After the thrilling and unforgettable mega auction, all ten teams are set for IPL 2025. It is now time for team analysis and to choose the best and worst teams before the beginning of the IPL 2025. While some franchises have impressed on the mega auction table, some franchises have disappointed despite buying talented players. Let's look at the Cricketwinner ratings of all the 10 squads

1. Gujarat Titans

After some good retentions (Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tiwari, Shahrukh Khan, Rashid Khan), IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans battled hard to secure Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Prasidh Krishna. The retained and top-signed players love to dominate in their respective duties. Moreover, GT added more good all-rounders like Glenn Phillips, Sherfane Rutherford, Karim Janat, Washington Sundar, etc. Overall, the franchise has built up a well-balanced team for the IPL 2025, as there is hardly any gap. 

GT full squad for IPL 2025: Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, Glenn Phillips, Sai Kishore, Mahipal Lomror, Karim Janat, Gurnoor Brar, Arshad Khan, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Kumar Kushagra, Nishant Sindhu, Manav Suthar, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya.

Team rating: 8.5/10

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

2. SunRisers Hyderabad

IPL 2016 champions and IPL 2024 runners-up SunRisers Hyderabad set a new example of dominant batting in the last IPL season. We can expect the same in the IPL 2025 as most of the key batters are retained in the squad along with the skipper and pacer Pat Cummins. Apart from some strong all-rounder names, SRH also have strong pacers and spinners. It seems that the franchise has built up another well-balanced T20 side. 

SRH full squad for IPL 2025:  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.

Team rating: 8/10

3. Kolkata Knight Riders

Due to the strong retention and the addition of more regular faces from the auction, the three-time and reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) can maintain their champion charms in IPL 2025. The overseas dominant all-rounders are match-winners (Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Rovman Powell) along with Ramandeep Singh and Venkatesh Iyer. 

Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi are strong names in batting. With Sunil Narine and Moeen Ali, Indian cricketers Varun Chakravarthy and Mayank Markande provide strong spin bowling options. South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje and rising Indian pacer Harshit Rana are two big names in the pace-bowling line-up. 

KKR full squad for IPL 2025:  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.

Team rating: 7.5/10

4. Chennai Super Kings

The present Chennai Super Kings squad has many known faces for the Yellow Army fans. Not only their retained players, but also the RTM Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Sam Curran, and Ravichandran Ashwin also have great memories with the team. If the experienced team management can work well with the Indian pace-bowling line-up, the five-time IPL champions can create a new IPL history.

CSK full squad for IPL 2025: Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Matheesha Pathirana, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Noor Ahmad, R Ashwin, Devon Conway, Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Anshul Kamboj, Sam Curran, Gurjapneet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Deepak Hooda, Jamie Overton, Vijay Shankar, Vansh Bedi, Shreyas Gopal, C Andre Siddarth, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shaik Rasheed, Mukesh Choudhary, Kamlesh Nagarkoti.

Team rating: 7/10

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Steal Deals from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

5. Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Three-time IPL runners-up Royal Challengers Bengaluru have strong batting lineups on top and in the middle. Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Krunal Pandya, etc. are big names in the RCB batting line-up. The pace-bowling lineup is equally strong with the Indians and overseas names. All-rounders can fill up the spin-bowling gap.   

RCB full squad for IPL 2025: Virat Kohli, Rajit Patidar, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Tim David, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Krunal Pandya, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Romario Shepherd, Swapnil Singh, Swastik Chikara, Manoj Bhandage, Abhinandan Singh, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee

Team rating: 6.5/10

6. Delhi Capitals

Although Delhi Capitals had to release Rishabh Pant, they still have built up a good team for IPL 2025. While the team has strong foreign names in the batting (Jake Fraser-McGruk, Harry Brook, Faf du Plessis, Tristian Stubbs), the Indian batting names are limited to KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel. The team has young talented all-rounders, where Axar Patel has to play an important role. The pace-bowling has strong names, both from India (Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Mohit Sharma) and overseas (Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera). Meanwhile, the experienced spinners are Kuldeep Yadav and all-rounder Axar Patel. 

DC full squad for IPL 2025: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, T Natarajan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mukesh Kumar, Harry Brook, Ashutosh Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Sameer Rizvi, Dushmantha Chameera, Donavan Ferreira, Vipraj Nigam, Manvanth Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari.

