Sun Nov 24 03:34:04 UTC 2024: ## IPL Mega Auction: Pant Expected to Fetch High Price in Jeddah
**Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:** The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction is underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24th and 25th, 2024. This year’s auction promises to be highly competitive, with a significant purse available and several high-profile players entering the bidding process.
The auction, part of the preparations for the 18th season of the IPL (commencing March 14th, 2025), features 577 players vying for 204 slots across the ten teams. A total of ₹641.5 crore is allocated for player purchases. Prior to the auction, teams retained 46 players, spending a combined ₹558.5 crore. Rajasthan Royals retained the most players (6), while Punjab Kings retained the least (2). This leaves Punjab Kings with the largest budget (₹110.5 crore) to acquire new talent, followed by Royal Challengers Bangalore (₹83 crore).
Several prominent Indian players are available, having been released by their previous teams, including Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals), Lokesh Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants), Shreyas Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders), and Arshdeep Singh (Punjab Kings). Among these, Pant is expected to attract intense bidding, with his base price set at ₹2 crore but potentially fetching upwards of ₹20 crore. Arshdeep Singh, with his impressive international T20 record of 96 wickets, is also anticipated to generate significant interest. Other notable players attracting attention include Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, and Ravichandran Ashwin. International players from England and Australia are also expected to be in high demand.
The auction includes players with base prices ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹2 crore, with 81 players in the highest bracket. The auction is generating considerable excitement and is poised to shape the landscape of the upcoming IPL season.
First Piper 