The IPL 2025 Mega Auction promises a spectacle of strategy, fierce bidding wars, and reshaped team rosters as franchises prepare for the upcoming season. With marquee players up for grabs, significant team budgets, and a unique overseas location, this two-day event is set to captivate cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
When and Where Is the IPL 2025 Mega Auction?
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction will take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking only the second time the auction is held overseas. Following Dubai’s hosting in 2024, this year’s event begins at 12:30 PM local time (3:00 PM IST) on November 24. Notably, it coincides with the third and fourth days of the Australia vs India Test in Perth.
Why Is the 2025 Auction a Mega Event?
Every three years, the IPL conducts a mega auction, resetting the league’s landscape. Teams can retain a maximum of six players, forcing franchises to strategically rebuild their squads. This contrasts with the mini auctions held in intervening years, where teams retain most of their players.
The 2025 Mega Auction includes a significantly larger player pool and stretches over two days, offering franchises the chance to revamp their line-ups.
IPL 2025 Mega Auction Player Pool and Marquee Names
A total of 574 players will feature in the IPL 2025 auction, with two marquee player sets headlining the proceedings:
First Marquee Set
- Jos Buttler
- Shreyas Iyer
- Rishabh Pant
- Kagiso Rabada
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mitchell Starc
Second Marquee Set
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Liam Livingstone
- David Miller
- KL Rahul
- Mohammed Shami
- Mohammed Siraj
Other Notable Players
Indian Stars: Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, and Devdutt Padikkal
International Icons: David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, and Jonny Bairstow
With such high-profile talent, franchises are expected to engage in intense bidding wars, especially for marquee players.
IPL 2025 Mega Auction Structure and Phases
The auction follows a structured format:
- Marquee Player Sets
Two groups of marquee players will open the auction. - Capped Players
Organized into categories: batters, allrounders, wicketkeeper-batters, fast bowlers, and spinners. - Uncapped Players
These players are grouped similarly to the capped category. - Accelerated Phase
Post Player No. 116, the auction enters its accelerated phase, covering Players 117–574. Unsold players can also return for additional bidding.
Team Budgets and Slot Availability
Each franchise starts with a total purse of INR 120 crore, though retention costs have impacted available budgets. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) lead with INR 110.5 crore, while the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have the smallest remaining budget at INR 41 crore.
| Team | Remaining Budget (INR) | Slots Available | Overseas Slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 110.5 crore | 23 | 8 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 83 crore | 22 | 8 |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 73 crore | 21 | 7 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 69 crore | 20 | 7 |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 69 crore | 20 | 7 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 55 crore | 20 | 7 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 51 crore | 19 | 6 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 45 crore | 20 | 8 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 45 crore | 20 | 5 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 41 crore | 19 | 7 |
Right-to-Match (RTM) Options
The Right-to-Match (RTM) mechanism allows teams to reacquire players they released by matching the highest bid during the auction. Teams have varying RTM slots based on their pre-auction retentions:
- PBKS: 4 RTM slots (highest)
- RCB: 3 RTM slots
- MI, CSK, GT, SRH, LSG: 1 RTM slot each
- RR, KKR: No RTM slots
The RTM option adds another layer of strategy, as teams weigh the value of retaining key players against budget constraints.
Retention Highlights
Mumbai Indians
- Retained: Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma
- RTM: 1 (eligible for one uncapped player)
Chennai Super Kings
- Retained: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana
- RTM: 1 (capped/uncapped player)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Retained: Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal
- RTM: 3 (mixed options)
Check the complete list of TATA IPL Player Auction 2025 HERE.
Conclusion
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction represents a pivotal moment for franchises to secure top-tier talent and refine their strategies for the upcoming season. With marquee players, strategic budget allocations, and the RTM dynamic, the event promises intense competition and surprises. As cricket enthusiasts, all eyes will be on Jeddah as the next chapter of IPL history unfolds.
