Jeddah [Saudi Arabia], November 24 – The IPL 2025 mega auction witnessed thrilling bidding wars as franchises competed for top talents. Among the highlights were Ishan Kishan, who found a new home with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Phil Salt, who was secured by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for a whopping Rs 11.5 crore.
Quinton de Kock Joins KKR
The capped wicketkeepers category kicked off with South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, starting at a base price of Rs 2 crore. Initially, there was little movement until SRH opened the bidding. The contest soon heated up with Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) joining in. Ultimately, KKR secured de Kock for Rs 3.6 crore, beating out stiff competition from MI.
Jonny Bairstow Goes Unsold
In a surprising turn, England’s Jonny Bairstow, who last represented Punjab Kings (PBKS), went unsold during this round of the auction.
Phil Salt Creates Intense Bidding War
England opener Phil Salt, one of the leading run-scorers of the previous IPL season, sparked a bidding frenzy starting at Rs 2 crore. RCB and MI locked horns initially, with KKR entering the race as the price climbed. After an intense back-and-forth, RCB sealed the deal at a staggering Rs 11.5 crore, outbidding KKR.
Ishan Kishan’s Move to SRH
India’s explosive wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who started with a base price of Rs 2 crore, saw fierce competition. MI, PBKS, and Delhi Capitals (DC) engaged in a heated bidding war as the price quickly climbed to Rs 10 crore. As PBKS seemed poised to secure him, SRH swooped in with the winning bid of Rs 11.25 crore, adding significant firepower to their batting lineup.
RCB Secures Jitesh Sharma
RCB continued their aggressive strategy, targeting India’s Jitesh Sharma, attracting bids from PBKS. While PBKS considered using their Right to Match (RTM) card, they eventually decided against matching RCB’s Rs 11 crore offer, making Sharma a part of the Bengaluru-based franchise.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz Joins KKR
After missing out on Salt, KKR moved swiftly to secure Afghanistan’s keeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz for his base price of Rs 2 crore, ensuring a strong backup option.
Exciting Days Ahead in the Auction
With several marquee players still in the pool, the IPL 2025 mega auction is expected to deliver more record-breaking deals as teams finalize their lineups for the upcoming season.
