Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) made it to the final of the Indian Premier League 2024 season but failed to advance to the title. The Pat Cummins-led team hopes to compete for the prized IPL championship this season after expanding their roster with some big players at the IPL auction 2025 in Jeddah. SRH won their first IPL title in 2016 and want to add to their total.

Last season, they finished second best against the well-balanced defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders. Given the balance, many will believe that SRH may go even further this time around by having a top-tier captain in Pat Cummins. That said, here we look over the two significant strengths and weaknesses of the 2024 Sunrisers Hyderabad squad.

Sunrisers Hyderabad 2025 IPL Squad: Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Abhinav Manohar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Brydon Carse, Sachin Baby, Kamindu Mendis, Zeeshan Ansari, Aniket Verma, Atharva Taide.

2 Strengths:

A Swashbuckling and emerging batting lineup

In the previous edition, Sunrisers Hyderabad acted as the epitome of power-hitting, showcasing the imaginative side of T20I batting. They hold the record for scoring the most runs in an IPL innings (287/3 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru on 15 April, 2024), implying how good they were with the willow. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who tore apart teams with the bat last year and scored at will, comprise the most lethal opening combination, as seen by their recent international exploits.

Ishan Kishan joins the ranks, bringing additional mobility. Like Head and Abhishek, Kishan is an aggressive batsman who can score excellent runs quickly. Not to forget, Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy are your ideal number five and six. Klaasen is the big man and the game-winning finisher. Overall, the team's batting has been strengthened to the maximum as all of them have been at their best in the international format, and we may witness a better version of it in the 2025 IPL edition. 

Read Also: IPL 2025: 2 Strengths & 1 Weakness of Kolkata Knight Riders 2025 IPL Squad

Batter's nightmare Pacers' unit

Sunrisers Hyderabad have a fantastic pace attack. After parting ways with their long-time senior pacer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins takes the lead with veteran Mohammed Shami assisting. Cummins from Australia excelled with 18 scalps the previous season and was a steady force. And with Shami in, the bowling gets a boost. Shami has been bowling at full throttle since returning from an injury.

Due to a major right heel injury, he did not play in the IPL in 2024, although he did take 28 wickets for the Gujarat Titans in 2023 making him a promising pacer for the 2016 champions. Finally, there's medium pacer Harshal Patel. Notably, he has won the Purple Cap twice, most recently in 2021 with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Overall, with the ideal balance of different types of rapid bowlers, it is unsurprising that hitters will have nightmares. 

1 Weakness:

The usual trend of lack of a reliable spinner

Though the forthcoming 2025 Sunrisers Hyderabad spin assault is stronger than the previous season, there may be some serious roadblocks. Rahul Chahar will come into the team, and Australia's reliable spinmeister Adam Zampa can help the Indian bowler.

However, if SRH intends to retain Zampa on the bench, owing to the lack of overseas players, there will be a dearth of frontline spinners. Zeeshan Ansari has yet to play T20 cricket. Except for Ansari, SRH does not have a spinner. Given any concerns about harm, this is one area where SRH may fall short and could be a significant weakness.

Kolkata Knight Riders have been prominent in having squads, which doesn't disappoint the tournament's fanatics with their gameplay. The previous edition was a massive success for the three-time winners, who broke their 10-year trophy drought by winning the event. They have been one of the most consistent teams, with an ardent fan base.

The Knight Riders are renowned for their quirky planning and approach at auctions, which sometimes do their best and occasionally spark considerable debate among fans. But in the end, they were able to create a team with a concoction of cricketing talent. That said, we examine the two major strengths and one weakness of the 2025 IPL squad of the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Kolkata Knight Riders 2025 IPL Squad: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Spencer Johnson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Rovman Powell, Ajinkya Rahane, Umran Malik, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Mayank Markande.

2 Strengths:

In-depth variety of overseas players

Kolkata Knight Riders primarily focused on obtaining experienced overseas campaigners, who have been prominent in the game's shortest format. Currently, they the Afghan prodigy Rahmanullah Gurbaz and the Caribbean duo of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.

The three-time champions have bought Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Rovman Powell, Moeen Ali and Spencer Johnson; it is no surprise that the experience quotient in the tournament will play a pivotal role in strengthening the squad in the coming editions. Hence, the defending champions are up to showcase their potential and give their best to win their fourth title. 

Optimum mix of emerging and experienced bowlers

Continuing the previous section, the Knight Riders are helmed with the right combination of spinners and pacers. Spinners Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy hand you eight solid overs. Varun is one of the IPL’s best spinners. Varun and Narine's mystery spin would aid KKR, as both have had a memorable season with their spinmeister's abilities.

Regarding pacers, they have not repurchased Mitchell Starc. Now, they will avail themselves of the services of Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Andre Russell and Umran Malik, indicating a newly built face of the team's speed attack.

1 Weakness:

Lack of a promising captain

Kolkata Knight Riders parted ways with their champions captain, Shreyas Iyer, which was something no IPL fanatic was seeing coming. During the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, they tried to obtain KL Rahul for the captaincy spot, but Delhi Capitals edged past them for a colossal INR 14 Crores. Then, the Knight Riders decided to spend heavily on their reliable all-rounder, Venkatesh Iyer. A hefty INR 23.75 crore was spent on Venkatesh, who hasn't led in the IPL or at the state level, which is a tricky territory.

For now, Venkatesh Iyer is the potential skipper of KKR, as he has been with the side for several seasons, and another reason is his price tag. Other reports imply Ajinkya Rahane is another strong contender for the team's leadership spot. However, many have contrasting opinions on the team's captain's spot uncertainty and believe the management could have spent more on an experienced campaigner. Overall, this could be a significant weakness hindering the defending champions.  

The Indian Premier League has played a pivotal role in being the benchmark of how cricketing tournaments should be unfolded. From being lucrative to enticing several fanatics, the IPL has shown it all, with the players being the backbone of it.

With teams or franchises acting as the initiator and face of it, some players and team combinations have worked tremendously. At the same time, there were a few that were forgettable. That said, through this listicle, we dive deep into the top IPL campaigners betrayed by their respective teams across the tournament's timeline. 

David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

David Warner's shocking exit from the Sunrisers Hyderabad has bewildered many followers, primarily when the same swashbuckling left-hand batter led them to their first-ever title in the 2016 edition. It all started in the 2021 edition when he couldn't deliver the desired performances as a captain, and the team's management took the harsh step of sacking him as the captain for the season's midway.

In the second half of the season, the franchise dropped and blocked Warner on social media. Warner's expression was filled with sadness as he brought drinks for his squad during matches. Despite his substantial accomplishments and loyalty to the Orange team, it is unsurprising that this is a perfect example of a franchise betraying a devoted cricketing campaigner inside the IPL ecosystem.

Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)

Suresh Raina, a.k.a Mr IPL, sadly gets his name to this list. Raina was one of the Chennai Super Kings' longest-serving players, spending 12 years with them. From IPL 2008 to 2015, the left-handed batter was entirely devoted to the Yellow Army, missing no matches. But in 2022, CSK dismissed him and opted not to bid for their former vice-captain. Raina got unsold and did not receive a decent farewell from IPL.

Two years later, Raina has broken his silence on the subject, adding that he is delighted to see MS Dhoni still playing and should not be sad. Nonetheless, it has sparked a lot of suspicion among die-hard fans, mainly because he is the tournament's fifth-highest run-getter. As it suggests, this makes him one of the players who deserved a befitting end to an illustrious IPL stint.

Yuzvendra Chahal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

India's current spinmeister, Yuzvendra Chahal, Royal Challengers Bengaluru purchased Chahal during the IPL 2014 auctions, and he proved to be an excellent addition to the Bangalore-based team. His achievements at RCB won him a call-up to India's white ball teams, and he quickly established himself as the country's go-to spinner in both T20I and ODIs. However, ahead of the major auction in 2022, RCB chose to release Chahal, who the Rajasthan Royals then signed.

