With Rs 641 crore on the table, IPL 2025 auction promises fierce bidding wars

With 10 IPL teams ready to unleash their budgets of a combined ₹641.5 crore on filling 204 player slots, the IPL 2025 mega auction is set to be one of the biggest showdowns in franchise cricket. Scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this auction will be the second time in a row the event is hosted overseas after the 2024 Dubai edition. With player registrations now closed, an impressive pool of 1,574 players—1,165 Indian and 409 overseas—will be vying for a chance to join one of the IPL teams.

The auction days promise to be exciting not only for the franchises but for the fans as well, particularly as this falls on the third and fourth days of India’s first Test against Australia in Perth. Out of the 204 total slots, 70 have been reserved for overseas players, ensuring a diverse lineup. Big names like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer are all in the fray, with bidding wars anticipated for these top Indian players as teams look to fortify their rosters.

Team Budgets and Key Retentions

Each franchise began with a set auction purse of ₹120 crore. After the initial retention process, which concluded on October 31, the combined sum spent across franchises reached ₹558.5 crore. Teams retained a total of 46 players, leaving Punjab Kings with the highest available purse of ₹110.5 crore after choosing to retain just two uncapped players. Rajasthan Royals, captained by Sanju Samson, have the smallest remaining purse of ₹41 crore following their retention of six key players.

The auction strategies are expected to vary widely across franchises, with Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore (remaining purse of ₹83 crore) likely pursuing big-ticket players, while Rajasthan Royals will have to focus on a more budgeted approach.

IPL 2025 Auction Remaining Budgets by Team

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Retention Strategies and Key Players

Each team has put forward unique retention strategies based on their core players. Chennai Super Kings, for instance, retained MS Dhoni at ₹4 crore, along with star names like Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Delhi Capitals opted to hold on to Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, while Royal Challengers Bangalore prioritized Virat Kohli as their marquee retention at ₹21 crore. Mumbai Indians secured Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav, investing heavily in their core Indian players

The IPL 2025 mega auction will kick off live at 11 AM IST on both November 24 and 25, with fans able to catch all the action via Star Sports or stream it on the Jio Cinema app and website. With an array of international talent and star Indian players available, the auction promises to be a thrilling display of strategy and fierce competition as franchises look to build their dream squads for IPL 2025.