement has reached new heights, with reports suggesting that the mega auction will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to officially confirm the location, sources close to the matter indicate that Riyadh is the likely host city.

Franchise Retention Strategies and Key Highlights

All ten IPL franchises have submitted their retention lists, offering glimpses into their team-building approaches for the 2025 season. As teams retained their core players while releasing others, several prominent names have been added to the auction pool, increasing the competition and adding excitement for fans.

Retention Highlights Across Franchises

The franchises have retained 46 players, with a total investment of ₹558.5 crore. Notably, 36 of these players are Indian, including 10 uncapped Indian stars. Here’s a breakdown of major retention decisions:

• Mumbai Indians – With five IPL titles, Mumbai Indians have built a strong Indian core by retaining key players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. Tilak Varma, a promising young left-hander, also retained his place. Notably, Ishan Kishan, a talented youngster, was released, leaving MI with a ₹45 crore budget for the auction.
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru – RCB has opted for a selective approach, retaining only three players: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. Kohli commands the highest retention fee at ₹21 crore, giving RCB the second-largest auction purse of ₹83 crore.
• Punjab Kings – Surprising many, Punjab Kings chose not to retain any capped players, focusing instead on young talent. They retained only two players, Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, and hold the largest auction budget at ₹110.5 crore.
• Rajasthan Royals – Rajasthan Royals solidified their batting lineup with strategic retentions, although they still seek an additional opener. With the smallest purse of ₹41 crore, RR enters the auction with a precise plan to strengthen its roster.
• Chennai Super Kings – MS Dhoni will once again grace the IPL, retained by CSK as an uncapped player. CSK’s strategy combines experience with fresh talent, retaining Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, and Matheesha Pathirana.

Top Players Entering the Auction Pool

With several renowned players left out of the retention lists, the 2025 auction pool includes high-caliber talent. Here’s a look at some of the notable players available for auction:

Released Indian Captains

The release of Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant has left three experienced Indian captains in the auction pool. Franchises seeking strong leadership may vie for these players, adding an extra layer of excitement to the auction.

England Players in the Auction

Interestingly, no England players were retained by any franchise this season. Major players like Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Harry Brook, Phil Salt, and Will Jacks will be up for grabs. Their release reflects teams’ concerns about availability, as these players missed parts of the season due to international commitments.

Young and Uncapped Talents

This year’s auction also features a number of unproven Indian talents, with ten uncapped players retained by various teams. These young players offer affordable options and the potential to evolve into match-winners, making them valuable assets in the auction.

Franchise-by-Franchise Retained Player List

Each team’s retained player list showcases their unique strategy and vision for the 2025 season. Here’s the full list:

• Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni
• Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel
• Gujarat Titans: Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan
• Kolkata Knight Riders: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh
• Lucknow Super Giants: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni
• Mumbai Indians: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma
• Punjab Kings: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh
• Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal
• Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head

The Anticipated IPL 2025 Auction Day

The stage is set for an intense IPL 2025 auction as teams prepare to outbid each other for top players. If held in Riyadh as expected, the event will represent a pivotal moment in IPL history, emphasizing the league’s growing international influence. With captains like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul up for grabs, franchises will have the opportunity to redefine their leadership.

For more in-depth analysis and updates on IPL and sports insights, follow our coverage.

---

TOPICS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE