As the retention lists for IPL 2025 have been revealed, all eyes now turn to the auction list. The Indian Premier League 2025 mega auction is expected to be held at the end of November. When the auction list was published, fans were surprised to see big names like Jos Buttler, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Faf du Plessis released. The release of these high-profile players suggests that the upcoming mega auction will witness substantial bidding battles. Besides this, the spotlight has turned to uncapped players, with even MS Dhoni listed in this category. Here’s a look at three uncapped players who, though not retained, could attract bids twice as high as Dhoni’s in the mega auction.
1. Sameer Rizvi
A captivating right-handed batter, Sameer Rizvi, played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2024. In the previous auction, CSK invested INR 8.4 crore for him. Although his opportunities last season were limited, and he managed only 51 runs. His aggressive batting style and domestic T20 performances have made him a high-impact player. Rizvi’s reputation as a powerful hitter could draw significant attention from multiple franchises looking to bolster their middle order. Besides all this, he is also a fan of Indian star batter Rohit Sharma. So, it will be interesting to see whether he ends up with Chennai or joins MI.
2. Vaibhav Arora
Since joining the IPL in 2022, Vaibhav Arora truly made a name for himself during IPL 2024. He played a vital role in clinching Kolkata Knight Riders’ third title in last year’s IPL. Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Vaibhav Arora impressed with 11 wickets last season. With a salary of INR 60 lakh in 2024, Arora’s strong bowling skills and ability to perform under pressure make him a valuable asset for any team. Since he hasn’t played for India in the last five years, he’s now classified as an uncapped player, similar to MS Dhoni. It’ll be interesting to see which franchises join the bidding war for Arora as teams seek a reliable wicket-taker.
3. Nihal Wadhera
Much like Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians (MI) have a strong record of nurturing young talent, helping players like Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav reach new heights with the franchise. Amid this Hardik Pandya and Yuzvendra Chahal also emerged as part of Mumbai’s talent discoveries. Nihal Wadhera is seen as MI’s next rising star. In IPL 2023, he showcased his batting prowess, scoring 241 runs with a strike rate of over 145. Continuing his strong form into IPL 2024, Wadhera’s performance has made him one of the most promising young talents. MI has the option to retain therir Right to Match (RTM) card to retain him, but the auction could spark fierce bidding if he enters the pool.
With the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction, these uncapped players may become overnight millionaires as teams seek to secure the league’s most promising young talent.