The highly anticipated IPL 2025 mega auction is underway, kicking off on November 24 and continuing until November 25, 2024. This two-day event marks a pivotal moment for the 10 franchises as they strategize to rebuild their rosters for the upcoming season. With big names like Rishabh Pant, Mitchell Starc, KL Rahul, and Jos Buttler among the 577 players up for grabs, the stakes are incredibly high.
This year’s auction is historic, as it is being held in Saudi Arabia for the first time. The iconic Abady Al Johar Arena in Jeddah, with a seating capacity of 15,000, serves as the venue. The bidding action begins at 3:30 PM IST on both days.
IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Player Pool
The auction features a total of 577 players, with 367 Indian players and 210 overseas. Initially, 574 players had registered, but three notable additions—Jofra Archer, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Hardik Tamore—bring the final count to 577. Each team must complete their roster with at least 18 players by the auction’s end.
Auction Budgets and the RTM Twist
Each franchise starts with a maximum budget of Rs 120 crore, although retention expenses mean they enter with reduced amounts. Punjab Kings (PBKS) lead with the highest remaining purse at Rs 110.5 crore, while Rajasthan Royals (RR) have the smallest budget at Rs 41 crore.
The Right to Match (RTM) rule adds another layer of excitement. This mechanism allows a player’s former franchise to buy them back at the auction price. However, this year introduces a dramatic twist: after the RTM is invoked, the bidding franchise gets one last chance to raise their bid. The original franchise can only secure the player if they match this final bid.
For instance, if Punjab Kings (PBKS) acquire KL Rahul for Rs 15 crore and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) use their RTM, PBKS can place a final bid—say, Rs 17 crore. LSG must match this amount to reclaim Rahul, or they forfeit the RTM opportunity.
With the auction now live, the excitement and drama of reshaping team rosters have begun. Which players will command the highest bids? Stay tuned as the action unfolds!
