The IPL 2025 Mega Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has seen some thrilling bidding wars as 577 players went under the hammer. The biggest surprise came early, with Punjab Kings bidding a record Rs 26.75 crore for Shreyas Iyer, a move that immediately set the stage for intense competition. However, it was Rishabh Pant who stole the limelight, breaking the auction record by fetching a staggering Rs 27 crore.
The bidding for Pant saw an aggressive back-and-forth between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), with LSG eventually securing him after RCB pulled out when the price surpassed Rs 10 crore. Pant’s final price went up further when Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the race, pushing the price past Rs 20 crore. Delhi Capitals, using their ‘Right to Match’ card, backed out as the bidding reached a record-breaking Rs 27 crore.
Shreyas Iyer’s auction battle was no less dramatic. His bid exceeded Rs 20 crore early on, with Punjab and Delhi fighting for his services. Punjab Kings ended up winning the bid for Iyer, who went for a record Rs 26.75 crore, surpassing the previous auction record set for Mitchell Starc in 2024.
Other notable players like Mohammad Shami, David Miller, and Liam Livingstone also secured impressive deals, with Sunrisers Hyderabad landing Shami for Rs 10 crore, and LSG acquiring Miller for Rs 7.50 crore. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals strengthened their pace attack by signing Mitchell Starc for Rs 11.75 crore, and Gujarat Titans added both Jos Buttler (Rs 15.75 crore) and Kagiso Rabada (Rs 10.75 crore) to their squad.
With a total purse of Rs 641.5 crore and 204 slots available, franchises are utilizing their resources carefully. Punjab Kings, with the highest available purse (Rs 110.5 crore), are making a strong push for star players, while Rajasthan Royals, with the lowest purse (Rs 41 crore), have exhausted their retentions, including skipper Sanju Samson.