Mike Hesson, the franchise's director of cricket at the time, recalled the phone conversation in which Chahal expressed frustration and displeasure, which was an apparent reaction from a frequent contributor. Still, many fans believe he should have been retained and played for a long time, as he's known for his consistency.

Sourav Ganguly (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Sourav Ganguly, an Indian cricketing great, was released by his home team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, and the release of 'Dada' surprised many fans and critics, who raised their voices and criticised the Knight Riders' massive action for a short time. Ganguly's stay with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was fraught with controversy. He was named captain for the first season, but the club failed to reach the semi-finals.

Then, in 2009, he was fired as captain, and before the 2011 auction, he was also dismissed as a player. It all started when the current CEO, Venky Mysore, held the team's responsibility and first took this major decision, which wasn't that difficult for him, as it was a matter of getting the team to triumph. 

See Also: IPL 2025: The ₹23.75 crore gamble that could define KKR's IPL 2025 campaign

Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)

Adam Gilchrist has been one of the most incredible wicketkeeper batters in the sporting world. He has gained prominence in the Aussies cricket space and aroused dominance in the IPL through his impeccable stint for the now-defunct franchise, the Deccan Chargers. The side had a forgettable start in the inaugural edition, and no one believed that the same team would go on to win the second-ever IPL title under the helms of Adam Gilchrist.

But, as was the case for many, Gilchrist was surprisingly not retained for the 2011 IPL season, which aroused a big question mark. In an interview in 2017, Gilchrist didn't have a definite answer and was equally perplexed, like the others, behind his release as he still believed that he had some game left for the franchise. 

Mohammed Siraj (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Mohammed Siraj has become a reliable Indian pacer in the International space thanks to his commendable and eight-long years of contribution to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Known for having a loyal fanbase, RCB had its priorities straight in going for a massive restructuring across all the departments. Though Siraj has been consistent in his wicket-taking abilities and has leaked some critical runs, there is no denying that the speedster has shown promise in recent international encounters.

With a large amount of purse and a couple of Right-to-Match cards (RTM) available, many anticipated him to return to the squad, but that did not happen. The main reason for this is the overall restructuring, and many supporters believe he should have received an RTM and stayed with the franchise. 

Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals)

Many expected Rishabh Pant to stay because he had virtually become the franchise's face. Pant's name, however, did not appear on Delhi Capital's retention list. Despite not playing a T20I since his vehicle accident in December 2022, he returned well in the IPL 2024, scoring 446 runs and earning a position in India's T20 World Cup-winning side this year.

According to a report by The Times of India, Pant requested to stay captain of the Capitals and be part of the coaching staff selection process. However, the Capitals side was not impressed by his T20 performance or captaincy and has opted not to retain the T20 World Cup-winning player, citing other future goals and plans.

KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants)

KL Rahul is another high-profile skipper released from the current IPL super auction for 2025. The 32-year-old was one of the Lucknow Super Giants' initial draft selections when the franchise debuted in 2022. However, he was not retained. LSG made the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023 under Rahul's leadership, and he has been the team's leading scorer in three seasons.

But following a disastrous IPL 2024 match against SunRisers Hyderabad, in which LSG lost by ten wickets, TV cameras filmed LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka conversing with KL Rahul, which seemed intense and a bit towards a harsh venting out. This led to several criticism notes to the owner, and many assumed that this would prompt Rahul to leave the franchise. Though this reason might not be apparent, he will be next seen for the Delhi Capitals as the potential heir for the squad's leader.

The 2025 Indian Premier League Mega Auction ended with a record outlay of 182 players. The IPL mega auction generated much interest, especially among star players. Several uncapped players commanded high sums for their outstanding performances in domestic cricket and T20 competitions. These hefty bids show the franchises' focus on acquiring homegrown players capable of delivering impactful performances. 

With the tournament's slogan being where talent meets opportunity, it would be intriguing to see how their calibre would unfold and have a robust chance to earn their maiden international call from the prestigious national side. Here's the list of the top five expensive uncapped players in the 2025 IPL Mega Auction. 