Team rating: 6.5/10

7. Mumbai Indians

The five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians are desperate to break their recent inconsistent status. While they retained important names, batting looks strong with the question of its depth and strong replacements. Pace bowlers are very strong with the leading charges of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. All-rounder Mitchell Santner is the only powerful experienced spinner in the team. 

MI full squad for IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks, Allah Ghazanfar, Mitchell Santner, Ryan Rickelton, Reece Topley, Robin Minz, Karn Sharma, Bevon Jacobs, Ashwani Kumar, Krishnan Shrijith, Arjun Tendulkar, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur.

Team rating: 6/10

8. Punjab Kings

The IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings are desperate to remove their underperformer tag from the IPL 2025, as the team has failed to reach the playoffs the last ten seasons. They have big overseas names Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, and Lockie Ferguson, along with the Indian stars Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal. While there is a lack of Indian alternatives, the PBKS’ success in the IPL 2025 depends on the performances of the Indian cricketers. 

PBKS full squad for IPL 2025: Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey.

Team rating: 5.5/10

9. Lucknow Super Giants

Lucknow Super Giants have strong overseas batting options along with Rishabh Pant, whose INR 27 crore bid broke the IPL auction record. Apart from Pant, the franchise’s Indian batting option isn’t strong enough. The team has been filled with young talented Indian pacers and spinners, who need proper guidance in tough times. By looking at the team initially, the franchise hasn’t set up a balanced team for the IPL 2025.   

LSG full squad for IPL 2025: Nicholas Pooran, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Ayush Badoni, Mohsin Khan, Rishabh Pant, Avesh Khan, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Akash Deep, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Shamar Joseph, M Siddharth, Himmat Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, Digvesh Singh, Prince Yadav, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Akash Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Aryan Juyal.

Team rating: 4.5/10

10. Rajasthan Royals

While the inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan Royals have retained strong names, the exclusion of English white-ball captain Jos Buttler was the big blow for Royals. The franchise still has enough explosive Indian batters, and their pace and spin bowling options are fully talented and consistent. While they haven’t any experienced Indian spinners, their Indian pace bowling experience is limited.

RR full squad for IPL 2025: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Sandeep Sharma, Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana, Nitish Rana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Akash Madhwal, Shubham Dubey, Yudhvir Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Rathore, Ashok Sharma.

Team rating: 3.5/10

The IPL 2025 mega auction, held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, made headlines for its record-breaking bids and strategic team-building. The Lucknow Super Giants stunned everyone by securing Rishabh Pant for an unprecedented ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Punjab Kings showcased their aggressive intent, acquiring Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore and Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore, strengthening their squad with both batting firepower and bowling depth. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders went all-in for Venkatesh Iyer, shelling out ₹23.75 crore to bring the all-rounder back to their camp. The seasoned leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also fetched ₹18 crore, marking Punjab Kings as the team with three of the top five buys in this auction.

The auction reflected a clear shift in franchise strategies, emphasizing proven match-winners and game-changers. Punjab Kings' bold moves signaled their determination to break their IPL title drought, assembling a star-studded lineup under a hefty price tag. Lucknow's decision to splurge on Rishabh Pant suggested a long-term vision to build their squad around a dynamic leader, while Kolkata's faith in Venkatesh Iyer aimed to rejuvenate their middle order and all-round capabilities. With record sums exchanged and marquee players switching loyalties, the stage is set for IPL 2025 to be one of the most competitive seasons yet.

See Also: Should KL Rahul Have Commanded a Higher Price in the IPL Auction?

Breakdown of all top 5 buys in IPL 2025 mega auction 

The IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah was not just a spectacle of staggering bids but also a testament to the star power and proven credentials of its top players. Rishabh Pant, acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for a record-breaking ₹27 crore, emerged as the headline act. Pant's IPL career stats underline his explosive batting and leadership potential. With 3,284 runs at a strike rate of 148.93, including a blazing 128* as his highest score, he embodies the modern-day T20 prototype: a power-hitting wicketkeeper-batter who can single-handedly change games. With 18 half-centuries, a century, and the added value of 75 catches and 23 stumpings, Pant's role as a captain for LSG is expected to galvanize their campaign.

