Ricky Ponting and Punjab Kings (PBKS) splashed out over Rs 110 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, and made three of the five biggest purchases of the two-day event. Shreyas Iyer was bought for Rs 26.75 crore, while Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh each received Rs 18 cr. However, another aspect of PBKS’ auction strategy was signing as many as five Australian players in their squad, with Ponting probably having a large say in the matter. Ponting defended the decision to pick so many Australians.

Punjab Kings bought all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell, wicket-keeper batter Josh Inglis, all-rounder Aaron Hardie and pacer Xavier Bartlett in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

“I’ll probably get some criticism. I think we have got five Aussies out of our complement of eight overseas,” admitted Ponting after the auction.

“But when you look at the slots that we needed, the players that we have got fitted into those roles perfectly,” Ponting stated.

Three of the Australians – Stoinis, Maxwell and Inglis – are likely to form a major part of PBKS’ first XI as well, given their all-round and wicket-keeping abilities respectively. Stoinis was the most expensive of the lot, fetching Rs 11 crore in the auction.

“To have Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell back to Kings is huge as they have both played here in the past. A couple of new guys, including Xavier Bartlett, Aaron Hardie, and Josh Inglis, are coming into the IPL for the first time, which is also really exciting for us,” Ponting added.

Punjab Kings – back then known as Kings XI Punjab – was Stoinis’ very first IPL franchise, between 2016 and 2018. On the other hand, Maxwell will don the Punjab Kings red for a third spell in his career.

Maxwell also won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award when Punjab played the IPL final (and last qualified for the playoffs) in 2014.

File image of Jitesh Sharma.© BCCI/Sportzpics

IPL 2025: File image of KL Rahul.© BCCI/IPL

GT Full Squad, IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans roped in India all-rounder Washington Sundar for Rs 3.20 crore on Day 2 of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. On Day 1, GT picked up the likes of Jos Buttler (Rs 15.75 crore), Mohammed Siraj (Rs 12.25 crore), and Kagiso Rabada (Rs 10.75 crore) as their marquee signings. Meanwhile, the franchise also roped in stars like Prasidh Krishna (Rs. 9.50 crore), Nishant Sindhu (Rs. 30 lakh), Mahipal Lomror (Rs. 1.70 crore), Kumar Kushagra (Rs. 65 lakh), Anuj Rawat (Rs. 30 lakh), Manav Suthar (Rs. 30 lakh). They also have a minimum of 4 slots to fill. (Full Squad)

PLAYERS BOUGHT:

1. Kagiso Rabada: Rs 10.75 cr

2. Jos Buttler: Rs 15.75 cr

3. Mohammed Siraj: 12.25 cr

4. Prasidh Krishna – Rs 9.50 cr

5. Nishant Sindhu – Rs 30 lakh

6. Mahipal Lomror – Rs 1.7 cr

7. Kumar Kushagra – Rs 65 lakh

8. Anuj Rawat – Rs 30 lakh

9. Manav Suthar – Rs 30 lakh

10. Washington Sundar – Rs 3.20 crore

11. Gerald Coetzee – Rs 2.40 crore

12. Arshad Khan – Rs 1.3 crore

13. Gurnoor Brar – Rs 1.3 crore

14. Sherfane Rutherford – Rs 2.6 crore

15. Sai Kishore – Rs 2 crore

16. Ishant Sharma – Rs 75 lakh

17. Jayant Yadav – Rs 75 lakh

Full list of retained players: Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan

Full list of released players: BR Sharath, Abhinav Manohar, Sandeep Warrier, Gurnoor Brar, Darshan Nalkande, David Miller, Jayant Yadav, Joshua Little, Kane Williamson, Matthew Wade, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Sai Kishore, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha, Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Spencer Johnson

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) said that the decision to bring England opener Phil Salt was influenced by the fact that he is explosive and can take on anyone in the powerplay. Salt, came in at Rs 2 crore. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru and MI were locked in a fierce bid, with the price escalating rapidly. After MI decided to opt out of the race, KKR entered the fray. RCB raised the bid to Rs 8 crore, and KKR came right at it with Rs 8.25 crore. The bid reached Rs 9 crore and eventually zipped past Rs 10 crore. Both tables pondered on their next move, and RCB eventually sealed the deal at Rs 11.5 crore.