1. Rasikh Salam Dar- INR 6 Crores (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Rasikh Salam Dar became the most expensive uncapped player during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Rasikh is primarily a new-ball bowler who can be efficient in the first six overs and a reliable death-over bowler due to his strong yorker and slower deliveries. The quick bowler was the top selection among uncapped players and was auctioned by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for INR 6 crore.

Dar is prominent for his lethal and devastating yorkers with the Delhi Capitals in the previous season. Despite his inexperience, Rasikh will be a long-term investment, so he was acquired for a high price. Whether it's justified or not, only time will tell. In his short and promising IPL stint, he has scalped nine wickets in 11 appearances. 

2. Naman Dhir- INR 5.25 Crores (Mumbai Indians)

Naman Dhir is a noteworthy pace hitter who can bat anywhere from third to sixth place, indicating a solid addition to any squad's middle-order batting. Furthermore, he is a naturally aggressive hitter with good off-spin. Naman Dhir sparked a bidding battle between the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore before the Delhi Capitals intervened.

Later, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings  joined in before the Mumbai Indians opted to employ the Right-to-Match (RTM) to reclaim him for INR 5.25 crores. In seven IPL matches, he has scored 140 runs with a strike rate of 177.22.

3. Abdul Samad- INR 4.20 Crores (Lucknow Super Giants)

Abdul Samad is known for his big-hitting ability and has previously played as a finisher for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Samad is a decent pace hitter who bats in the lower order and adds momentum to innings during slog overs. His subsequent years have been less promising, but his tremendous potential enticed teams to pay a hefty amount to obtain his expertise, with the Lucknow Super Giants emerging victorious.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru initially started the bid for Samad, but the Super Giants were eager to sign him and increased the bidding battle from INR 30 lakhs to INR  4.20 crores. In 50 matches, he has made 577 runs with a strike rate of 146.08.

See Also: IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Top Five Buy Punjab Kings dominate IPL auction with three top signings

4. Nehal Wadhera- INR 4.20 Crores (Punjab Kings)

Nehal Wadhera is a top homegrown prospect who can handle speed and spin. Wadhera's performance in past IPL seasons with Mumbai Indians highlights his impressive all-round abilities. As a player from the Punjab side, he will be familiar with the circumstances in the new Mullanpur pitch and may finally be able to unleash his full ability; thus, it is no surprise that the Punjab Kings have chosen him.

They bought they young sporting campaigner for INR 4.20 crores after competing with three teams: Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Delhi Capitals. In just 20 IPL games, he has scored 350 runs at a 140 strike rate and taken 13 wickets at an economy of 6.50. 

5. Ashutosh Sharma- INR 3.80 Crores (Delhi Capitals)

Ashutosh Sharma is a clean-ball hitter who can take on pacers from the start, as seen by his time with the Punjab Kings. His presence will offer his new team, the Delhi Capitals, much-needed firepower in the lower order to deliver that finishing touch in the final overs.

Sharma was a revelation last season and was expected to command a reasonable price in the IPL 2025 auction. He was sold for INR 3.80 crores to the Delhi Capitals, who outbid three other teams for him. In his 11 IPL matches performance, he was able to make 189 runs, averaging 27 and a strike rate of 167.26. 

After 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player to be picked in the IPL auction history, he entered into controversy.

On the second day of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was involved in a little bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals from his base price of INR 30 lakh. Ultimately, the Royals won the bid for INR 1.10 crore. While Suryavanshi was already in the news for his cricketing talents, the little bid war wasn’t a surprise. In fact, even a little more bidding war wouldn’t surprise.

According to the official IPL website, Vaibhav Suryavanshi was 13 years old at the time of the auction. However, he is in the controversy for the age-fudging.

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025: Know about Priyansh Arya, Gurjapneet Singh, and Eshan Malinga

Vaibhav Suryavanshi's age confusion

The controversy has been raised after the resurfacing of one of his old interviews, which confuses his real age. In April 2023, BNN News Benipatti uploaded an interview with Vaibhav, where the teenage cricketer claimed that he would be 14 years old in September. According to this report, Vaibhav should be 15 years old during the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Even if the controversial video is correct, Vaibhav would still be the youngest player to be signed in the IPL auction history. The 16-year-old Prayas Ray Barman was the previous record holder in this list when the Royal Challengers Bangalore (presently Royal Challengers Bengaluru) bought Barman for INR 1.50 crore from the IPL 2019 auction. 

