The highly anticipated IPL 2025 Mega Auction is set to feature a whopping 574 players, offering franchises a chance to rebuild their squads for the upcoming season. The auction will take place over two days, November 24 and 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking the first time the event is being hosted outside India. The proceedings will commence at 12:30 PM local time on Sunday, November 24, 2024, promising an action-packed bidding war.

Player pool breakdown

The auction pool includes a diverse mix of capped, uncapped, and associate players, highlighting the global nature of the league. Out of the total 574 players, 366 are Indian and 208 are overseas, including three from associate nations.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the players:

• Capped Indian players: 48
• Capped overseas players: 193
• Associate players: 3
• Uncapped Indian players: 318
• Uncapped overseas players: 12

With 204 slots to fill across all teams, including 70 available spots for overseas players, franchises will have ample options to build balanced squads.

Reserve price brackets and competition

The highest reserve price for the auction is set at INR 2 Crore, with 81 players opting for this elite category. Another significant bracket includes players with a reserve price of INR 1.50 Crore, notably featuring South African power-hitter David Miller. The remaining players have categorized themselves into lower reserve price brackets, ensuring a wide range of options for teams with varying budget strategies.

Spotlight on marquee players

A total of 12 marquee players have been divided into two sets, promising to kickstart the auction with intense bidding wars:

Set M1: This set features some of the most sought-after names in world cricket, including:

• If Buttler: England’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter
• Shreyas Iyer: India’s stylish middle-order batsman
• Rishabh Pant: India’s explosive wicketkeeper-batter returning from injury
• Kagiso Rabada: South Africa’s pace spearhead
• Arshdeep Singh: India’s emerging death-over specialist
• Mitchell Starc: Australia’s premier left-arm pacer

Set M2: The second marquee set is equally star-studded with a mix of experienced players and game-changers:

• Yuzvendra Chahal: India’s leading leg-spinner
• Liam Livingstone: England’s hard-hitting all-rounder
• David Miller: South Africa’s ‘finisher’ with a reserve price of INR 1.50 Crore
• KL Rahul: India’s versatile top-order batter
• Mohammed Shami: India’s seasoned pacer
• Mohammed Siraj: India’s rising fast-bowling sensation

These marquee players are expected to attract fierce bidding from all franchises, with several teams likely to strategize their plans around these match-winners.

Expectations from the auction

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction is poised to be one of the most exciting in the tournament’s history. With a mix of seasoned veterans, emerging talents, and global superstars, franchises will aim to strike the right balance between experience and youth. Fans across the world will keenly watch as teams battle to secure the services of their favorite players. The auction not only sets the stage for the upcoming IPL season but also highlights the growing global appeal of the tournament, as evidenced by its hosting in Saudi Arabia.