IPL 2025 Mega Auction: A Cricket Carnival
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction is just around the corner, promising a thrilling two-day extravaganza on November 24th and 25th, 2024. This year, the action shifts to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking the second consecutive overseas auction.
Key Dates and Venue
- Dates: November 24-25, 2024
- Venue: Abady Al Johar Arena (Benchmark Arena), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Time: 2:30 PM IST
- Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and JioCinema (India).
Highlights of IPL 2025 Retention News
Ahead of the auction, all ten franchises finalized their core lineups during the player retention period, which closed on October 31, 2024. In total, 46 players were retained across franchises, with a cumulative investment of INR 558.5 crore. Each team has a salary cap of INR 120 crore, which allows for squad building with up to 25 players. Teams could retain a maximum of six players, with limitations allowing up to five capped internationals and two uncapped Indian players.
• Full Retentions: Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals retained six players each.
• Top Budget for PBKS: Punjab Kings (PBKS), retaining only two players, enter the auction with the largest available budget of INR 110.5 crore.
• Notable Retentions: Big-name retentions include Virat Kohli for RCB, Pat Cummins for SRH, and Jasprit Bumrah for MI, among others.
Team Retentions: A Strategic Game
All ten franchises have already locked in their core players, with a total of 46 players retained across the league. The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and the inaugural champions, Rajasthan Royals, have retained six players each.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) have the biggest purse to spend, with a whopping INR 110.5 crore at their disposal after retaining just two players. Other notable retentions include Virat Kohli for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pat Cummins for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Jasprit Bumrah for Mumbai Indians.
Key Players to Watch Out For
The auction will be a battleground for top cricketing talent, with several marquee players expected to attract massive bids. Here are some of the key players to watch out for:
- Rishabh Pant: The aggressive wicket-keeper batsman is sure to be in high demand.
- KL Rahul: A consistent performer at the top of the order.
- Mitchell Starc: The Australian pace sensation is back and ready to make an impact.
- Ben Stokes: The all-rounder’s versatility makes him a valuable asset.
- Sam Curran and Rashid Khan: These two international stars are expected to be hot properties.
Auction Format and Rules
- Purse Allocation: Each franchise has a maximum purse of INR 120 crore.
- Squad Composition: Teams can have a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 25.
- Right-to-Match (RTM) Cards: Teams can use up to three RTM cards to retain released players.
- Player Categories: Players are divided into categories based on their experience and base prices.
Team Retention Details
| Team | Retained Players | Retention Count | Remaining Purse (INR Cr) |
| Chennai Super Kings | Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni | 5 | 55 |
| Delhi Capitals | Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abhishek Porel | 4 | 76.25 |
| Gujarat Titans | Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Shahrukh Khan | 5 | 69 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh | 6 | 63 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni | 5 | 69 |
| Mumbai Indians | Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma | 5 | 45 |
| Punjab Kings | Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh | 2 | 110.5 |
| Rajasthan Royals | Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma | 6 | 41 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Yash Dayal | 3 | 83 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head | 5 | 45 |
Conclusion
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction is shaping up to be a blockbuster event. With a talented pool of players, strategic team planning, and intense bidding wars, it’s sure to be a thrilling ride for cricket fans. So, mark your calendars and get ready to witness the next generation of IPL stars being born!
FAQs
Q1: When and where is the IPL 2025 mega auction taking place?
A1: The IPL 2025 Mega Auction will be held on November 24-25, 2024, at the Abady Al Johar Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Q2: How can fans watch the auction live?
A2: The auction will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioCinema in India.
Q3: Who are the top players expected to attract high bids?
A3: Key players like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ben Stokes, and Mitchell Starc are expected to draw significant interest.
Q4: What is the maximum budget for each team?
A4: Each franchise has an auction budget of INR 120 crore to spend on players, including retained and newly acquired talent.
Q5: What are RTM cards, and how many can a team use?
A5: RTM cards allow teams to match the highest bid for a previously released player, and each franchise can use up to three RTM cards.
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