The IPL 2025 Auction delivered its trademark drama, with teams shelling out massive sums for star players, particularly Indian talents and all-rounders. This year’s auction was marked by record-breaking bids, surprising steals, and a few shock unsold players. Here’s a complete rundown of the action-packed event.
Headline Grabs: Indian Stars Fetch Sky-High Prices
Indian stars dominated the auction, with Rishabh Pant setting a record as the most expensive player in IPL history at ₹27 crore, picked by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Not far behind was Shreyas Iyer, snapped up by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for ₹26.75 crore.
Adding to the frenzy, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) broke the bank to bring back their star all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore, making him one of the top buys of the auction.
All-Rounders in Demand
All-rounders, as expected, were in high demand. Marcus Stoinis fetched a hefty ₹11 crore from PBKS, while Mitchell Marsh went to LSG for ₹3.4 crore. PBKS managed to grab Glenn Maxwell at a relatively low price of ₹4.2 crore, a surprising steal for the hard-hitting Australian.
Chennai Super Kings: Building a Balanced Squad
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made strategic purchases to strengthen their roster. Their headline move was repurchasing local hero Ravichandran Ashwin for ₹9.75 crore. They also bolstered their lineup with players like Devon Conway (₹6.25 crore), Rahul Tripathi (₹3.4 crore), and Rachin Ravindra (₹4 crore, RTM).
Other Major Buys
- Arshdeep Singh: Retained by PBKS for ₹18 crore using the Right-to-Match (RTM) card.
- Yuzvendra Chahal: A marquee signing for PBKS at ₹18 crore, bolstering their spin department.
- Mitchell Starc: Picked by Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹11.75 crore.
- Jos Buttler: Went to Gujarat Titans (GT) for ₹15.75 crore, adding firepower to their batting lineup.
Budget Buys and Surprise Deals
- Aiden Markram: LSG secured the talented South African for a modest ₹2 crore.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Snapped up by KKR for ₹2 crore, adding a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter to their squad.
- Quinton de Kock: Surprisingly, KKR managed to sign him for just ₹3.6 crore.
Unsold Players: Big Names Left Without Teams
Every IPL auction comes with its share of surprises, and this year was no different. David Warner, a former IPL-winning captain and one of the league’s most consistent batters, went unsold. Devdutt Padikkal, despite his potential, also failed to find a buyer.
Top 10 Buys of IPL 2025 Auction
- Rishabh Pant – ₹27 crore (Lucknow Super Giants)
- Shreyas Iyer – ₹26.75 crore (Punjab Kings)
- Venkatesh Iyer – ₹23.75 crore (Kolkata Knight Riders)
- Arshdeep Singh – ₹18 crore (Punjab Kings, RTM)
- Yuzvendra Chahal – ₹18 crore (Punjab Kings)
- Jos Buttler – ₹15.75 crore (Gujarat Titans)
- KL Rahul – ₹14 crore (Delhi Capitals)
- Mohammed Siraj – ₹12.25 crore (Gujarat Titans)
- Phil Salt – ₹11.5 crore (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
- Marcus Stoinis – ₹11 crore (Punjab Kings)
Teams with Strategic Gains
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): By acquiring Pant, Miller, and Markram, they’ve strengthened their batting and all-round options.
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): Made bold moves for Stoinis, Chahal, and Maxwell, forming a balanced squad.
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Retaining Ashwin and adding Tripathi and Conway ensures experience and depth in their lineup.
| PLAYERS | COUNTRY | TEAMS | BASE PRICE | SOLD FOR |
| Arshdeep Singh | India | PBKS | 2 crore | 18 crore (RTM) |
| Kagiso Rabada | SA | GT | 2 crore | 10.75 crore |
| Shreyas Iyer | India | PBKS | 2 crore | 26.75 crore |
| Jos Buttler | England | GT | 2 crore | 15.75 crore |
| Mitchell Starc | Australia | DC | 2 crore | 11.75 crore |
| Rishabh Pant | India | LSG | 2 crore | 27 crore |
| Mohammed Shami | India | SRH | 2 crore | 10 crore |
| David Miller | SA | LSG | 1.5 crore | 7.5 crore |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | India | PBKS | 2 crore | 18 crore |
| Mohammed Siraj | India | GT | 2 crore | 12.25 crore |
| Liam Livingstone | England | RCB | 2 crore | 8.75 crore |
| KL Rahul | India | DC | 2 crore | 14 crore |
| Harry Brook | England | DC | 2 crore | 6.25 crore |
| Aiden Markram | SA | LSG | 2 crore | 2 crore |
| Devon Conway | NZ | CSK | 2 crore | 6.25 crore |
| Rahul Tripathi | India | CSK | 75 lakh | 3.40 crore |
| Jake Fraser-Mcgurk | Australia | DC | 2 crore | 9 crore (RTM) |
| Harshal Patel | India | SRH | 2 crore | 8 crore |
| Rachin Ravindra | NZ | CSK | 1.5 crore | 4 crore (RTM) |
| R Ashwin | India | CSK | 2 crore | 9.75 crore |
| Venkatesh Iyer | India | KKR | 2 crore | 23.75 crore |
| Marcus Stoinis | Australia | PBKS | 2 crore | 11 crore |
| Mitchell Marsh | Australia | LSG | 2 crore | 3.4 crore |
| Glenn Maxwell | Australia | PBKS | 2 crore | 4.2 crore |
| Quinton de Kock | SA | KKR | 2 crore | 3.6 crore |
| Phil Salt | England | RCB | 2 crore | 11.50 crore |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | KKR | 2 crore | 2 crore |
| Ishan Kishan | India | SRH | 2 crore | 11.25 crore |
| Jitesh Sharma | India | RCB | 1 crore | 11 crore |
| Josh Hazlewood | Australia | RCB | 2 crore | 12.5 crore |
| Prasidh Krishna | India | GT | 2 crore | 9.5 crore |
| Avesh Khan | India | LSG | 2 crore | 9.75 crore |
| Anrich Nortje | SA | KKR | 2 crore | 6.5 crore |
What’s Next?
The IPL 2025 auction reinforced the league’s trend of teams investing heavily in Indian talent and versatile all-rounders. The spotlight now shifts to the upcoming season, with fans eagerly awaiting how these multi-crore signings will perform on the field.
With some teams making strategic steals and others splurging on marquee players, IPL 2025 promises to be another blockbuster season filled with drama, excitement, and unforgettable cricketing moments.