The 2 Day Mega Auction of the IPL season for 2025 has been concluded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This was the most important mega auction after the first one in 2008. A number of big Indian and international players were in the auction and quite a few of them got big paydays. In this auction it was the Indian players who ruled the roost.
Let’s take a look at the Top 5 Most Expensive Players at IPL 2025 Auction
1) Rishabh Pant – Lucknow Supergiants (27 Crores)
The most expensive player in the IPL Auction was Rishabh Pant. This was expected as he was the biggest player in the entire auction. Rishabh Pant has made a miraculous comeback to international cricket. He has won the T20I World Cup with India. He was the captain of Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024. The bidding stopped for him at 20.75 crores and Delhi Capitals exercised their Right To Match. However, Lucknow Supergiants increased the bid to 27 crores and Delhi Capitals backed out and Rishabh Pant was the most expensive player of all time at 27 crores. He will most likely be the captain for Lucknow Supergiants. It was surprising that Punjab Kings did not bid for him.
2) Shreyas Iyer – Punjab Kings (26.75 Crores)
Before Rishabh Pant took the title for the most expensive player, it was Shreyas Iyer who had the record for the most expensive buy at the IPL Auction 2025. His name came in before Rishabh Pant and Punjab Kings went after him throughout and they were not willing to let him go to any other team. Shreyas Iyer was the winning captain at IPL 2024 for KKR. He was bought at 26.75 crores and he is the second most expensive IPL player of all time. He will be the captain for Punjab Kings for the next 3 seasons. There was no right to match for KKR. Delhi Capitals were willing to break the bank for Shreyas Iyer as they went till 26.50 Crores but they were not willing to give him 27 Crores.
3) Venkatesh Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders (23.75 Crores)
This was perhaps the most shocking buy of the IPL Auction. Not because it was Venkatesh Iyer as KKR wanted him back but the extent to which they bid for him was surprising. He was one of the main players who won the IPL title for KKR in 2024. He is an excellent batter at the middle order. He can also bowl 3 overs if needed and he is an excellent fielder. RCB was the other team that wanted him as they went till 23.50 crores for him. It was KKR who bid 23.75 Crores and secured his services. Venkatesh Iyer became the third most expensive buy at this auction and the 4th most expensive IPL player of all time.
4) Arshdeep Singh– Punjab Kings (18 Crores)
He was the first player of the mega auction. CSK and DC were battling it out as the Punjab Kings were watching. Arshdeep Singh is one of the best fast bowlers in the world along with Jasprit Bumrah. He can bowl at the start of the innings and at the death. SRH won the bid at 15.75 Crores but Punjab Kings used their Right To Match. Sunrisers Hyderabad was asked to decide their final amount and they raised it to 18 Crores. Punjab Kings agreed to this amount and thus Arshdeep Singh will remain with Punjab Kings. Punjab Kings could have retained him at the same amount but they got their player. He will have Yuzvendra Chahal as his teammate.
5) Yuzvendra Chahal – Punjab Kings (18 Crores)
The leg spinner was in the second Marquee set. When his name came up CSK and Gujarat started the bidding. Yuzvendra Chahal is the bowler that always does well in the IPL. He is the only bowler in history to take more than 200 Wickets in the IPL. The bidding was between Punjab Kings and SRH and in the end Punjab Kings raised the bid to 18 Crores and SRH backed out. Yuzvendra Chahal was one of the Top 5 Most Expensive Buys at the IPL Auction 2025. He will join Shreyas Iyer and Arshdeep Singh at Punjab Kings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the most expensive player in the IPL Auction 2025?
Rishabh Pant was the most expensive player in the IPL Auction 2025. He was bought by Lucknow Supergiants for a record-breaking ₹27 crores.
Which team secured Shreyas Iyer, and at what price?
Shreyas Iyer was bought by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crores, making him the second-most expensive player of the auction.
Why was Venkatesh Iyer's buy considered surprising?
The surprising factor was the high bid amount of ₹23.75 crores by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), which made him the third-most expensive player of the auction. KKR went all out to bring him back after he contributed significantly to their IPL 2024 title win.
How did Arshdeep Singh end up with Punjab Kings despite other teams bidding for him?
Punjab Kings used their Right to Match (RTM) card after Sunrisers Hyderabad bid ₹18 crores for Arshdeep Singh. This allowed Punjab Kings to retain him at the same price.
