TThe Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is expected to be one of the most eagerly awaited events in cricket, bringing an exciting overhaul of team squads with numerous slots available for new players. Here’s a detailed look at all the essential aspects of the auction:
IPL 2025 mega auction: Date, Time, and Venue
The mega auction is scheduled for November 24 and 25, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This will be the second consecutive year the auction is held outside India, following last year’s event in Dubai.
The auction will start at 12:30 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. IST) on November 24, coinciding with the third and fourth days of the Australia vs. India Test match in Perth.
Player Slots and Purse Size
- Total Slots: There are 204 slots available, with 70 reserved for overseas players.
- Base Price: The highest base price for players is set at Rs 2 crore, and 81 players have opted for this top bracket.
- Purse: Each franchise was initially allocated Rs 120 crore to build their squads. After the retention process, the remaining purse for each team varies:
- Punjab Kings have the largest purse at Rs 110.5 crore.
- Rajasthan Royals have the smallest purse at Rs 41 crore.
Retained Players
Here’s a brief overview of the players retained by each team:
- Mumbai Indians: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
- Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, and MS Dhoni.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal.
- Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and Abishek Porel.
- Gujarat Titans: Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, and Shahrukh Khan.
- Lucknow Super Giants: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Ayush Badoni.
- Punjab Kings: Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh.
Right-to-Match (RTM) Options
Each team has varying RTM options, allowing them to match bids for players they have released:
- Mumbai Indians: [Plate Number 2] for an uncapped player.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: [Plate Number 2] for an uncapped player.
- Chennai Super Kings: [Plate Number 2] for either a capped or uncapped player.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: [Plate Number 3] options for capped or uncapped players.
- Delhi Capitals: [Plate Number 4] options.
- Gujarat Titans: [Plate Number 2] for a capped player.
- Lucknow Super Giants: [Plate Number 2] for a capped player.
- Punjab Kings: [Plate Number 5] options for capped players.
Key Players at the Auction
The auction will feature several marquee players, including Jos Buttler, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Yuzvendra Chahal, Liam Livingstone, David Miller, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.
These players are expected to spark intense bidding wars due to their proven track records and established reputations in cricket.
Live Streaming and Telecast
The mega auction will be live telecast on Star Sports, with live streaming available on the Jio Cinema app and website, ensuring fans around the globe can witness the event live.
Significance and Expectations
The mega auction is not just about players changing teams; it reflects the league’s growing stature in global cricket.
With a substantial increase in purse size and an emphasis on player welfare through the introduction of match fees, the BCCI is setting a new benchmark for franchise cricket.
The event promises to be a spectacle, featuring established Indian stars like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, who could fetch record-breaking bids.
This auction represents a pivotal opportunity for teams to redefine their strategies and line-ups for the upcoming season, making it a must-watch for cricket enthusiasts and a defining event in the IPL calendar.