November 23, 2024: Preity Zinta, the actor and co-owner of Punjab Kings, has touched down in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2025 Mega Auction.
The auction will take place on November 24-25, and Zinta took to Instagram to share her excitement about the event, giving fans a glimpse of the stunning location in Jeddah. She also reached out to followers for their recommendations on how Punjab Kings should approach the auction and improve their squad.
“Done with my digital detox! Landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the IPL Auction. Watch this space for some amazing new announcements folks. Till then, all recommendations for our new team are welcome. Bring it on #Ting #IPLAuction2025 #Saddasquad @punjabkingsipl,” Preity wrote in her Instagram post.
Ahead of the auction, Punjab Kings have already announced their player retentions. The team has decided to keep young batters Prabhsimran Singh (retained for Rs 4 crore) and Shashank Singh (Rs 5.5 crore) in their squad.
Prabhsimran, who has been with the team since 2019, has scored 756 runs in 34 matches, at an average of 22.24 and a strike rate of 146.23. He has also notched up a century and three fifties.
Shashank Singh, who emerged as a key performer last season, impressed with 354 runs in 14 games, averaging 44.25 and a blistering strike rate of 164.65, including two fifties. His explosive batting will be a key asset for Punjab in IPL 2025.
A total of 574 players have been shortlisted from an initial pool of 1,574 players, and they will go under the hammer in Jeddah. This includes 208 overseas players, 12 uncapped overseas talents, and 318 uncapped Indian players.
Among the marquee players, the biggest names include Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul, all of whom were released by their respective teams before the retention deadline. These players, alongside others like Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mitchell Starc, Jos Buttler, and Liam Livingstone, are expected to attract high bids.
The auction features a wide range of players with varying base prices, including the highest reserve price of INR 2 crore, which has been set for 81 players. A large segment, 320 players, have a base price of INR 30 lakh, making the auction a diverse and competitive affair.
In a strategic move, several teams will be able to use Right-to-Match (RTM) cards during the auction to buy back players they released earlier. Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), who have already retained six players each, will not have any RTM cards available. On the other hand, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have four RTM cards, RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore) has three, and Delhi Capitals (DC) have two.
CSK, GT, LSG, and MI each have one RTM card, which will allow them to bid for released players and retain them by matching the highest bid.
The RTM cards add an extra layer of intrigue to the auction, where teams can strategize to bring back players they believe can contribute significantly to their plans for IPL 2025.
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction is poised to be one of the most thrilling and high-stakes events in recent years, with marquee players, strategic bids, and intense competition set to make the auction an electrifying experience for fans and teams alike. As teams like Punjab Kings build their squads, the excitement around Jeddah’s auction will continue to rise.
Stay tuned for updates from the auction, as Preity Zinta and her team aim to make some big moves to build a strong squad for IPL 2025.
