The IPL mega auction, which occurs every three years, provides a platform for teams to revamp their squads. This year, 577 cricketers were up for grabs, including 367 Indian and 210 overseas players. The minimum base price for players was set at ₹30 lakh, while the maximum was ₹2 crore.
Record-Breaking Deals
Rishabh Pant emerged as the most expensive player in IPL history, acquired by the Lucknow Super Giants for a staggering ₹27 crore. This broke the previous record set earlier in the same auction by Shreyas Iyer, who was picked up by the Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore.
A notable highlight was the acquisition of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old prodigy from Bihar. He became the youngest player ever to be picked in an IPL auction, securing a contract with the Rajasthan Royals for ₹1.1 crore.
Key Player Purchases
- Rishabh Pant: ₹27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Jos Buttler: ₹15.75 crore to Gujarat Titans (GT), making him the most expensive overseas player.
- Rasikh Dar: ₹6 crore to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the most expensive uncapped player.
Team Budgets and Composition
Each team was allocated a budget of ₹120 crore to assemble its squads, which consisted of a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 25 players, with a cap of eight overseas players per team.
Team Strategies and Selections
The auction allowed teams to make strategic selections, balancing their rosters with experienced players and fresh talent. Here’s how some teams shaped up:
- Lucknow Super Giants focused on strengthening their batting lineup by acquiring Rishabh Pant.
- Gujarat Titans aimed to bolster their squad with international experience by bringing in Jos Buttler.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore invested in young, promising talent like Rasikh Dar.
All squads
Mumbai Indians:
Mumbai Indians, the most successful franchise in IPL history, have fortified their squad for the upcoming season. With pivotal players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah retained, the team has enhanced their bowling attack by adding international stars such as Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar. Emerging talents like Naman Dhir and Robin Minz bring depth and potential for the future. Renowned for its strategic balance, MI is set to pursue its next title in IPL 2025.
Retained Players:
1. Jasprit Bumrah 18 crore
2. Suryakumar Yadav 16.35 crore
3. Hardik Pandya 16.35 crore
4. Rohit Sharma 16.3 crore
5. Tilak Varma 8 crore
Players bought:
1. Trent Boult 12.5 crore
2. Naman Dhir 5.25 crore
3. Robin Minz 65 lakh
4. Karan Sharma 50 lakh
5. Bevon Jacobs 30 lakh
6. Ryan Rickelton 1 crore
7. Krishan Shrijith 30 lakh
8. Raj Bawa 30 lakh
9. Will Jacks 5.25 crore
10. Mitchell Santner 2 crore
11. Allah Ghazanfar 4.8 crore
12. Deepak Chahar 9.25 crore
13. Reece Topley 75 lakh
14. Ashwani Kumar 30 lakh
15. Satyanarayan Raju 30 lakh
16. Arjun Tendulkar 30 lakh
17. Lizaad Williams 75 lakh
18. Vignesh Puthur 30 lakh
Chennai Super Kings:
Chennai Super Kings have retained their core, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad and the legendary MS Dhoni. The addition of seasoned players like R Ashwin and Devon Conway enhances their versatility. With promising young talents such as Anshul Kamboj and Shaik Rasheed, CSK has created a balanced mix of youth and experience. Their strategic acquisitions, including the explosive Noor Ahmed, highlight their determination to secure another IPL title.