Shreyas Iyer, bought by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore, brought his reputation as a reliable middle-order batter and a title-winning IPL captain to the table. While his batting is often deemed one-dimensional due to a moderate strike rate of 127.48, his consistent run tally of 3,127 runs across 115 matches, including 21 fifties, makes him a vital anchor in any lineup. Punjab’s aggressive bidding for Iyer reflects their ambition to establish stability and leadership at the top, hoping to leverage his tactical acumen to finally secure an elusive IPL title.

Kolkata Knight Riders made waves by reclaiming Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore. The flamboyant batting all-rounder has been a revelation in the IPL, amassing 1,326 runs at a brisk strike rate of 137.13. His middle-over exploits, complemented by a century and 11 fifties in just 50 matches, make him a dynamic game-changer. While his bowling hasn't been heavily utilized in the IPL, his potential as a sixth bowler adds a tactical edge. KKR’s faith in Venkatesh signals their intent to fortify their middle order with explosiveness and all-round balance.

Punjab Kings dominate IPL 2025 auction

Punjab Kings continued their aggressive spending spree by snapping up Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore each. Arshdeep, known for his versatility as a new-ball and death-overs bowler, brings immense value with 76 wickets at an economy of 9.03 across 65 matches. His ability to deliver under pressure and a best of 5/32 position him as one of the most reliable Indian pacers. Meanwhile, Chahal, with 205 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 22.45 and a strike rate of 17.18, is a proven match-winner. As the second-leading T20I wicket-taker for India, his knack for dismantling batting lineups makes him a prized asset.

With three players among the top five buys, Punjab Kings have showcased their intent to build a squad capable of dominating IPL 2025. Their acquisitions of Iyer, Arshdeep, and Chahal reflect a balanced approach, combining batting depth, wicket-taking prowess, and tactical leadership. Lucknow Super Giants’ record-breaking investment in Pant highlights their focus on a game-changing leader, while KKR’s commitment to Venkatesh Iyer emphasizes their desire for middle-order explosiveness. As these stars gear up for the upcoming season, the stage is set for a thrilling competition where these marquee players are expected to justify their hefty price tags.

IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) are desperate to end their underperformed tag, which they have been carrying on since the 2015 season. In the last 10 years, PBKS failed to advance to the playoffs. In the last two seasons, PBKS finished in eighth and ninth places, respectively, out of ten participating teams.  

In the retention deadline, PBKS unsurprisingly retained only two uncapped players. Wicketkeeper Prabhsimran Singh and all-rounder Shashank Singh were the retained names before the mega auction

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

Punjab Kings: Key additions from the mega auction

While Punjab Kings started the mega auction with INR 110.50 crore, it was clear that they could go longer for any top players. PBKS won Shreyas Iyer’s bid, who was the IPL 2024 winning captain for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for INR 26.75 crore. It was the first time in IPL auction history to experience a bid of more than INR 25 crore. 

While they used RTM for Arshdeep Singh by spending INR 18 crore, PBKS bought the leading IPL wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal, and Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for INR 18 crore and 11 crore, respectively. 

The franchise also bought more overseas big names like South African all-rounder Marco Jansen, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, Afghan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, Australian fast bowler Xavier Bartlett, etc. 

PBKS Full Squad

Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Pyla Avinash, Nehal Wadhera, Priyansh Arya, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan

Wicketkeepers: Prabhsimran Singh (retained), Josh Inglis (Australian), Vishnu Vinod

All-rounders: Shashank Singh (retained), Glenn Maxwell (Australian), Marcus Stoinis (Australian), Aaron Hardie (Australian), Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghan), Marco Jansen (South African), Suryansh Shedge

Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Praveen Dubey, Harpreer Brar

Pacers: Lockie Ferguson (New Zealander), Xavier Bartlett (Australian), (RTM) Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur

Brief SWOT analysis

Once again, PBKS had flaws in the auctions. Although they spent strong amounts to buy top overseas all-rounders and pacers, they can only use four of them in a match. Their Indian options are very limited in every aspect and mostly don’t have proper Indian alternates. 

There is no doubt that the team is very exciting with popular overseas names, but the team value is still not high enough due to very limited experienced Indian options. If the young and unfamiliar names do better, PBKS can dream of ending their long-struggling periods. 

