The 2025 IPL Mega Auction, held in Jeddah, witnessed intense bidding as franchises splurged on their preferred players, leading to the end of several iconic player-team relationships. Stars like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rishabh Pant, and Jos Buttler bid farewell to their long-term franchises, marking the beginning of new chapters in their IPL careers.
Key moves included Pant’s record-breaking ₹27 crore transfer to Lucknow Super Giants and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s return to Royal Challengers Bangalore for ₹10.75 crore. Let’s take a look at some of the major players who switched teams after years of association with their former franchises.
1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (11 years with Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar ended his 11-year tenure with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Having started his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bangalore, he has now returned to RCB for ₹10.75 crore.
2. Rishabh Pant (9 years with Delhi Capitals)
Former Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history, fetching ₹27 crore from Lucknow Super Giants. Pant had spent nine years with Delhi, where he led the team to several memorable moments. It is expected that Lucknow will now be under his leadership.
3. Ishan Kishan (7 years with Mumbai Indians)
Mumbai Indians bid farewell to wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan after seven years. With 2,644 IPL runs, he was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹11.25 crore.
4. Mohammad Siraj (7 years with Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Mohammad Siraj, a key bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore, has left the franchise after seven years. He was acquired by Gujarat Titans for ₹12.25 crore, marking a new chapter in his IPL career. The young pacer is leaving Bangalore with a total of 93 wickets.
5. Jos Buttler (7 years with Rajasthan Royals)
England’s Jos Buttler, a mainstay in Rajasthan Royals’ batting line-up, will now play for Gujarat Titans, who secured him for ₹15.75 crore.
6. Deepak Chahar (7 years with Chennai Super Kings)
After seven years with Chennai Super Kings, Deepak Chahar has moved to Mumbai Indians for ₹9.25 crore.
7. Nitish Rana (7 years with Kolkata Knight Riders)
All-rounder Nitish Rana represented Kolkata Knight Riders for seven seasons. However, the franchise did not show interest in him during this auction. Instead, he was acquired by Rajasthan Royals for ₹4.2 crore.
Notable mention:
Mitchell Santner (7 years with Chennai Super Kings)
New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner has spent several years at Chennai Super Kings. Although he was with the Yellow Army for a long time, he received very few opportunities to play matches. He will now represent Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL season.