The first day of the two-day Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction started on a terrific note in Saudi Arabia, with star domestic players like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Arshdeep Singh going under the hammer at a record price. Former Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant has become the most expensive player in the IPL history with RPSG Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka-owned Lucknow SuperGiants (LSG) picking him for a record ₹27 crore. The left-handed wicketkeeper batsman breached the record of Shreyas Iyer, who was picked by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore in the auction today.
Earlier today, fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was the first player to be sold in IPL 2025 auction, that too by right to match (RTM) card, at ₹18 crore by Punjab Kings, who entered the auction with the biggest purse of ₹110.5 crore. Another fast bowler Mohammed Shami was sold to SRH for ₹10 crore.
Among international marquee T20 cricket players, England’s right-handed wicketkeeper batsman Jos Buttler was sold to Gujarat Titans for ₹15.50 crore, while Australia’s Mitchell Starc was purchased by Delhi Capitals for ₹11.75 crore. In the last auction, Mitchell Starc was sold to KKR for ₹24.75 crore, which was the highest bid for that season.
A total of 577 players, including 210 overseas and 367 Indian cricketers, are going to be auctioned in the event. Initially, 1,574 players had registered for the mega auction, but it was later narrowed down. Among the franchises, Punjab Kings, who last reached the IPL playoffs in 2014, hold the largest purse of ₹110.5 crore, while Rajasthan Royals hold the smallest budget of ₹41 crore.