Speaking as per an RCB statement, Dinesh said, “Phil Salt, what have I got to say? He is explosive. He is someone who can take on in the power play. Great attitude. Nice guy to have around in the team. Everything about him says he is the kind of guy that RCB would love to have.”

In 38 T20Is for England, he has made 1,106 runs at an average of 36.86 and a strike rate of 165.32, with three centuries and four fifties. In 268 T20s, he has scored 6,517 runs at a strike rate of over 155, with three centuries and 41 fifties. In Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)’s triumph last season, he scored 435 runs in 12 matches with four fifties at a strike rate of 182.00.

Speaking on acquisition of Indian wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, Karthik said, “He is a very explosive middle -order batsman. We wanted someone who is on the fringes of the Indian team and he is right there. We have seen what he can do in the IPL. Has got areas that he can hit and RCB being a ground where you can play spin well, he comes as a very, very good option.”

On wicket keeping (Jitesh or Phil) Kartik said: “I think it is a decision that we will take closer to the tournament. I think it is a discussion that we need to have and see who is the better fielder, who is the better wicketkeeper and accordingly figure out what is the right option.”

In 9 T20Is for India, Jitesh has 100 runs with best score of 35. In 40 matches for Punjab Kings (PBKS) since 2022, he made 730 runs at an average of 22.81, with strike rate of over 151.14 and best score of 49*.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction from Sunday to Monday is all set to be two of the most intriguing days of this year’s cricketing calendar, with several international stars having entered the auction, records expected to be broken and the possibility of some unexpected crossovers.

A total of 574 players have been shortlisted from an initial pool of 1,574 names. These players will go under the hammer from November 24-25 in Jeddah. The list includes 208 overseas players, 12 uncapped overseas talents, and 318 uncapped Indian players.

Representative image.© X (Twitter)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia will witness plenty of twists, turns, unexpected signings and records broken, as the availability of Indian and international stars is more than ever and all ten franchises are looking to rebuild their squads from the start. A total of 12 marquee players, including Indian stars like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul have created a lot of buzz within the cricket fraternity. A total of 574 players have been shortlisted from an initial pool of 1,574 names.

These players will go under the hammer from November 24-25 in Jeddah. The list includes 208 overseas players, 12 uncapped overseas talents, and 318 uncapped Indian players, according to Wisden.

Here is a look at all the marquee players who will be going under the hammer:

-Jos Buttler (England):

Buttler is one of finest white-ball batters of this generation, with 11,929 runs, eight centuries and 83 fifties to his name in 427 T20s. A T20 World Cup-winning captain for England, Buttler made a name for himself in the IPL during his stint with Rajasthan Royals (RR) from 2018 to 2024.

For RR since 2018, Buttler scored 3,055 runs at an average of 41.84 and a strike rate of 147.79, with 7 centuries and 18 fifties. His best score was 124. He is the team’s third-highest run-getter of all time. The IPL 2022, in which RR finished as runners-up, was the zenith of Buttler’s career, as he ended up on the top of run-scoring charts, with 863 runs in 17 matches at an average of 57.53 and a strike rate of over 149, with four centuries and four fifties. His best score was 116.

In the last season, Buttler scored 359 runs in 11 matches at an average of 39.88, with two centuries.

Buttler also represented Mumbai Indians (MI) from 2016-17, scoring 527 runs in 24 matches with one half-century. He won the title with them in 2017.

-Shreyas Iyer (India):

Iyer has played all formats for India, proving his mettle mostly in ODI cricket, where he averages 47 and has scored five centuries and 18 fifties in 57 ODIs. In 51 T20Is for India, Iyer has scored 1,104 runs at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of over 136, with eight half-centuries and best score of 74*.

During his time with Delhi Capitals (2015-21), he earned a reputation as a fierce young leader, taking DC to finals in 2021. After joining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2022, Iyer went one step further and won the franchise its third IPL title, its first in 10 years, this year. Throughout the season, Iyer along with mentor Gautam Gambhir, led the team’s aggressive, high-scoring brand of cricket from the front.