Father is confident

While Vaibhav is in the age-fudging controversy, his father is confident and ready to go through the necessary tests to prove Vaibhav’s official age is correct.

Vaibhav’s father told the PTI, “When he was 8 and half years old he first appeared for a BCCI bone test. He has already played India U-19. We don’t fear anyone. He can again undergo age test.”

Putting the controversy aside, Vaibhav has an opportunity to become the youngest player in IPL history. Even if he doesn’t get an opportunity in the IPL 2025, he still has a great opportunity to develop his skills under the head coach, Rahul Dravid. 

The Indian Premier League 2025 mega-auction in Jeddah has been nothing short of a sensational two days of intensive hammer sessions, with teams spending massive sums on a plethora of star cricketers. Despite the flash and expenditure of significant money, some other teams conducted their business very sensibly.

A few big-name stars went for a lower price than fans may have expected. Some franchises made good timing decisions and were fortunate to obtain away match-winners at a lower cost than expected. Having said that, here are the top five steal deals from the recent 2025 IPL Mega Auction.

Glenn Maxwell- INR 4.2 Crores (Punjab Kings)

Mighty Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell got a new side in the form of a homecoming with the Punjab Kings (played from 2014 to 2017 and 2020), obtaining a deal for INR 4.20 crore. The 36-year-old was released after three seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and instantly became a target for several teams.

Sunrisers Hyderabad started the bidding battle, followed by Chennai Super Kings until Punjab Kings won the sale at a lower price. PBKS took advantage of an excellent chance to boost its presence abroad for the next season. Maxwell's IPL career encompasses 134 matches and includes 2,771 runs at a strike rate of 156.73 and 37 wickets.

Sam Curran- INR 2.40 Crores (Chennai Super Kings)

Sam Curran is back in yellow; this time, he's a bargain at INR 2.4 crore. Curran's bowling at the death and ability to swing the new ball make him a valuable asset. Add to that his development as a pinch hitter capable of batting higher up the order, and you have the ideal all-rounder.

His flexibility bridges weaknesses in both the batting and bowling areas. Curran's return seems like a masterstroke, whether he's partnering Matheesha Pathirana in slog overs or adding depth to the batting lineup. In 59 IPL appearances for Chennai Super and Punjab Kings, he scored 883 runs and took 58 wickets.

Adam Zampa- INR 2.4 Crores (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Sunrisers Hyderabad made one of the finest moves of the IPL 2025 auction, signing Australian spinner Adam Zampa for only INR 2.40 crore, which helps fill their spinmeister's void. Following a brief bidding battle with the Rajasthan Royals, the seasoned leg-spinner was unexpectedly bought for nearly his introductory price of INR 2 crore.

His IPL career, which began with Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016, has seen noteworthy performances, including a spectacular 6/19 against his current side, SRH. As his history from spells at RCB and RR suggests, Zampa's arrival at this price range might be the season's best bargain. In his 14-match IPL career, he has 21 wickets at 7.74.

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Shocking Unsold Star Players in the IPL history

Quinton de Kock- INR 3.6 Crores (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, pulled off a masterstroke by signing South African wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock for only INR 3.60 crore. After the Lucknow Super Giants declined to use their Right to Match (RTM) card, KKR took the chance to improve their team. His probable connection with Sunil Narine at the top of the order will help the team get off to a solid start. 

With his recent international and franchised-based league performances, De Kock can give a vital, robust start to the team's batting. De Kock provides experience, having played 107 IPL matches and scored 3,157 runs, including 23 half-centuries and two centuries.  

Washington Sundar- INR 3.2 Crores (Gujarat Titans)

Washington Sundar was among the most remarkable Indian all-rounders at the auction, and many expected him to sell for a high price. However, he eventually signed with the Gujarat Titans for INR 3.20 crores. GT defeated Lucknow Super Giants in a bidding battle to gain his contract. 

