The IPL 2025 auction took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24th and 25th, bringing surprises. All the franchises were focused on building a strong team for the future, and most of them will be happy with how the auction panned out.
For those who missed the excitement of the IPL 2025 auction, we have a short recap for you.
Most Expensive Player – Rishabh Pant (LSG) – 27 Crores
Once Delhi Capitals decided to release Rishabh Pant, he was expected to go for big money. Most teams had their eyes on the dynamic batter, but it was Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) who went all out and bought Rishabh Pant for a whopping Rs. 27 Crores.
The two Iyers, Shreyas and Venkatesh, follow Rishabh Pant on the most expensive players list. While Shreyas Iyer went for Rs. 26.75 Crores to Punjab Kings, Venkatesh Iyer was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for 23.75 Crores.
Which Franchises Wanted Rishabh Pant in Their Squad?
While most teams would have loved Rishabh Pant in their squad, LSG began with the opening bid of 2 Crores. The battle to get the most destructive wicket-keeper batter went on between LSG and RCB.
Once RCB pulled out, SRH jumped in. SRH also pulled out when LSG placed a bid of Rs. 20.75 Crores. DC used RTM, but LSG set the final price of 27 Crores, which DC refused to match. LSG will now enjoy the services of Rishabh Pant in the IPL 2025 season.
Most Expensive Foreign Player – Jos Buttler (GT) – 15.75 Crores
Rajasthan Royals (RR) did not retain Jos Buttler for the IPL 2025 season, and since then, most teams had their eyes on this destructive opening batsman. Jos Buttler is known for giving brisk starts to his team, and it was no surprise that he went for a high price. In the process, he went on to become the most expensive foreign player in the 2025 IPL auction, getting 15.75 Crores from Gujarat Titans (GT).
Most Expensive Indian Spinner – Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) – 18 Crores
In what came as a surprising move, RR decided not to retain Yuzvendra Chahal ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The clever spinner attracted the attention of most teams, finally going to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for 18 Crores.
Top Unsold Players IPL 2025 List
Most top players didn’t make it to the IPL 2025 season, as they remained unsold. The prominent names being David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, and Kane Williamson. The following is a list of the top 10 players who went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction:
- David Warner
- Kane Williamson
- Jonny Bairstow
- Prithvi Shaw
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Steve Smith
- Daryl Mitchell
- Dewald Brewis
- Mayank Agarwal
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Youngest Player in IPL History
At just 13, Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to be drafted into the IPL. RR decided to buy the talented young boy for Rs. 1.1 Crore. While the ICC has set the age limit of 15 years to play international cricket, there is no such limit for a player to play in an IPL match.
Final Thoughts
The IPL 2025 auction was full of surprises and happiness for cricket enthusiasts. Most teams will be happy with the auction, as they believe they have assembled a strong squad for the IPL 2025 season. The dynamics of most teams have changed due to possible new captains, new team members, and new coaching staff. The team that adjusts to the new dynamics quickly and performs well together will have the highest chance to lift the IPL trophy in 2025.