Mon Nov 25 13:10:00 UTC 2024: ## IPL 2025 Mega Auction Kicks Off in Jeddah; Arshdeep Singh Fetches Record INR 18 Crore
**JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA –** The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction commenced today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with 577 players up for grabs. Ten franchises are vying for top talent in a highly anticipated bidding war. Returning as auctioneer is Mallika Sagar, who has quickly become a prominent figure in the cricketing world after successfully conducting the WPL auctions and the IPL 2024 mini-auction. Sagar, a Mumbai-based art collector with a two-decade career in auctioneering, made history in 2001 as the first Indian-origin woman auctioneer at Christie’s.
Early action saw Arshdeep Singh become the first player sold, fetching a record INR 18 crore (approximately $2.2 million USD) from the Punjab Kings (PBKS). A fierce bidding battle ensued between PBKS and SunRisers Hyderabad, culminating in Punjab exercising their Right to Match (RTM) card to secure the star pacer.
First Piper 