Mon Nov 25 16:00:00 UTC 2024: **Jeddah, Saudi Arabia** – The highly anticipated IPL 2025 mega auction kicked off in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24th, with a flurry of big-money deals and intense bidding wars. The first day saw 84 players – encompassing 12 sets – go under the hammer, setting the stage for what promises to be a record-breaking auction.
Several marquee players commanded exorbitant prices. Venkatesh Iyer was the most expensive player sold on Day 1, fetching a staggering Rs. 23.75 crore for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Other notable acquisitions included Shreyas Iyer (Rs. 26.75 crore to Punjab Kings), Rishabh Pant (Rs. 27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants), and Jos Buttler (Rs. 15.75 crore to Gujarat Titans). These purchases immediately established new benchmarks in IPL auction history.
The auction saw fierce competition among franchises, with several players sparking heated bidding battles. Trent Boult was sold to Mumbai Indians for Rs. 12.50 crore after a tense showdown with Rajasthan Royals, while Jofra Archer commanded a similar price, going to RR. Other notable high-priced acquisitions included Jitesh Sharma (Rs. 11 crore to RCB), Ishan Kishan (Rs. 11.25 crore to SRH), and Marcus Stoinis (Rs. 11 crore to PBKS).
The first day concluded with a mix of expected and surprising acquisitions, leaving some franchises with significant portions of their purse remaining while others depleted theirs. The remaining two days are expected to see continued high spending and a fierce competition for the remaining available talent. The full list of players sold and unsold, along with updated purse information for each team, is available on Sportstar.
First Piper 