IPL 2025 auction: Key details and insights

When and where is the IPL 2025 auction?

The IPL 2025 auction will take place on Nov 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This marks the second time the auction will be held overseas, with the 2024 auction taking place in Dubai. The exact start and end times are yet to be confirmed. Notably, the auction will coincide with the third and fourth days of the Australia vs. India Test in Perth.

Why is the IPL 2025 auction a 'Mega Auction'?

The IPL hosts a 'mega auction' every three years, allowing teams to retain only a limited number of players—six in this case—leading to a significant reshuffle of squads. In contrast, during non-mega auction years, teams can retain as many players as they wish and participate in a 'mini auction,' which lasts just one day. The two-day mega auction is required due to the larger number of players available for bidding.

How many players are registered for the IPL 2025 auction?

A total of 1,574 players have registered for the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, this list will be reduced after consultations between IPL officials and the franchises. The final list will feature big-ticket players from both India and overseas.

Will there be a marquee set of players?

While there is no confirmation yet, it is likely that the IPL will begin the auction with a set of marquee players, as seen in previous mega auctions in 2018 and 2022.

Who are the big names expected to feature in the auction?

Several prominent names are expected to be part of the auction, including Indian players such as Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mohammed Shami. Overseas players like David Warner, Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, and David Miller are also expected to make the list.

How much money do teams have for the auction?

Each team has a purse of InRs 120 crore, although some of this has already been spent retaining players before the auction. Punjab Kings has the highest remaining purse of InRs 110.5 crore, followed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (InRs 83 crore) and Delhi Capitals (InRS 73 crore).

How bmany players can teams uy?

Each franchise can have a squad of 18 to 25 players. With 46 players already retained, a maximum of 204 slots remain open for filling during the auction. A total of 70 overseas players can be purchased, with each squad allowed to field a maximum of eight foreign players.

Why do teams have different numbers of slots to fill?

The number of slots each team needs to fill depends on how many players they have already retained. For instance, Punjab Kings retained only two players, while Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders retained six, which affects the number of available slots for each franchise.

What is the Right-to-Match (RTM) option?

RTM allows teams to retain a player by matching the highest bid after another franchise has won the auction. This option is available to teams that retained players before the auction. The number of RTM options varies by team. For instance, Punjab Kings have the most RTM options (four), while teams like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Gujarat Titans have only one.

In the upcoming IPL 2025 auction, the Right-to-Match option could play a key role in helping franchises secure their retained players, adding excitement to the bidding process.

ESPN Cricinfo