IPL 2025 Mega Auction Day 1: Highlights, Records, and Player Bids

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction Day 1 brought unparalleled excitement, setting a new benchmark in the tournament’s history. In a display of high-stakes bidding and strategic planning, franchises spent a staggering ₹467.95 crore on 72 players, redefining the dynamics of team building and competition. From record-shattering bids to surprising moves, Day 1 laid the foundation for what promises to be an electrifying season.

Breaking Records: The Biggest Deals of the Day

In a historic moment, Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), rebuilding after the KL Rahul era, acquired the star wicketkeeper-batter for a jaw-dropping ₹27 crore. This move signaled their aggressive approach to establishing a powerhouse team for the upcoming season.

Shortly after, Shreyas Iyer set another benchmark by signing with Punjab Kings for ₹24.75 crore, surpassing the ₹23.75 crore record set by Mitchell Starc in 2024. These back-to-back record deals underscored the intense competition and the value franchises placed on marquee players.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Bold Move

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made headlines by spending ₹23.75 crore to retain Venkatesh Iyer, demonstrating their commitment to preserving their championship-winning core. However, their limited funds following this purchase cost them a bidding war for Phil Salt, who was ultimately acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for ₹11.5 crore.

Other Key Purchases

• KL Rahul, a former Lucknow captain, found a new home with Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore, likely as their future captain.
• Mohammad Siraj joined Gujarat Titans for ₹12.25 crore, bolstering their bowling attack.
• Gujarat Titans also secured Jos Buttler for ₹15.75 crore, marking the end of his tenure with Rajasthan Royals.
• Sunrisers Hyderabad brought in Mohammad Shami for ₹10 crore, pairing him with Pat Cummins to form a formidable bowling duo.

Team Purchases: Who Bought Whom?

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

CSK retained stars like MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad and added the following players:

• Devon Conway (₹6.75 crore)
• Ravichandran Ashwin (₹9.75 crore)
• Noor Ahmed (₹10 crore)
• Other additions: Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Khaleel Ahmed, and Vijay Shankar.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals enhanced their squad with notable acquisitions:

• Mitchell Starc (₹11.75 crore)
• KL Rahul (₹14 crore)
• T Natarajan (₹10.75 crore)
• Emerging players like Karun Nair, Ashutosh Sharma, and Mohit Sharma.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Gujarat Titans made strategic buys to strengthen their lineup:

• Jos Buttler (₹15.75 crore)
• Mohammad Siraj (₹12.25 crore)
• Kagiso Rabada (₹10.75 crore)
• Other additions included Prasidh Krishna, Mahipal Lomror, and Anuj Rawat.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

The defending champions focused on retaining core players and added:

• Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore)
• Quinton de Kock (₹3.6 crore)
• Anrich Nortje (₹6.5 crore)
• Emerging players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mayank Markande.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

LSG created headlines with their record-breaking bid:

• Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore)
• David Miller (₹7.5 crore)
• Other picks included Mitchell Marsh, Avesh Khan, and Abdul Samad.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Mumbai Indians, retaining key players like Rohit Sharma, added:

• Trent Boult (₹12.5 crore)
• Emerging players like Naman Dhir and Robin Minz.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

With the largest purse, PBKS splurged on:

• Shreyas Iyer (₹24.75 crore)
• Arshdeep Singh (₹18 crore)
• Yuzvendra Chahal (₹18 crore)
• Other picks included Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Rajasthan Royals made calculated investments:

• Jofra Archer (₹12.5 crore)
• Wanindu Hasaranga (₹5.25 crore)
• Others included Maheesh Theekshana and Akash Madhwal.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

RCB continued their tradition of assembling star-studded lineups:

• Philip Salt (₹11.5 crore)
• Josh Hazlewood (₹12.5 crore)
• Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

SRH focused on solidifying their bowling unit:

• Mohammad Shami (₹10 crore)
• Ishan Kishan (₹11.25 crore)
• Others included Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, and Harshal Patel.

Auction Purse Status: Day 2 Outlook

After an intense Day 1, here’s how the auction purse stands for each team going into Day 2:

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru: ₹30.65 crore
• Mumbai Indians: ₹26.1 crore
• Punjab Kings: ₹22.5 crore
• Gujarat Titans: ₹17.5 crore
• Rajasthan Royals: ₹17.35 crore
• Chennai Super Kings: ₹15.6 crore
• Lucknow Super Giants: ₹14.85 crore
• Delhi Capitals: ₹13.8 crore
• Kolkata Knight Riders: ₹10.5 crore
• Sunrisers Hyderabad: ₹5.5 crore

Day 2: Players to Watch

Day 2 promises high drama with marquee names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Faf du Plessis, Washington Sundar, and Sam Curran set to go under the hammer. Other anticipated picks include Kane Williamson, Deepak Chahar, Moeen Ali, and Steve Smith.

Conclusion

Day 1 of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction has set the stage for a thrilling tournament. The record-breaking ₹467.95 crore spend reflects the franchises’ commitment to assembling world-class squads. From historic bids for Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer to calculated strategies across teams, the day showcased the evolving dynamics of the league. With marquee players still available, Day 2 is bound to bring more surprises and intense bidding wars. The IPL 2025 season promises excitement, competition, and unforgettable moments for cricket fans worldwide.

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