He is a wily off-spinner who has recently been in excellent form. Sundar has played 60 IPL matches and taken 37 wickets at an economy rate of 7.54. He has also scored 378 runs with a strike rate of more than 116, which might help the Titans' lower middle-order batting lineup.

Regardless of how many T20 competitions emerge in other countries each year, the Indian Premier League remains the most-watched cricket league globally. The 2018 edition promises a thrill, with each squad vying for the prized trophy. This year's mega auction included 1574 registered players, with the BCCI settling on a total of 574 names going under the hammer.

366 names were Indian/domestic players, 208 are overseas cricketers, including three associate nation players, were under all the teams radar between November 24th and 25th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. However, this year's IPL mega auction has generated some surprise buyers and unsold talents throughout the years, causing a lot of debate among fans and critics. Here is a list of five renowned players who went unsold during the IPL Auction and deserved to make it through the lucrative cricket competition, even after their stupendous contributions. 

David Warner

David Warner, the swashbuckling left-hand batter from down under, has got unsold in the ongoing 2025 IPL Mega Auction, which has undoubtedly raised the eyebrows of many. David Warner, an IPL icon, is a former winning captain who has led Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first-ever title in 2016. Despite his outstanding league record, his past two seasons were ordinary, especially given his lofty expectations.

As a result, when his name was called, no franchise raised their paddles, and the former IPL captain went unsold at the auction. In 184 matches, he has made 6565 runs at an average of over 40 while striking 62 half-centuries and four centuries, making him the fourth-highest run-getter in IPL. 

Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly, an Indian cricketing star, was released by his home team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, and 'Dada' found plenty of suitors at the 2011 auction. Indeed, it was a shock for many fanatics and critics, and they raised their voices and protested the Knight Rider's big step for a brief period.

Despite Ganguly being signed by the Pune Warriors (gone) during the season to replace the injured Ashish Nehra, it served as a clear reminder that teams valued form and age over fame and notoriety. In 59 IPL appearances, he scored 1349 runs at an average of more than 25 and took ten wickets.  

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow of England and David Warner had a devastating opening combination against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, since joining Punjab Kings, the Yorkshire batter has battled for consistency. Despite his lack of form, Bairstow's ability to keep wickets would have been advantageous for the teams, but they chose not to pursue that option, leaving the player unsold. 

Bairstow, with a base price of 2 crore, failed to generate any interest across all the franchises. His poor recent results over the last two seasons are a big reason why the English power hitter has found no admirers in Jeddah. In his IPL career, he has played half a century of matches and amassed 1589 runs, averaging over 35. He has struck nine half-centuries and two centuries.

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Most Overpriced Players from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Steve Smith

Former Australia captain Steve Smith is considered in the same breath as Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root, together known as the 'Fab Four'. However, Smith's fortunes in the IPL have not been kind.

The great batter, who guided Rising Pune SuperGiants to the IPL final way back in 2017, has played for four teams: Pune Warriors India, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, and the Delhi Capitals. Not to forget he has pulled the Rising Pune Supergiant to their first-ever final, though they ended as runners-up. Smith went unsold in both the 2022 and 2024 auctions. In 103 matches, he has scored a total of 2485 runs, averaging at 35.  

Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla was drafted by Kings XI Punjab in 2016 to replace the injured Shaun Marsh. Amla established a strong case for himself as a credible opening batsman. The speedy player scored 577 runs in 16 matches, including two centuries and three half-centuries, for an average of 44.38.

The South African icon was genuinely excellent for Kings XI Punjab at the top of the order, but he went unsold in the IPL 2018 and 2019 auctions. Despite being statistically extremely good in limited-overs cricket, none of the IPL clubs selected him, leading him to announce his retirement immediately from international cricket.

The 2025 IPL Mega Auction has kept several cricket fanatics and critics on the hook, as it dealt with cash-rich bids under the hammer and impeccable campaigners who will be a part of different or their old and homely franchises. As the Mega Auction notion suggests, almost every side has gone for a significant restructuring, whether going for a new captain or parting ways with their reliable bowling duo; it has shown it all.

