Just a day left! Starting tomorrow, the IPL 2025 Auction will take place in Jeddah. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant could become the most expensive player in the two-day mega auction of the Indian Premier League, which begins on Sunday. A total of 577 players will be up for bidding. The ten IPL teams have a combined purse of ₹641.5 crore, and 204 potential selections still need to be made. In this scenario, all eyes will be on Pant.
Punjab Kings have the highest purse at ₹110.50 crore, followed by Royal Challengers Bangalore with ₹83 crore. Delhi Capitals have ₹73 crore and also hold the Right to Match (RTM) card, which they can use to buy back their former captain. However, it is believed that Pant does not want Delhi to use the RTM card, as there was a rift during his separation from the team, and he no longer considers himself a part of it. Pant also said, “My retention was not about money. This is certain.”
Pant can Cross 25 Crores or above
The biggest question is whether Pant can become the first Indian player to cross Rs 25 crore. Chennai Super Kings or Mumbai Indians have only Rs 45 crore and they will not be in a position to buy him at this price. Punjab Kings, famous for changing teams every two years, have a huge purse and head coach Ricky Ponting would like to reunite with his favourite player. The base price of 81 players for the auction is Rs 2 crore. Current Indian cricketers can cross the one million dollar (Rs 8.5 crore) mark.
🚨 RISHABH PANT – TOP TARGET OF PUNJAB 🚨
Kings Punjab will go all out for Rishabh pant in the IPL Mega Auction. [Sports Now] pic.twitter.com/cI9BpVdwiG
— mufaddla parody (@mufaddl_parody) November 21, 2024
Demand for Fast Bowlers
Besides Pant, Arshdeep Singh, who has taken 96 T20 international wickets in the last three seasons, may also receive a big bid. Punjab holds the RTM card, but it’s uncertain how high the bid will go. There will be strong demand for fast bowlers, while almost all of India’s star cricketers have been taken, except for Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Iyer could be Delhi’s choice for captaincy. Pant, Rahul, or Iyer might be the potential captains for RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings.
Ishan Kishan and Other Key Players
Ishan Kishan will be one of the prominent Indian players, but Mumbai Indians may not be in a position to buy him for ₹15 crore like they did last time. Eyes will also be on Mohammed Shami, who is playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Other Key Players to Watch
Khaleel Ahmed: If teams miss out on Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel will be a top alternative. RCB has retained Yash Dayal, so Khaleel could attract a good bid.
Deepak Chahar: Chahar, a skilled swing bowler in the powerplay, has been plagued by injuries in recent years but can still attract multiple bids. He has also performed well in the Ranji Trophy.
Avesh Khan: Avesh Khan, who took 19 wickets for Rajasthan Royals last season, was bought for ₹10 crore and could fetch a good price again.
Harshal Patel: Despite not being selected for the national team, Harshal Patel, who took 24 wickets last season, is a consistent performer in the IPL and can attract a good bid.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: With his experience in seam and swing bowling, particularly in the powerplay, Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be bought for under ₹10 crore. MS Dhoni and his CSK who values experienced players, may show interest in Bhuvi.
Jos Buttler: Without Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler could become the most expensive foreign player. Given the batsman-friendly pitch at Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB may target him.
Liam Livingstone: Punjab may use the RTM card to buy back Livingstone, though other teams will also have their eyes on him.
Kagiso Rabada: Rabada is always in demand in the IPL. Delhi Capitals could buy him again, while Punjab has the RTM option. Mumbai Indians might also consider him as a complement to Jasprit Bumrah.