Tags: IPL 2025,
IPL 2025 Auction
Published: 26.11.2024
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction, which was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ended on Monday after an intense two-day event. With 577 players in the competition, the auction led to the making of history and unexpected surprises.
Auction highlights
Rishabh Pant grabbed the headlines as the most expensive signing in IPL history, securing a record INR 27 million deal with Lucknow Super Giants. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals shocked the cricket world by selecting 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, making him the youngest player ever to be drafted in the IPL.
However, the auction was not only about big salaries. Several established stars and young talents surprisingly went unsold, leaving fans and analysts scratching their heads.
Big names that remained unsold
Batters
Despite their illustrious careers, several top batsmen failed to attract bids, signaling a change in team dynamics and strategies.
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David Warner (Base Price: INR 2 crore) -
Kane Williamson (Base Price: INR 2 crore) -
Prithvi Shaw (Base Price: INR 75 lakh) -
Mayank Agarwal (Base Price: INR 1 crore)
The absence of offers for Warner and Williamson was particularly surprising, given their consistent performances in the league over the years.
Bowlers
Even with bowlers dominating IPL history, some big names couldn't find wickets.
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Piyush Chawlaone of the biggest players in the league, he went unsold at a base price of INR 50 lakh. -
Mustafizur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haqboth priced at INR 2 billion, found no takers. - Other notable unsold bowling alleys are also included Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Jason Behrendorffand Umesh Yadav.
Versatile
Despite their comprehensive utility, the introduction Impact Player Rule seems to have reduced the importance of all-rounders in team combinations.
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Shardul Thakur (Base Price: INR 2 crore) -
Daryl Mitchell (Base Price: INR 2 crore) -
Sikandar Raza and Kyle Mayersstars in recent international tournaments, also remained unsold.
Wicketkeepers
Lack of offers for England Jonny Bairstow (Base Price: INR 2 crore) raised eyebrows. Other guards, incl Alex Carey and Josh Philippealso remained unsold.
Emerging themes from the auction
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Youth over experience: The focus on younger players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi hints at teams prioritizing long-term investments over established veterans. -
Specialized roles: With tactical innovations like Impact Player Ruleteams seem to prefer players with highly specialized skills over multi-dimensional cricketers. -
Market Dynamics: High base prices have deterred offers for many experienced players, signaling the need for veterans to reassess their valuation.
Opportunities ahead
All is not lost for unsold players. Franchises can still hire them as replacements during the season in case of injuries or withdrawals.
The IPL 2025 auction was a spectacle that highlighted the ever-evolving nature of cricket's most popular league. While some players rejoiced, others will be looking ahead to future opportunities to shine on the big stage.