PBKS Best Possible XI for IPL 2025

Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson/Marco Jansen

The IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah witnessed historic moments, with Shreyas Iyer commanding an astonishing ₹26.75 crore from Punjab Kings (PBKS). As the most expensive buy of the season, his acquisition sparked debates on whether the dynamic batter justifies the price tag. However, PBKS' bold move is grounded in Iyer’s proven credentials. A composed and strategic leader, Iyer led his team to IPL glory in 2024, showcasing his ability to thrive under pressure. As a top-order batsman, his consistency and elegant stroke play have earned him a reputation as one of the most reliable anchors in T20 cricket. 

For PBKS, who have often struggled with stability and leadership, Iyer’s inclusion could be transformational. Beyond his batting, he brings invaluable experience and tactical acumen that can unify the squad. With the added responsibility of leading a franchise that has yet to taste IPL success, Iyer’s journey in the 2025 season could redefine both his legacy and PBKS’ fortunes.

See Also: Bumrah Leads from the Front with a Fiery Five-Wicket Haul Against Australia

breakdown of Shreyas Iyer's 26.75 cr price tag

The IPL 2025 mega auction sparked heated debates, especially around Punjab Kings' record-breaking ₹26.75 crore purchase of Shreyas Iyer. While Iyer has established himself as a reliable top-order batter and a championship-winning captain, a closer look at player statistics reveals why this price tag seems disproportionate. Iyer’s 28 innings yielded 752 runs from 538 balls at a strike rate of 139.78. While respectable, this performance pales in comparison to heavyweights like Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler, who not only scored more runs but also maintained superior strike rates. Iyer’s value lies in his leadership, but is that enough to justify this extravagant sum?

Players like Shubman Gill (1,799 runs off 1,218 balls, SR 147.7) and Faf du Plessis (1,636 runs off 1,113 balls, SR 146.99) showcased consistent performances with the bat across a similar number of games. Their higher strike rates and ability to pace innings make them game-changers, while their costs were far less than Iyer’s. Even Virat Kohli, with a strike rate of 139.92, scored 1,721 runs in 45 innings, proving to be a cornerstone for his team’s batting unit. These players demonstrate an ability to deliver under pressure while maintaining impactful strike rates, an area where Iyer falls slightly short.

Middle-order power-hitters like Nicholas Pooran and Dinesh Karthik further highlight the gap. Pooran amassed 1,163 runs from just 699 balls, striking at an incredible 166.38, while Karthik smashed runs at a staggering 173.8 strike rate. These players thrive in situations requiring rapid scoring, a trait critical in T20 cricket. Meanwhile, young stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube, who scored with both consistency and flair, showcased why they are key investments for the future. These players combined efficiency and aggression, justifying every penny spent on them.

Iyer’s performances are steady but lack the explosive edge needed in a format where strike rates often outweigh averages. His 752 runs from 538 balls at a strike rate of 139.78 fall behind players like Gill and Jaiswal, who combined better strike rates with more impactful contributions. Moreover, Jos Buttler’s 1,614 runs at a strike rate of 144.62 across 42 innings illustrate a higher level of consistency and adaptability. Iyer’s leadership is a definite plus, but with established captains and match-winners available at lower prices, his auction value feels inflated.

In conclusion, Shreyas Iyer is undoubtedly a valuable player, offering leadership and stability in the top order. However, his price tag of ₹26.75 crore overshadows his on-field contributions. A more realistic valuation, similar to KL Rahul’s ₹14 crore, would have made him an excellent acquisition. While Punjab Kings are banking on Iyer to transform their fortunes, the investment appears excessive when compared to the consistent performances of other top players. Time will tell if Iyer can rise to the occasion and silence his critics.

See Also: Virat Kohli's 80th century at Perth: A step toward cricketing immortality

The IPL 2014 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) haven’t qualified for the playoffs for the last ten seasons. So, they are undoubtedly desperate to change the scenario in the next seasons. 

Unsurprisingly, PBKS retained only two uncapped players before the IPL 2025 mega auctions. While they spent only INR 9.5 crores in the retention, their remaining purse value before the auction was INR 110.50 crores. 

