With anticipation mounting for the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, cricket fans are abuzz with speculation over player prices, team strategies, and possible record-breaking bids. Following the recent release of retention lists by all franchises, a clearer picture of the players available in the auction has emerged, further fueling interest.
In a new development, sources indicate that the IPL auction might be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. National news agency ANI reported that the auction is likely to span two days, allowing each franchise to finalize squads of up to 25 players. Final confirmation of the venue and dates is awaited.
Big Names in Demand
Among the highly anticipated players this season are star batters Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, all expected to attract significant bids. Other marquee players likely to draw competitive interest include Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Kagiso Rabada, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Mohammed Siraj. In particular, expectations around Rishabh Pant are high, with predictions suggesting he could break auction records.
Retention Lists Announced
On October 31, franchises announced their retained players, locking in key assets ahead of the auction. Sunrisers Hyderabad surprised many by retaining Heinrich Klaasen with a massive ₹23 crore deal, while Royal Challengers Bangalore kept Virat Kohli with a ₹21 crore contract. Altogether, the ten franchises retained 46 players, spending a combined ₹558.5 crore. This group comprises 36 Indian players and 10 overseas stars.
Team Retentions at a Glance
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Nithish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head
- Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni
- Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel
- Gujarat Titans: Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh
- Lucknow Super Giants: Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni
- Mumbai Indians: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma
- Punjab Kings: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh
- Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal
With final preparations underway, the 2025 IPL Mega Auction promises intense bidding wars and team reshaping, setting the stage for another electrifying IPL season.
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