IPL 2025 Auction Set to Kick Off in Jeddah, Sri Lankan Players Among the Big Names

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction is officially set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25, as all 10 franchise teams look to finalize their squads for the upcoming season. This year's auction is significant as it follows new rules, allowing teams to retain up to 6 players or opt for 5 players and use the Right to Match (RTM) to bring back a player from the auction pool. A total of Rs 641.5 crore will be spent across all the franchises during this auction.

Big Names Head to the Auction Pool

Five IPL teams have made the bold decision to release their captains ahead of the auction, with notable names such as Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer heading into the auction pool. These players are expected to attract significant attention, with multiple franchises eyeing them for key roles, including captaincy.

Franchise Budgets and Available Slots

Punjab Kings enters the auction with the largest purse, looking to fill 23 slots in their squad.
Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have the smallest purse left, with 19 slots to fill, including 7 overseas slots.

Sri Lankan Players in the Auction

A total of 19 Sri Lankan players have shortlisted themselves for the IPL 2025 auction, with two spin stars – Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana – opting for the highest bidding bracket of INR 2 Crore. Other notable Sri Lankan players on the list include Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, and Pathum Nissanka, among others.

Player Pool and Demand Trends

The original pool of 1577 registered players has been reduced to 577, with 367 Indian players and 210 overseas players. 318 uncapped Indian players and 12 uncapped overseas players are also part of the pool. As expected, fast bowlers are set to dominate the auction, with both Indian and overseas pacers in high demand. Meanwhile, batsmen are expected to see less competition, given that most marquee Indian players have already been retained.

With the IPL franchises eager to set their teams for the next three seasons, it promises to be an exciting auction. Teams like RCB, KKR, LSG, and Punjab Kings will also be on the lookout for strong leadership candidates to guide them through the upcoming season.