However, the recent Mega Auction saw a colossal amount of bucks spent on several promising contenders. As expected, this time, we know a list comprising sole domestic players who have made a mark to the most expensive players for the forthcoming tournament, highlighting their robust calibre in offer for the respective franchises. That said, here's the list of the top five most expensive bids from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction. 

Rishabh Pant- INR 27 Crores (Lucknow Super Giants)

Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history when the Lucknow Super Giants signed him for a staggering INR 27 crore. Lucknow emerged victorious in a tough bidding battle against clubs such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Delhi Capitals, with the latter wanting to recover their former skipper. 

As the Super Giants released their first and reliable captain, KL Rahul, it was clear that the arsenal would go all out to capture the dashing left-handed wicketkeeper. A strong batsman with an IPL stats of 3,284 runs in 111 matches and a strike rate of 148.93 helps to add tremendous value to Lucknow's squad, which might potentially fill the wicketkeeping and, more importantly, their captaincy deficit.  

Shreyas Iyer- INR 26.75 Crores (Punjab Kings)

Shreyas Iyer, who guided the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title in 2024, was signed by the Punjab Super Kings for an enormous INR 26.75 crore. The fierce bidding saw Punjab, Delhi Capitals, and Kolkata compete, with Punjab eventually outlasting the others. Iyer broke Mitchell Starc's IPL 2024 record for the highest-paid player, but Pant topped him shortly after.

With the Punjab Kings still to win their maiden IPL trophy, it would be interesting to observe how Iyer will lead his high-profile and influential team under the direction of his old coach, Ricky Ponting. Iyer, known for his dependability, has 3,127 runs in 115 IPL matches, which will help to stabilise Punjab's middle order as their new captain.  

Venkatesh Iyer- INR 23.75 Crores (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Despite releasing him before, the Kolkata Knight Riders went all out to re-sign Venkatesh Iyer for INR 23.75 crore. Iyer, known for his all-around abilities, was instrumental in KKR's success and continues to be a valuable asset to the brand. Kolkata won the bidding fight over Lucknow and Bengaluru.

In exchange, it has elicited various criticisms and perplexing thoughts about his performance and height, which deserve the price tag. But, as time passes, seeing how the most expensive IPL allrounder performs for the reigning champions will be intriguing. Iyer has 1,326 runs with a strike rate of 137.13 and three wickets in 50 IPL matches since making his debut in 2021. 

See Also: IPL 2025: Know about Priyansh Arya, Gurjapneet Singh, and Eshan Malinga?

Arshdeep Singh- INR 18 Crores (Punjab Kings)

Arshdeep Singh triggered a bidding battle as the day's first name. Teams including Chennai, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Gujarat made competitive bids before the Punjab Super Kings utilised their Right to Match (RTM) card to retain him for INR 18 crore. The 25-year-old left-arm bowler, who won the T20 World Cup, has 76 wickets in 65 IPL games and excelled with his recent exploits for India, including being the joint-highest wicket-taker in the recent successful 2024 T20 World Cup.

To summarise, his ability to bowl under pressure makes him an essential player for Punjab, putting tremendous pressure on any batsman with the new ball and simultaneously in the death overs.

Yuzvendra Chahal- INR 18 Crores (Punjab Kings)

Yuzvendra Chahal, IPL's prominent spinmeister, was signed by Punjab Kings for INR 18 crore. Gujarat, Chennai, and Lucknow first contended for the star legspinner until Punjab emerged successfully against Hyderabad in the intense bidding war. Chahal, who has a fantastic record in numerous sports formats, provides experience and match-winning qualities to Punjab's bowling attack.

This will be Chahal's fourth IPL team, following stints with Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Rajasthan. In his 160-match career, he has taken 205 wickets, making him the tournament's all-time leading wicket-taker, making it the cherry on top for the new Punjab Kings squad. 