Retained Players:
1. Ruturaj Gaikwad 18 crore
2. Ravindra Jadeja 18 crore
3. Matheesha Pathirana 13 crore
4. Shivam Dube 12 crore
5. MS Dhoni 4 crore
Players bought:
1. Noor Ahmad 10 crore
2. Ravichandran Ashwin 9.75 crore
3. Devon Conway 6.25 crore
4. Khaleel Ahmed 4.80 crore
5. Rachin Ravindra 4 crore
6. Rahul Tripathi 3.40 crore
7. Anshul Kamboj 3.40 crore
8. Vijay Shankar 1.20 crore
9. Sam Curran 2.40 crore
10. Gurjapneet Singh 2.20 crore
11. Nathan Ellis 2 crore
12. Deepak Hooda 1.70 crore
13. Jamie Overton 1.50 crore
14. Vansh Bedi 55 lakh
15. Mukesh Choudhary 30 lakh
16. Shreyas Gopal 30 lakh
17. Ramakrishna Ghosh 30 lakh
18. Kamlesh Nagarkoti 30 lakh
19. Andre Siddharth 30 lakh
20. Shaik Rasheed 30 lakh
Lucknow Super Giants:
Lucknow Super Giants made history by acquiring Rishabh Pant for a record ₹27 crore. Retaining crucial players like Nicholas Pooran and Ravi Bishnoi, they have established a solid core. Adding seasoned players such as David Miller and Avesh Khan further strengthens their squad. With a mix of established match-winners and rising talents, LSG is poised for a deep playoff run in IPL 2025.
Retained Players:
1. Nicholas Pooran 21 crore
2. Ravi Bishnoi 11 crore
3. Mayank Yadav 11 crore
4. Mohsin Khan 4 crore
5. Ayush Badoni 4 crore
Players bought:
1. Rishabh Pant 27 crore
2. David Miller 7.5 crore
3. Aiden Markram 2 crore
4. Mitchell Marsh 3.4 crore
5. Avesh Khan 9.75 crore
6. Abdul Samad 4.2 crore
7. Aryan Juyal 30 lakh
8. Akash Deep 8 crore
9. Himmat Singh 30 lakh
10. M Siddharth 75 lakh
11. Digvesh Singh 30 lakh
12. Shahbaz Ahmed 1.9 crore
13. Akash Singh 30 lakh
14. Shamar Joseph 75 lakh
15. Prince Yadav 30 lakh
16. Yuvraj Chaudhary 30 lakh
17. Rajvardhan Hangargekar 30 lakh
18. Arshin Kulkarni 30 lakh
19. Mathew Breetzke 75 lakh
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained their captain Pat Cummins along with key players like Heinrich Klaasen and Abhishek Sharma. The squad is further strengthened by the addition of Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Shami, providing much-needed firepower. Promising youngsters like Zeeshan Ansari and Eshan Malinga add future potential to the team. With this balanced lineup, SRH is set to be a formidable team to watch this season.
Retained Players:
1. Heinrich Klaasen 23 crore
2. Pat Cummins 18 crore
3. Travis Head 14 crore
4. Abhishek Sharma 14 crore
5. Nitish Reddy 6 crore
Players brought:
1. Ishan Kishan 11.25 crore
2. Mohammed Shami 10 crore
3. Abhinav Manohar 3.2 crore
4. Rahul Chahar 3.2 crore
5. Adam Zampa 2.4 crore
6. Simarjeet Singh 1.5 crore
7. Eshan Malinga 1.2 crore
8. Jaydev Unadkat 1 crore
9. Brydon Carse 1 crore
10. Kamindu Mendis 75 lakh
11. Zeeshan Ansari 40 lakh
12. Atharva Taide 30 lakh
13. Sachin Baby 30 lakh
14. Aniket Verma 30 lakh
Punjab Kings:
The Punjab Kings made bold moves at the auction, acquiring Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore and Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore. By retaining key players like Arshdeep Singh, they ensure consistency, while all-rounders such as Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell bring added depth to the squad. With a robust blend of seasoned experience and youthful energy, PBKS is set on changing their fortunes in IPL 2025.
