IPL 2025 Mega Auction: The mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has rewritten the history books of the Indian Premier League (IPL), with two Indian cricketers becoming the most expensive players ever.
1. Rishabh Pant - ₹27 Crore
Rishabh Pant, the former Delhi Capitals captain and wicketkeeper, has set a new record as the most expensive player in IPL history. Lucknow Super Giants secured Pant for an astounding ₹27 crore.
2. Shreyas Iyer - ₹26.75 Crore
Following closely is Shreyas Iyer, who captained Kolkata Knight Riders to victory last season. Punjab Kings acquired Iyer for ₹26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history.
Yuzvendra Chahal - ₹18 Crore
Punjab Kings made headlines by purchasing leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore, making him the most expensive spinner in IPL history. Until now, no spinner had ever made it to the top 15 most expensive IPL players.
Highlights of the Auction
- Mitchell Starc Purchased by Delhi for ₹11.75 Crore
Last season, Kolkata Knight Riders had bought him for ₹24.75 crore. This time, his price was nearly halved. - ₹53.75 Crore Spent on Two Captains
Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings) and Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants) commanded a combined ₹53.75 crore. - Top Six Players Sold for ₹110 Crore
The list includes stars like Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Jos Buttler.
Team-Wise Purchases and Key Players
- KL Rahul
Delhi Capitals purchased former Lucknow captain KL Rahul for ₹14 crore. Rahul's base price was ₹2 crore. Last season, he scored 520 runs, including four half-centuries. - Liam Livingstone
Bengaluru acquired English all-rounder Liam Livingstone for ₹8.75 crore. He previously played for Punjab Kings, scoring 111 runs and taking three wickets in seven matches last season. - Mohammed Siraj
Gujarat Titans secured Mohammed Siraj for ₹12.25 crore. Siraj, who had a base price of ₹2 crore, took 15 wickets in 14 matches last season. - David Miller
Lucknow Super Giants bought South African batsman David Miller for ₹7.5 crore. Miller played for Gujarat Titans last season, scoring 210 runs in nine matches. - Mohammed Shami
Hyderabad acquired Indian pacer Mohammed Shami for ₹10 crore. Shami, the Purple Cap holder in 2023, missed last season due to injury. - Jos Buttler
Gujarat Titans signed England's white-ball captain Jos Buttler for ₹15.75 crore. Buttler scored 359 runs, including two centuries, for Rajasthan Royals last season.
Record-Breaking Deals
- Rishabh Pant
Lucknow Super Giants' ₹27 crore bid for Rishabh Pant surpassed all previous IPL records. Pant was initially contested by Lucknow and Bengaluru, with Hyderabad briefly entering the bidding war. The final bid saw Lucknow emerge victorious. - Shreyas Iyer
Punjab Kings’ ₹26.75 crore bid for Shreyas Iyer initially set a record until Pant surpassed it. - Yuzvendra Chahal
Punjab Kings’ ₹18 crore bid for Yuzvendra Chahal marked a significant milestone for Indian spinners. - Mitchell Starc
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, previously the most expensive IPL player, saw a reduced bid of ₹11.75 crore by Delhi Capitals.
Top Buys by Base Price Comparisons
- Arshdeep Singh
Punjab Kings retained Arshdeep Singh using their RTM card for ₹18 crore, despite stiff competition from Sunrisers Hyderabad. - Kagiso Rabada
Gujarat Titans bought Kagiso Rabada for ₹10.75 crore. The South African pacer previously played for Punjab Kings. - Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal’s ₹18 crore bid by Punjab Kings gave him nine times his base price.
This year’s auction showcased the immense popularity and competitive spirit of IPL, with record-breaking bids redefining the value of Indian and international players.