Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], November 26 – The second day of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction delivered shocks and surprises as some Indian veterans and international stars went unsold, while others found franchises after being reintroduced into the bidding.
Key Signings and Comebacks
- Devdutt Padikkal: After initially going unsold, Padikkal returned to the auction and was snapped up by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for his base price of Rs 2 crore.
- Lunith Sisodia: The Bangalore batter joined defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 30 lakh.
- Ajinkya Rahane: The experienced Mumbai batter returned to KKR for Rs 1.5 crore, with CEO Venky Mysore expressing satisfaction at the acquisition.
- Shreyas Gopal: The Karnataka leg-spinner moved to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 30 lakh.
- Glenn Phillips: The New Zealand all-rounder was picked up by Gujarat Titans for Rs 2 crore.
- Donovan Ferreira: The explosive South African keeper-batter joined Delhi Capitals (DC) for Rs 75 lakh.
- Vansh Bedi: CSK outbid Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to secure the Delhi Premier League star for Rs 55 lakh.
- Moeen Ali: KKR acquired the England all-rounder for Rs 2 crore.
- Umran Malik: The fiery Indian pacer joined KKR for Rs 75 lakh.
- Andre Siddarth: Initially unsold, the young talent was picked up by CSK for Rs 30 lakh, with Ravichandran Ashwin highlighting him as a player to watch.
- Matthew Breetzke: LSG secured the South African batter for Rs 75 lakh.
Veterans and Stars Left Unsold
Despite their experience, several big names failed to attract bidders:
- David Warner: The former Australia opener went unsold for the second time in this auction.
- Piyush Chawla: The veteran leg-spinner remained without a franchise.
- Shardul Thakur: The seasoned all-rounder went unsold.
- Mayank Agarwal: The Bangalore batter found no takers.
- Arjun Tendulkar: Sachin Tendulkar’s son also went unsold.
- Harvik Desai, Prince Choudhary, and Prashant Solanki: These uncapped stars failed to find teams.
- Gus Atkinson: The English pacer remained without a franchise despite his recent rise.
- Tanush Koitan: The Mumbai spin-bowling all-rounder also went unsold.
Other Notable Moves
- Swastik Chikkara: The top-scorer in the 2024 UPT20 League moved from Delhi Capitals to RCB for Rs 30 lakh, though DC claimed their paddle was missed by the auctioneer.
- Raj Hangargekar and Arshin Kulkarni: Both players were signed by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs 30 lakh each.
- Sachin Baby: The Kerala star joined Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 30 lakh.
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction highlighted a mix of calculated gambles on young talent and surprising snubs for seasoned players. While stars like Devdutt Padikkal and Ajinkya Rahane made successful returns, veterans like David Warner and rising names like Gus Atkinson will be notable absentees this season.