Retained Players:
1. Shashank Singh 5.5 crore
2. Prabhsimran Singh 4 crore
Players bought:
1. Shreyas Iyer 26.75 crore
2. Nehal Wadhera 4.20 crore
3. Vishnu Vinod 95 lakh
4. Marcus Stoinis 11 crore
5. Glenn Maxwell 4.20 crore
6. Yuzvendra Chahal 18 crore
7. Harpreet Brar 1.50 crore
8. Arshdeep Singh 18 crore
9. Vijaykumar Vyshak 1.80 crore
10. Yash Thakur 1.60 crore
11. Harnoor Singh 30 lakh
12. Musheer Khan 30 lakh
13. Pyla Avinash 30 lakh
14. Josh Inglis 2.60 crore
15. Suryansh Shedge 30 lakh
16. Marco Jansen 7 crore
17. Aaron Hardie 1.25 crore
18. Azmatullah Omarzai 2.40 crore
19. Priyansh Arya 3.80 crore
20. Praveen Dubey 30 lakh
21. Kuldeep Sen 80 lakh
22. Xavier Bartlett 80 lakh
23. Lockie Ferguson 2 crore
Kolkata Knight Riders:
KKR has made several high-profile acquisitions, notably securing Venkatesh Iyer for a record ₹23.75 crore. With the addition of Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje, their squad now appears dynamic and well-balanced. Retaining all-rounders such as Sunil Narine and Andre Russell ensures their core strength remains robust. KKR's blend of seasoned internationals and promising Indian talent positions them as strong contenders this season
Retained Players:
1. Rinku Singh 13 crore
2. Andre Russell 12 crore
3. Sunil Narine 12 crore
4. Varun Chakaravarthy 12 crore
5. Harshit Rana 4 crore
6. Ramandeep Singh 4 crore
Players bought:
1. Angkrish Raghuvanshi 3 crore
2. Quinton de Kock 3.6 crore
3. Rahmanullah Gurbaz 2 crore
4. Venkatesh Iyer 23.75 crore
5. Mayank Markande 30 lakh
6. Anrinch Nortje 6.50 crore
7. Vaibhav Arora 1.80 crore
8. Ajinkya Rahane 1.5 crore
9. Manish Pandey 75 lakh
10. Luvnith Sisodia 30 lakh
11. Anukul Roy 40 lakh
12. Rovman Powell 1.5 crore
13. Moeen Ali 2 crore
14. Umran Malik 75 lakh
15. Spencer Johnson 2.80 crore
Royal Challengers Benguluru:
RCB retained their cornerstone, Virat Kohli, and strengthened their roster with star acquisitions such as Josh Hazlewood and Phil Salt. With Rasikh Dar becoming the most expensive uncapped player, the team demonstrates its dedication to nurturing talent. The inclusion of Liam Livingstone and Suyash Sharma bolsters both the batting and bowling units. RCB fans are optimistic that this squad will finally secure their first IPL trophy.
Retained Players:
1. Virat Kohli 21 crore
2. Rajat Patidar 11 crore
3. Yash Dayal 5 crore
Players bought:
1. Josh Hazlewood 12.5 crore
2. Phil Salt 11.5 crore
3. Jitesh Sharma 11 crore
4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10.75 crore
5. Liam Livingstone 8.75 crore
6. Rasikh Salam 6 crore
7. Krunal Pandya 5.75 crore
8. Tim David 3 crore
9. Jacob Bethell 2.6 crore
10. Suyash Sharma 2.6 crore
11. Devdutt Padikkal 2 crore
12. Nuwan Thushara 1.6 crore
13. Romario Shepherd 1.5 crore
14. Lungi Ngidi 1 crore
15. Swapnil Singh 50 lakh
16. Manoj Bhandage 30 lakh
17. Swastik Chikara 30 lakh
18. Mohit Rathee 30 lakh
19. Abhinandan Singh 30 lakh
Rajasthan Royals:
Rajasthan Royals have retained key players such as Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, while also making substantial investments in Jofra Archer and Wanindu Hasaranga. The selection of 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has captured attention, highlighting their knack for spotting future stars. With a blend of powerful hitters and adept bowlers, the Royals appear well-prepared for a strong campaign in IPL 2025.
