The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction will take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This year’s auction marks the second consecutive year that the event is held overseas, following the 2024 auction in Dubai. Notably, the mega auction will coincide with the third and fourth days of the first Test match between India and Australia in Perth.
Understanding the IPL Mega Auction Format
Unlike regular auctions, the IPL mega auction occurs every four years and spans two days. It is a highly anticipated event where the ten IPL franchises aim to build their squads for the upcoming three seasons (2025-2027). Each team has a total budget of INR 120 crore to assemble their roster, which can include a mix of capped and uncapped players.
The IPL allowed teams to retain up to six players, with a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players. Teams can also utilize Right-to-Match (RTM) options during the auction to bid on retained players if they are picked by other franchises.
Retention Highlights Ahead of the Auction
As of October 31, teams finalized their player retention strategies. A total of 46 players were retained across all franchises, with significant financial commitments made.
- Heinrich Klaasen of Sunrisers Hyderabad was the most expensive retention at INR 23 crore.
- Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and Nicholas Pooran (Lucknow Super Giants) were retained for INR 21 crore each.
The Mumbai Indians made headlines by retaining all their star Indian players, including Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya, for a total retention cost of INR 75 crore.
Team Budgets and RTM Options
Following player retention, teams are left with varying amounts in their auction purse:
- Punjab Kings lead with a remaining budget of INR 110.5 crore after retaining only two uncapped players.
- Rajasthan Royals have the smallest purse at INR 41 crore after retaining six players.
| Team | Remaining Purse | RTM Options |
| Punjab Kings | INR 110.5 crore | 4 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | INR 83 crore | 3 |
| Delhi Capitals | INR 73 crore | 2 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | INR 51 crore | None |
| Chennai Super Kings | INR 55 crore | 1 |
| Mumbai Indians | INR 45 crore | 1 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | INR 69 crore | 1 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | INR 45 crore | 1 |
| Gujarat Titans | INR 69 crore | 1 |
| Rajasthan Royals | INR 41 crore | None |
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and Instagram