In his IPL career, Iyer has scored 2,375 runs at an average of 31.67, with a strike rate of 123.96 and 16 half-centuries. His best score is 96. In his last season for KKR, he scored 351 runs in 15 matches at an average of 39.00 and a strike rate of over 146, making two fifties.

-Rishabh Pant (India):

The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter is an all-format for India and a livewire on the field. Having proven himself as a man for big stages in Test cricket, Pant’s T20 game is just as solid. Though he has scored 1,209 runs in 76 T20Is at an underwhelming average of 23.25, strike rate of almost 128 and just three fifties, his overall T20 numbers are way better, having made 5,022 runs in 202 matches at an average of 31.78, strike rate of over 145, with two centuries and 25 fifties.

Pant has represented Delhi Capitals (DC) for his entire IPL career since 2016, scoring 3,284 runs in 110 matches at an average of 35.31, with a century and 18 fifties. He was appointed as the team’s captain in 2021 and led them to playoffs in the same season.

During this last season, which marked his return from competitive cricket after a serious road accident in 2022-end, Pant scored 446 runs in 13 matches at an average of 40.54 and a strike rate of 155.40, with three fifties and best score of 88*. He was the leading run-scorer for DC.

-Kagiso Rabada (South Africa):

The South African pacer is among the best in the world, having taken 71 wickets in 65 T20Is. He is the part of the SA team which reached the T20 World Cup finals this year and took 13 wickets in nine matches. Rabada has played T20 leagues and competitions worldwide and taken 264 scalps in 211 matches.

In the IPL, Rabada has represented Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, having taken 117 wickets in 80 matches. With PBKS from 2022-2024, he took 41 wickets in 30 matches while with DC from 2017-2021, he took 76 wickets in 50 matches. In 11 matches last season for Punjab Kings, he took 11 wickets at an average of 33.81.

-Arshdeep Singh (India):

A brilliant left-arm pacer for his swing and wicket-taking abilities, Arshdeep has represented India in 59 T20Is and has already taken 92 wickets at an average of 18.47, making him the most successful pacer for India in T20Is and their second-highest wicket-taker of all-time despite debuting only in 2022. The youngster was a crucial part of India’s T20 WC winning squad this year and was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 wickets in eight matches at an average of 12.47.

Since 2019, the year of his IPL debut, Arshdeep has represented the Punjab Kings in 65 matches, taking 76 wickets at an average of 27.00 and best figures of 5/32. The season this year was his strongest-ever showing, taking 19 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 26.58.

-Mitchell Starc (Australia)

A multi-time world champion with Australia across all formats, Starc is considered as one of the deadliest pacers of this era, having taken 681 wickets in 281 matches. In 65 T20Is for Australia, he has taken 79 wickets at an average of 23.81. in 142 T20Is played worldwide, he has taken 193 wickets at an average of 20.59 and best figures of 4/15.

After two seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from 2014-15, Starc made his IPL return this year as the most expensive player ever, brought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 24.75 crores.

Though he delivered mixed returns during the league stage, the ‘Big Match Starc’ came into play during playoffs, delivering outstanding spells of 3/34 and 2/14 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Qualifier 1 and final. He ended the season with 17 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 26.12 including a four-wicket haul. So far in his IPL career, Starc has taken 51 wickets in 41 matches.

-Yuzvendra Chahal (India)

The Indian spin veteran is the chart-topping bowler, owning the most wickets by an Indian in T20is and by any bowler in the IPL. In the IPL, Chahal has taken 205 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 22.44, with best figures of 5/40.

In 80 T20Is he has taken 96 wickets at an average of 25.09 with best figures of 6/25. Also in all of T20s, he has taken 354 wickets in 305 matches, the most by an Indian bowler.

Chahal remains the leading wicket-taker for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), even after departing in 2021 following a tenure that began in 2014. In 113 matches for RCB, he took 139 wickets at an average of 22.03, with a best of 4/25.