Retained Players:
1. Yashasvi Jaiswal 18 crore
2. Sanju Samson 18 crore
3. Dhruv Jurel 14 crore
4. Riyan Parag 14 crore
5. Shimron Hetmyer 11 crore
6. Sandeep Sharma 4 crore
Players bought:
1. Jofra Archer 12.5 crore
2. Tushar Despande 6.5 crore
3. Wanindu Hasaranga 5.25 crore
4. Maheesh Theekshana 4.4 crore
5. Nitish Rana 4.2 crore
6. Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 crore
7. Kwena Maphaka 1.5 crore
8. Akash Madhwal 1.2 crore
9. Vaibhav Suryavanshi 1.1 crore
10. Shubham Dubey 80 lakh
11. Yudhvir Singh Charak 35 lakh
12. Kumar Kartikeya 30 lakh
13. Kunal Singh Rathore 30 lakh
14. Ashok Sharma 30 lakh
Gujarat Titans:
Gujarat Titans retained key players such as Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan while making a significant splash by acquiring Jos Buttler, the most expensive overseas player this season. Bolstered by the addition of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj, their bowling attack appears formidable. With versatile all-rounders like Washington Sundar and Sherfane Rutherford, GT is well-equipped to defend their IPL title.
Retained Players:
1. Rashid Khan 18 crore
2. Shubman Gill 16.5 crore
3. Sai Sudharshan 8.5 crore
4. Rahul Tewatia 4 crore
5. Shahrukh Khan 4 crore
Players bought:
1. Jos Buttler 15.75 crore
2. Mohammad Siraj 12.25 crore
3. Kagiso Rabada 10.75 crore
4. Prasidh Krishna 9.5 crore
5. Mahipal Lomror 1.7 crore
6. Nishant Sindhu 30 lakh
7. Kumar Khushagra 65 lakh
8. Anuj Rawat 30 lakh
9. Manav Suthar 30 lakh
10. Glenn Phillips 2 crore
11. R Sai Kishore 2 crore (RTM)
12. Gerald Coetzee 2.4 crore
13. Jayant Yadav 75 lakh
14. Arshad Khan 1.3 crore
15. Sherfane Rutherford 2.6 crore
16. Washington Sundar 3.2 crore
17. Gurnoor Brar 1.3 crore
18. Ishant Sharma 75 lakh
19. Karim janat 75 lakh
20. Kulwant Khejroliya 30 lakh
Delhi Capitals:
The Delhi Capitals retained essential players such as Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, while also adding marquee stars like KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc. Their squad features a balanced mix of explosive batting and formidable bowling options. The inclusion of young talents like Ashutosh Sharma and Mukesh Kumar highlights their commitment to nurturing emerging players. With this revamped lineup, DC looks poised to make a significant impact this season.
Retained Players:
1. Axar Patel 16.5 crore
2. Kuldeep Yadav 13.25 crore
3. Tristan Stubbs 10 crore
4. Abhishek Porel 4 crore
Players bought:
1. Mitchell Starc 11.75 crore
2. KL Rahul 14 crore
3. Harry Brook 6.25 crore
4. Jake Fraser-McGurk 9 crore (RTM)
5. T Natarajan 10.75 crore
6. Karun Nair 50 lakh
7. Sameer Rizvi 95 lakh
8. Ashutosh Sharma 3.80 crore
9. Mohit Sharma 2.20 crore
10. Faf du Plessis 2 crore
11. Mukesh Kumar 8 crore (RTM)
12. Darshan Nalkande 30 lakh
13. Vipraj Nigam 50 lakh
14. Dushmantha Chameera 75 lakh
15. Donovan Ferriera 75 lakh
16. Ajay Mandal 30 lakh
17. Manvanth Kumar 30 lakh
18. Tripurana Vijay 30 lakh
19. Madhav Tiwari 40 lakh
Images Courtesy: BCCI (iplt20.com)