Just like the other previous IPL auctions, the IPL 2025 mega auction experienced some new names getting strong bids from the teams. Here, we are going through the new crorepati players Priyansh Arya, Gurjapneet Singh, and Eshan Mailnga.

Priyansh Arya

Starting with a base price of INR 30 lakh, Priyansh Arya earned the final bid of INR 3.80 crore from the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru also fought for him in the mega auction along with Mumbai Indians’ early single bid. 

The 23-year-old was in the news last August for hitting six sixes in an over against the spinner Manan Bharadwaj during the Delhi Premier League 2024. In that game, the South Delhi Superstarz batter had a 286-run partnership with Ayush Badoni. Arya scored 120 off 50 balls with the help of ten fours and ten sixes. He ended the DPL 2024 as the leading run-scorer with 608 runs in 10 games, including two centuries and four half-centuries. In that competition, Arya hit 49 fours and 43 sixes. 

Arya was the leading run-scorer for Delhi at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023-24 by scoring 222 runs in seven innings with an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 166.91, including two half-centuries. 

In the ongoing SMAT 2024-25 season, Arya started excellently by scoring his maiden T20 century against Uttar Pradesh as the Delhi batter scored 102 off 43 balls with the help of five fours and 10 sixes. The match was played just one day before the mega auction opening day. 

Arya has played five List A matches and 11 T20s. In his T20 career, the left-handed batter has scored 356 runs with an average of 32.36 and a strike rate of 167.92. In his T20 career, he has already hit one century and two half-centuries. 

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025: Top 5 Most Expensive Players from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Gurjapneet Singh

The 26-year-old Gurjapneet Singh had a base price of INR 30 lakh, from where Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings started the battle. Later, Gujarat Titans fought against Chennai Super Kings, but CSK won the ultimate bid for INR 2.20 crore.

The left-arm medium-fast bowler Gurjapneet’s notable performance stats are related to the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2023 season. In the TNPL 2023, he finished as the second-most wicket-taker with 15 wickets in eight matches. He took seven wickets in seven games at the TNPL 2024.

Gurjapneet recently made his first-class cricket debut. Although his first innings in first-class cricket career ended without a wicket against Saurashtra, he claimed a six-wicket haul in the next innings of the match (14-5-22-6) and won the Player of the Match award. Since then, he picked up at least one wicket in the last five first-class innings. 

After picking up 13 wickets in four first-class matches, the left-arm pacer made his T20 debut just before the IPL 2025 mega auction. In his first SMAT 2024-25 match, the left-arm pacer took two wickets against Tripura, and the Tamil Nadu pacer ended with the bowling figures of 4-0-28-2. Interestingly, on his T20 debut, he returned with the best economical bowling figures among the bowlers who completed their four-over quota. 

Eshan Malinga

SunRisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals had an interesting battle in the IPL 2025 mega auction for the uncapped Sri Lankan pacer Eshan Mailnga. The battle started from the base price of INR 30 lakh, and SRH finally won it for INR 1.20 crore. 

The 23-year-old right-arm fast-medium has taken 39 wickets in 16 first-class matches, 20 wickets in 12 List A games, and 13 wickets in 13 T20s. Last October, in the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024-25, Eshan scalped six wickets in five matches.

Eshan has a T20 economy rate of 7.35 and a strike rate of 17.60, which are really good, especially for a new young bowler. 

He made his Lanka Premier League debut in the 2024 season and played one match for Jaffna Kings without taking a wicket.

Indian wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant was the talk of the IPL Mega Auction 2025 as Lucknow Supergiants secured him for the whopping amount of 27 Crore, making him the most expensive buy in the IPL auction history.

Goenka shared that they had plans to buy Rishabh Pant

"We had structured the auction in a certain way and Pant was an integral part of our plans. We had done some budgeting for him. Look we could not get Bhuvneshwar Kumar and we went for Akash Deep. We wanted two Indian fast bowlers and we spent INR 9.75 crore on Avesh and INR 8 crore on Akash Deep. This was not about one individual player. Did we want to have the most expensive player? No. At the end of the day, this does not mean very much to the franchise. Eventually, it is about performance and how the team balance looks."