Since joining Rajasthan Royals (RR) in 2022, Chahal has helped the team reach the playoffs twice in three seasons. He is also the leading wicket-taker in IPL history, amassing 205 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 22.44, with a best of 5/44. He won the Purple Cap in 2022, his debut season with RR, securing 27 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 19.51, with best figures of 5/40. During the 2024 season, he took 18 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 30.33.

-Liam Livingstone (England):

A T20 World Cup-winning all-rounder, Liam has scored 877 runs in 53 T20Is at an average of 27.40 and a strike rate of almost 152, with a century and two fifties. With his useful right-arm spin, he has taken 32 wickets at an average of over 23, with best figures of 3/17. He owns the record for fastest T20I ton by an England player, in just 42 balls.

The batting all-rounder has played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) since his tournament debut in 2019, scoring 939 runs in 39 matches at a strike rate of 162.46 and six fifties. He has also taken 11 wickets. His best has come with Punjab, who signed him for Rs 11.5 crores ahead of the 2022 season, which proved to be his breakthrough, scoring 437 runs in 14 matches with four fifties and a strike rate of 182.08 and getting six wickets in 14 matches.

In the last season, Livingstone scored 111 runs in seven matches at an average of 22.20, striking at over 142 and having the best score of 38*.

-David Miller (South Africa):

An elite T20 finisher, Miller is considered as one of the modern white-ball greats for South Africa. In 128 matches for Proteas, he has made 2,473 runs at an average of 32.54, striking at almost 140, with two centuries and seven fifties.

In the IPL, Miller is known for his stints with Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans. His stint with Punjab from 2012-19 made him a valuable IPL commodity, as he enjoyed his peak years from 2013-15, reaching the finals in 2014. After a few years’ of underwhelming performances and being benched, GT placed trust in his finishing abilities and he repaid the faith with a 481-run season in 16 matches with two fifties, playing a crucial role in the team’s title win in his debut season. Miller is also known for his fine performances in knockout games.

In 41 matches for GT, he has scored 950 runs at an average of 45.24, with three fifties in 38 innings and a strike rate of 145.26. In the last season, he scored 210 runs at an average of 35.00 and a strike rate of over 151, with a half-century.

-KL Rahul (India):

A versatile batter for India across all formats. He can open, bat in middle-order, anchor and accelerate. A highly capable wicketkeeper-batter as well. He is India’s fourth-highest run-getter in T20Is, scoring 2,265 runs in 72 matches at an average of 37.75, striking at almost 140 with two centuries and 22 fifties to his name.

In 132 IPL matches since his debut in 2013, KL has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, even going on to captain the latter two teams. In 132 matches, he has scored 4,683 runs at an average of 45.47 and a strike rate of 134.61, with four centuries and 37 fifties.

For LSG since 2022, he has scored 1,410 runs at an average of 41.47, with a strike rate of 130.68, two centuries and 10 fifties. He has never won an IPL title. In 14 matches last season, he scored 520 runs at an average of 37.14 and a strike rate of 136.12 and four half-centuries. His best score was 82 and he ended up as seventh-highest run-getter in the season.

-Mohammed Shami (India):

The Indian pace veteran has represented India in all formats, having taken 448 wickets in 188 matches. His finest hour in an Indian jersey came during the 50-over World Cup at home last year, where he emerged as the leading-wicket-taker with 24 wickets in just seven matches and played a crucial role in India’s runners-up finish.

In IPL, Shami has played for Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans. He has taken 127 wickets in 110 matches at an average of 26.86. Shami was the Purple Cap holder for most wickets in GT’s 2023 runners-up season and has taken 48 wickets in 33 matches at an average of 21.04 for the team. This also remains his last IPL season as he missed the previous season due to an ankle injury.

-Mohammed Siraj (India):

Siraj is a solid all-format pacer for India, having taken 165 wickets across 91 matches, with a lot of match-winning performances in overseas Tests. He is the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 winner with the team.

In his IPL career, he has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from his debut in 2017, taking 93 wickets in 93 matches at an average of 30.34. Since 2018, he has been a vital part of RCB’s pace attack, having taken 83 wickets in 87 matches at an average of 31.45 and best figures of 4/21. In the last season this year, he took 15 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 33.07, playing a crucial role in the team’s inspirational playoffs qualification.

