The opening day of the IPL 2025 mega auction saw ten franchises collectively spend ₹467.95 crore on 72 players. The spotlight was on Indian stars, with Rishabh Pant becoming the most expensive buy in IPL history at ₹27 crore, secured by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Following closely, Shreyas Iyer fetched ₹26.75 crore from Punjab Kings (PBKS), while Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) re-signed Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore after an intense bidding war. Yuzvendra Chahal (₹18 crore, PBKS) set a record as the highest-priced Indian spinner, and Arshdeep Singh (₹18 crore, PBKS) became the costliest Indian pacer.
Team Purses After Day 1
As the auction proceeds to Day 2, franchises have varying amounts left in their purses. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) leads with ₹30.65 crore remaining, followed by Mumbai Indians (₹26.10 crore) and Punjab Kings (₹22.50 crore). Gujarat Titans (₹17.5 crore), Rajasthan Royals (₹17.35 crore), and Chennai Super Kings (₹15.6 crore) hold moderate balances, while LSG (₹14.85 crore) and Delhi Capitals (₹13.8 crore) also have options to explore.
However, Kolkata Knight Riders (₹10.05 crore) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (₹5.15 crore) face tighter constraints after significant spending. Notable players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Faf du Plessis, and Deepak Chahar are expected to command attention on Day 2.
The Pant and Iyer Show
Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 crore bid by LSG set a new benchmark, overshadowing Shreyas Iyer’s ₹26.75 crore deal with PBKS. Both players’ availability at the auction followed prior differences with their respective teams.
While Pant overcame a life-threatening car accident in 2022 to make a stellar comeback, Iyer rebounded from setbacks, including his exclusion from BCCI’s central contracts, to lead KKR to an IPL title this year.
KKR also splurged ₹23.75 crore to retain Venkatesh Iyer, solidifying his integral role in their lineup. With fierce bidding wars and record-breaking prices, Day 1 showcased the high stakes and drama IPL auctions are renowned for.
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