The IPL 2025 Auction in Jeddah has taken the cricket world by storm, marking another milestone in the tournament’s history. Hosted on November 24–25 at the Abady Al-Johar Arena, this is only the second time the auction is held outside India, following last year’s event in Dubai.
Participating Teams and Owners
All 10 franchises, including iconic teams like Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, are back with their eyes set on building formidable squads. Owners range from corporate giants like Reliance (MI) to Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan (KKR).
No new franchises were added this year, but changes in strategies and retained players have stirred excitement. Teams with lower retentions, such as Punjab Kings, boast a larger auction purse for aggressive bids.
Here’s a list of the 10 participating teams and their owners:
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Owned by India Cements, led by MS Dhoni’s mentorship.
- Mumbai Indians (MI): Reliance Industries continues its legacy with Nita Ambani at the forefront.
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla’s partnership retains its glamour.
- Delhi Capitals (DC): GMR Group and JSW Sports drive their ambitions.
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): Preity Zinta and co-owners aim for a big transformation.
- Rajasthan Royals (RR): Manoj Badale-led consortium stays consistent.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): United Spirits keeps pushing for that elusive trophy.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Managed by the Sun TV Network.
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): RPSG Group’s new powerhouse team.
- Gujarat Titans (GT): CVC Capital Partners look to retain their competitive edge.
Auction Rules
Each team could retain up to six players, with a combination of capped and uncapped talents. Teams have Right-to-Match (RTM) cards, allowing them to re-sign released players at a competitive bid. This balance between continuity and fresh talent ensures nail-biting moments during the auction.
- Teams must maintain a squad of 18–25 players, including up to 8 overseas players.
- Each franchise had a ₹120 crore budget for squad building.
- Minimum and maximum base prices were ₹30 lakh and ₹2 crore respectively.
What Are Capped and Uncapped Players?
- Capped Players: These players have represented their national teams in international matches. For example, players like Rishabh Pant or Mitchell Starc.
- Uncapped Players: Talented cricketers who haven’t played international matches but have excelled in domestic or local leagues. Rising star Vaibhav Suryavanshi is an example.
Teams balance their strategy by picking capped players for experience and leadership while investing in uncapped players for potential and cost-effectiveness.
What Is the Right-to-Match (RTM) Card?
The RTM card allows a franchise to retain a player they didn’t initially pick during the auction. If another team bids for their former player, the original franchise can match that price and bring them back into the team.
For example, if KKR wanted to re-sign Shubman Gill after releasing him and another team bids ₹10 crore, KKR could use their RTM card to retain him for ₹10 crore.
IPL 2025 Auction in Jeddah: Record-Breaking Bids
- Most Expensive Player: Rishabh Pant created history with a ₹27 crore bid by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
- Most Expensive Overseas Player: Jos Buttler was snapped up by Gujarat Titans for ₹15.75 crore.
- Indian Stars: Shreyas Iyer briefly held the record with ₹26.75 crore before Pant’s acquisition.
Franchise Strategies and Updates
1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Key Players Retained: MS Dhoni (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad.
- Biggest Buy: Shaheen Afridi for ₹14.5 crore.
- Notable New Players: Harry Brook (₹8 crore), Washington Sundar (₹6.25 crore).
- Squad Focus: A mix of experienced leaders like Dhoni and dynamic international players for balanced performance
2. Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Key Players Retained: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
- Biggest Buy: Nicholas Pooran for ₹12 crore.
- Notable New Players: Tabraiz Shamsi (₹5 crore), Jason Roy (₹4 crore).
- Strategy: Strengthening their middle order and adding variety to their bowling attack
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Key Players Retained: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Mohammed Siraj.
- Biggest Buy: Kagiso Rabada for ₹16 crore.
- Notable New Players: Priyam Garg (₹3.5 crore), Brandon McMullen (₹2.75 crore).
- Focus: Enhancing their bowling arsenal while ensuring stability in the top order
4. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Key Players Retained: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine.
- Biggest Buy: Sam Curran for ₹18 crore.
- Notable New Players: Vaibhav Arora (₹2.5 crore), Donovan Ferreira (₹3 crore).
- Approach: Building around all-rounders and depth in both batting and bowling
5. Gujarat Titans (GT)
- Key Players Retained: Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill.
- Biggest Buy: Jos Buttler for ₹15.75 crore.
- Notable New Players: Josh Hazlewood (₹8 crore), Shivam Dube (₹4 crore).
- Game Plan: Strengthening their batting lineup with power hitters
6. Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Key Players Retained: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Trent Boult.
- Biggest Buy: David Miller for ₹11 crore.
- Notable New Players: Ottneil Baartman (₹2.5 crore), Noor Ahmad (₹1.5 crore).
- Tactics: A blend of explosive batting and incisive bowling options
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Key Players Retained: Heinrich Klaasen, Umran Malik, Rahul Tripathi.
- Biggest Buy: Aiden Markram for ₹10 crore.
- Notable New Players: Anrich Nortje (₹7 crore), Tristan Stubbs (₹6 crore).
- Focus Area: Reinforcing their overseas player strength
8. Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Key Players Retained: Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Anrich Nortje.
- Biggest Buy: Kyle Jamieson for ₹9 crore.
- Notable New Players: Manish Pandey (₹3.75 crore), Brandon King (₹3 crore).
- Strengths: Balancing power in batting and flexibility in bowling
9. Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Key Players Retained: Shikhar Dhawan, Sam Curran, Arshdeep Singh.
- Biggest Buy: Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore.
- Notable New Players: Unmukt Chand (₹2.5 crore), Rahul Chahar (₹3 crore).
- Objective: Banking on experienced Indian players and developing promising talents
10. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Key Players Retained: KL Rahul, Ravi Bishnoi, Marcus Stoinis.
- Biggest Buy: Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore.
- Notable New Players: Vaibhav Arora (₹4.5 crore), Donovan Ferreira (₹2.75 crore).
- Strategy: Building around Pant’s versatility and a dynamic middle order
Each team has worked strategically to enhance their squads while adhering to the ₹120 crore cap, with notable auctions for capped, uncapped, and overseas players. This year’s IPL promises exciting matchups given the diverse mix of talents across franchises.
Looking Ahead
Stay tuned for Day 2 updates as the IPL 2025 Auction in Jeddah concludes, shaping the squads for an exciting season ahead. The tournament will begin in March 2025, with exact dates and venues to be announced soon. Fans eagerly await this season’s fresh rivalries and breathtaking matches.
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