The bids on Rishabh Pant could well soar like his audacious no-look six at Perth as he seems poised to become the highest paid player among the 577 who will go under the hammer at the two-day IPL mega auction starting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday. There will be INR 641.5 crores cumulatively in the kitty of 10 teams with 204 possible slots to be filled but one can be rest assured that all eyes will be trained on Pant’s name when it comes up.

Punjab Kings, with INR 110.50 crore in their coffers, are ready to outbid the other franchises.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with INR 83 crore, can be another serious bidder, so can be Delhi Capitals, who have INR 73 crore and a Right To Match (RTM) card to get their skipper for past few seasons back.

However, it is reliably learnt that Pant doesn’t want DC to flash the RTM card as their parting of ways has not been the most pleasant and he no longer feels a part of the franchise. His comment that “my Retention wasn’t about money for sure” is a reflection of his thought process.

But the biggest question will be whether Pant can become the first Indian player to breach the INR Rs 25 crore mark? The answer lies in how the 10 franchises are stacked up and how they are looking at their team composition.

A Chennai Super Kings (CSK) or Mumbai Indians (MI), with only Rs 45 crore, wouldn’t even be going for the star keeper-batter.

But Punjab Kings, known for changing their team every two years, have kept their entire purse on advice of their head coach Ricky Ponting, who wants to reunite with his favourite player.

There are 81 players bracketed in INR two crore category base price and two sets of marquee players but one can trust the current India internationals to breach the million dollar mark (INR 8.5 crore).

If Pant would be the cynosure of this auction, Arshdeep Singh, with a staggering 96 T20 International wickets in three seasons, can easily have multiple teams going for him.

Punjab has the RTM card but they wouldn’t know where the bidding stops as it could be north of Rs 20 crore.

Fast bowlers — both Indian and foreign — will be in high demand during the two days while in case of batters, most of the star Indians save Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are taken. Iyer is believed to be Delhi Capitals’ choice for captaincy.

Pant, Rahul and Iyer are three potential captains as RCB, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings are also going to shop for possible leaders.

Among Indians, Ishan Kishan will keep the auctioneer busy although MI might not be in a position to shell out Rs 15.25 crore like last time as they need some good bowling support for Bumrah.

The other interesting name would be Mohammed Shami, who Sanjay Manjrekar thinks won’t attract too many bidders, something the player didn’t take too kindly to. He is playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and how his bidding goes would be noteworthy.

Other names to watch out:

1) Khaleel Ahmed: Those who won’t be able to get Arshdeep can go whole hog for Khaleel. Since Yash Dayal has also been retained by RCB, Khaleel could end up getting handsome bids. He hasn’t exactly shown his potential over the years but it is the demand-supply equation that can get him a million dollar deal.

2) Deepak Chahar: Injuries have pegged him back in past few years but there is no better swing bowler in Powerplay overs in Indian conditions like Chahar. Multiple franchises could bid for him. He has played Ranji Trophy and picked up a five-for and has not been unfit so far.

3) Avesh Khan: He had 19 wickets last season for Rajasthan Royals and went for Rs 10 crore. He might once again fetch a bid as good as that if not better.

4) Harshal Patel: It is that time of the year when people are left stunned as Harshal’s name comes up and he walks away with a million dollar contract. He will once again be a hot property even though he is no longer considered good for national selection. But 24 wickets last season mean that he won’t be ignored.

5) Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Indian seam and swing bowlers controlling powerplay overs are a rare commodity and experience isn’t readily available in the Supermarket. He might not grab eyeballs but if he remains under Rs 10 crore, he could still be a bargain buy and world knows MS Dhoni (CSK’s ‘Real Captain’) likes experienced blokes around him.

6) Jos Buttler: It is unlikely that Yashasvi Jaiswal will get to pair up with his favourite ‘Jos Bhai’ but the Englishman, in the absence of Ben Stokes, could well be the highest paid foreign player. It won’t be a surprise if RCB, factoring in the batting paradise at Chinnaswamy and the short side boundaries, go the distance for him with INR 83 crore in kitty.

