Bids Will Be Made For Big Names Such As KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravichandran Ashwin in The IPL Mega Auction. 1,574 Players Have Registered For The Event.
Rajasthan News
IPL 2025: 1,574 Players Register for Mega Auction, Ben Stokes Excluded from the List
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is just around the corner, with 1,574 players registering for the event. However, one notable absence from this long list is England’s star all-rounder, Ben Stokes, who has opted not to participate. This auction will see some of the biggest names in Indian and international cricket going under the hammer, including high-profile Indian players not retained by their respective franchises. Among them are Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, who have set their base price at Rs 2 crore.
Details of the IPL Mega Auction 2025
The IPL 2025 mega auction will occur on November 24 and 25, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It will be a significant event as the franchises look to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season. After receiving inputs from the franchises, the IPL will shortlist players from the pool of 1,574 registrants. These players include prominent Indian cricketers not retained by their teams, including Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and veteran bowlers Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Several players who had impressive performances last season or hold the potential to impact IPL 2025 have also registered with a base price of Rs 2 crore. These players include Ashwin and Chahal, who were released by Rajasthan Royals, and Mitchell Starc, the highest-priced player last year, bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a record Rs 24.50 crore. This year, Starc has set his base price at Rs 2 crore, a significant drop compared to last year’s figure, but he remains one of the most sought-after bowlers in the world.
Top Indian Players with Rs 2 Crore Base Price
Along with Pant, Rahul, and Iyer, several other Indian cricketers set their base price at Rs 2 crore, the highest amount possible in the auction. This list includes notable players like Mohammed Shami, who last played cricket in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in November last year due to injuries. Gujarat Titans decided not to retain Shami, making him available at the base price of Rs 2 crore.
Other key Indian players with a Rs 2 crore base price include Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Ishan Kishan, Mukesh Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, T Natarajan, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav. These players are expected to draw attention from several franchises looking to strengthen their squads with experienced Indian talent.
International Players and Surprises in the Auction Pool
In addition to the prominent Indian players, a few international cricketers are registering for the IPL 2025 auction with a range of base prices. England’s fast bowler, James Anderson, has also put his name forward despite having yet to play a T20 match since 2014. Anderson has never participated in the IPL but is listed in the auction at a base price of Rs 1.25 crore. Anderson retired from international cricket and has been a bowling coach for the England team. His inclusion in the auction raises questions about his potential role in the IPL, as his experience could benefit many franchises.
India’s Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan, who did not bid in the previous auction, have also registered this time. Their base price has been set at Rs 75 lakh each, which may allow them to make their mark in IPL 2025.
Franchises and Their Purse Strength
The IPL franchises are preparing for the auction with varying amounts of money in their purses. Each team has a total purse of Rs 120 crore. Still, after retaining certain players, the amount available to spend during the auction varies. The franchise with the most oversized purse heading into the auction is Punjab Kings, with Rs 110.5 crore, followed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with Rs 83 crore. Delhi Capitals will enter with Rs 73 crore, while Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants have Rs 69 crore in their purses.
Other teams like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have Rs 55 crore available, while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can spend Rs 51 crore. Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have Rs 45 crore. In contrast, Rajasthan Royals (RR) has the smallest purse of Rs 41 crore.
Auction Strategy and Team Needs
With 204 slots in the IPL 2025 auction, franchises will look to fill specific gaps in their squads. The retention process has left room for plenty of new talent, and franchises must make strategic decisions based on their purse and needs. The IPL auction always attracts fierce competition, and this year is expected to be no different, with high-profile players like Pant, Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer expected to spark bidding wars.
As we head into the IPL 2025 mega auction, all eyes will be on the biggest names in Indian cricket, the possible surprises in the international pool, and how the franchises allocate their budgets to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season.