7) Liam Livingstone: Livingstone is one player, who could certainly be on Punjab Kings’ RTM radar as well as on wish-list of some of the other franchises. He will certainly fetch a good sum.

8) Kagiso Rabada: Kagiso Rabada will always be in high demand in the IPL Universe. The Delhi Capitals could once again want the pacer back and Punjab would have the option of RTM. Mumbai Indians wouldn’t mind a good pace partner for Bumrah. PTI KHS PM KHS PM PM

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction from Sunday to Monday is all set to be two of the most intriguing days of this year’s cricketing calendar, with several international stars having entered the auction, records expected to be broken and the possibility of some unexpected crossovers. A total of 574 players have been shortlisted from an initial pool of 1,574 names. These players will go under the hammer from November 24-25 in Jeddah. The list includes 208 overseas players, 12 uncapped overseas talents, and 318 uncapped Indian players.

Among these players, are some stars from India’s ICC U19 World Cup campaign this year, in which they finished as runners-up after a loss to Australia in the title clash.

Let us look at India’s U19 stars, who would be aiming to repeat the monumental success of star India batter Virat Kohli. After the U19 WC win in 2008, Virat was signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and backed to the hilt by franchise despite various highs and lows displayed throughout his early career. Now, not only Virat stands as the highest run-getter of the IPL with 8,004 runs in 252 matches with eight centuries and 55 fifties, his presence has also transformed RCB into a massive brand and one of the most popular cricket franchises.

-Uday Saharan

He was the top-run-getter in the tournament, with 397 runs in seven matches at an average of 56.71 and a strike rate of 77.69. He scored a century and three fifties, with the best score of 100. His highlights include a century against Nepal and an 81-run knock against South Africa in the semis.

-Musheer Khan

He was the second-highest run-getter in the tournament with 360 runs in seven matches at an average of 60.00, with a strike rate of 98.09, with two centuries and a fifty. He also took seven wickets.

Since then, Musheer has graduated to first-class cricket and delivered standout performances in the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy. In nine first-class matches, he has scored 716 runs at an average of 51.14, with three centuries and a fifty in 15 innings. His best score is 203*.

-Sachin Dhas

Dhas ended as the third-highest run-getter for India and overall at fifth spot. He scored 303 runs in seven matches, averaging 60.60, with a century and one fifty. His best score was 116.

Since then, he has been playing first-class cricket, playing for Maharashtra. In six FC matches, he has scored 267 runs in 10 innings, averaging 26.70 and scoring one fifty. His best score is 98.

-Arshin Kulkarni

Though he had some disappointing outings for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last season, the young pace-bowling all-rounder is someone to look out for future as he could fill the gigantic shoes of star player Hardik Pandya. In the U19 WC, he scored 189 runs in seven matches, averaging 27.00, with a century to his name. He also took four wickets.

In eight T20s, he has scored 130 runs at an average of 18.57, with a strike rate of over 158 and best score of 47. He has also taken four wickets. The youngster has played four first-class matches for Maharashtra, scoring 202 runs in seven innings at an average of 28.85 with two fifties and best score of 87. He has also taken three wickets.

-Saumy Pandey

The slow-left-arm spinner was the top wicket-taker for India in the tournament, with 18 scalps at an average of 10.27, with a best figures of 4/19.

-Naman Tiwari

The left-arm pacer was the most successful Indian pacer in the U19 World Cup, taking 12 wickets at an average of 19.83, with two four-wicket hauls to his name and best figures of 4/20.

-Raj Limbani

The right-arm pacer Limbani did well for India in the tournament, with 11 wickets at an average of 16.54, with best figures of 3/38. In five first-class matches for Baroda, he has made 87 runs averaging 17.40 and has taken five wickets with best figures of 3/47.

The highest reserve price is set at INR 2 crore, with 81 players opting for this bracket. The largest segment comprises players with a base price of INR 30 lakh, totalling 320.

Among the standout names are Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul, part of the 12 marquee players. These three captains were released by their respective franchises ahead of the retention deadline. For the first time since 2018, the marquee players are divided into two sets, comprising seven Indian players and five overseas stars.

The first set includes Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Arshdeep Singh, while the second features KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj. The overseas marquee players are Mitchell Starc, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, David Miller, and Kagiso Rabada.

Several teams will deploy Right-to-Match (RTM) cards during the auction. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), having retained six players each–the maximum allowed–will not have any RTM cards. Punjab Kings (PBKS) hold four RTMs, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) three, and Delhi Capitals (DC) two. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Gujarat Titans (GT), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Mumbai Indians (MI) each have one RTM.

RTM cards enable teams to buy back released players by matching the highest bid. In this auction, the team with the highest bid can increase their offer once more, after which the team holding the RTM card can match the final bid to secure the player.

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction promises to deliver high-stakes action, with marquee players and strategic manoeuvres set to enthrill cricket fans.

Rishabh Pant is widely expected to go for an exorbitant amount in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, and the mock auction conducted by auction broadcasters Star Sports and JioCinema showed that many cricket experts also believe the same. Coming up in the first set of marquee players, Pant was bought for a mind-boggling INR 33 crore by Punjab Kings (PBKS), represented by Eoin Morgan. Fellow wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul also received an incredible sum of INR 29.5 crore, being purchased by Royal Challengers (RCB) represented by their former head coach Mike Hesson.

Pant parted ways with Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL mega auction, and has even clarified on social media that money wasn’t the factor behind his decision. However, being arguably the biggest name in the auction, Pant is still expected to fetch a huge fee.

PBKS boast the highest auction purse of any team, with Rs 110.5 cr, and are likely to go all-out for Pant with former DC head coach Ricky Ponting now with them.

“I anticipated his price to soar between Rs 26 and Rs 29 crore, but his eventual price was a record-shattering Rs 33 crore—deservedly so. Rishabh is not just a top-order left-handed batsman but also one of the most explosive players in modern cricket. Coupled with his captaincy credentials and the potential to serve for years to come, he’s akin to securing a young MS Dhoni. This is a strategic long-term investment, focused on building a robust foundation for the future. In my view, players like Pant are simply invaluable,” said Morgan, in the mock auction hosted by Star Sports and Jio Cinema.

On the other hand, KL Rahul’s stock may also be higher following a very impressive showing in the ongoing India-Australia first Test at Perth. Rahul chose to enter the auction pool instead of staying at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

“RCB would ideally prioritize Rishabh Pant to ensure continuity after Virat Kohli, especially for long-term stability. I personally bid up to ₹32.5 crore for Pant but wouldn’t have stretched as much for KL Rahul. At 32, Rahul brings experience and the ability to anchor the innings post-Virat’s era. As a local talent, he also fills the critical wicket-keeping slot left vacant by DK’s exit. While RCB would likely bid aggressively for him, the final price would hinge on the dynamics and unpredictability of the auction,” said Hesson after acquiring Rahul.

Reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), represented in the mock auction by former player Sanjay Bangar, bought back captain Shreyas Iyer for Rs 21 cr.

“I drew inspiration from Venky Mysore’s swift auction tactics—raising the paddle decisively when targeting a player. My reasoning was clear: Shreyas is a proven winning captain, and in a dynamic format like T20, such leadership is invaluable. If KKR chose to release him, it might have been due to financial considerations, possibly Shreyas demanding a higher price that didn’t align with their valuation. The auction provided an opportunity to test his market worth. Yes, I exceeded the ideal budget, allocating over 15% of the purse for a captain. However, a leader of his caliber strengthens the team immensely, fostering critical partnerships with management, Chandrakant Pandit, and the support staff. For me, continuity in leadership holds unparalleled value,” said Bangar.

Other big purchases in Star Sports/JioCinema mock auction:

Mitchell Starc: Rs 18 cr – Mumbai Indians (MI)

Arshdeep Singh: Rs 16.5 cr – Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Yuzvendra Chahal: Rs 15 cr – Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Ishan Kishan: Rs 15.5 cr – Delhi Capitals (DC)

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra, representing DC in the mock auction, admitted that prices would be slightly inflated.

“We’ll all agree that the prices discussed here are a little inflated, but the names I’m taking will fit the team’s strategy,” said Chopra.