PBKS utilised RTM for Arshdeep Singh, while Shreyas Iyer joined the team after becoming the first to be auctioned over INR 25 crore. Yuzvendra Chahal and Marcus Stoinis were the others to manage over the INR 10 crore bid in the auction. Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Lockie Ferguson, etc. are the other big names in the PBKS family. 

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

Pre Auction Retentions

(Capped)

None

(Uncapped)

Shashank Singh (Indian): INR 5.50 Crore

Prabhsimran Singh (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction

4 capped players

Mega Auction Buys

Shreyas Iyer (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 26.75 crore

RTM Arshdeep Singh (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 18 crore

Yuzvendra Chahal (Indian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 18 crore

Marcus Stoinis (Australian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 11 crore

Marco Jansen (South African): Base price INR 1.25 crore – Bid won INR 7 crore

Nehal Wadhera (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 4.20 crore

Glenn Maxwell (Australian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 4.20 crore

Priyansh Arya (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 3.80 crore

Josh Inglis (Australian): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 2.60 crore

Azmatullah Omarzai (Afghanistan): Base price INR 1.50 crore – Bid won INR 2.40 crore

Lockie Ferguson (New Zealander): Base price INR 2 crore – Bid won INR 2 crore

Vijaykumar Vyshak (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 1.80 crore

Yash Thakur (Indian): Base price INR 40 lakh – Bid won INR 1.60 crore

Harpreet Brar (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 1.50 crore

Aaron Hardie (Australian): Base price INR 1.25 crore – Bid won INR 1.25 crore

Vishnu Vinod (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 95 lakh

Kuldeep Sen (Indian): Base price INR 75 lakh – Bid won INR 80 lakh

Xavier Bartlett (Australian): Base price INR 75 lakh – Bid won INR 80 lakh

Suryansh Shedge (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Pyla Avinash (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Musheer Khan (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Harnoor Singh (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Praveen Dubey (Indian): Base price INR 30 lakh – Bid won INR 30 lakh

Full Squad

Shashank Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Harpreet Brar, Vishnu Vinod, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur, Marco Jansen, Josh Inglis, Lockie Ferguson, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harnoor Pannu, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Aaron Hardie, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Xavier Bartlett, Pyla Avinash, Pravin Dubey.

Best Playing XI

Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson/Marco Jansen

On the retention deadline, the one-time IPL runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) have announced their retained players for the IPL 2025.

Punjab Kings are known for their underperformances. They have finished in the top four of the IPL seasons only twice. Apart from suffering elimination from the semifinals in the inaugural IPL edition (2008), they were the league stage champions at the IPL 2014, where they finished as the runners-up after losing the final against Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Punjab Kings haven’t played in the IPL playoffs for the last 10 years. Last season, they finished in the ninth position.

While Shikhar Dhawan led the PBKS in the complete IPL 2023, he initially led the team during the 2024 edition before a shoulder injury knocked him out of the tournament. English all-rounder Sam Curran led the Punjab franchise as a stand-in captain in 2024, and Jitesh Sharma was the stand-in captain for their last match of the 2024 season. 

Punjab Kings player retention

Punjab Kings have announced only two uncapped retentions with a total value of INR 9.50 Crore. The franchise can play a big role in the upcoming mega auction, where they will start with the remaining purse value of INR 110.50 crore. 

(Capped)

None

(Uncapped)

Shashank Singh (Indian): INR 5.50 Crore

Prabhsimran Singh (Indian): INR 4 Crore

Right-to-Match (RTM) card availability for the mega auction

4 capped players

While Punjab Kings (PBKS) are struggling for a long time, their former coach is disappointed with the team and opened up his retention theory for the team.

We are getting closer to knowing the details of the retention of each team before the IPL 2025 mega auction. The deadline is 5 PM on October 31. 

Each team can retain a maximum of six players, including a maximum of five capped players (Indian or foreigner) and a maximum of two uncapped players. The lesser number of retentions means that the team can use the remaining number for the Right-to-Match (RTM) option. 

In their IPL journey, Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, reached the next stage only twice. While they were semifinalists at the inaugural IPL (2008), they were runners-up in the IPL 2014.

In the last 10 years, PBKS failed to reach the playoffs. Since the 10-team competition from IPL 2022, PBKS finished in the sixth, eighth, and ninth places, respectively. 

For Punjab Kings, I don't think I would retain any players: Tom Moody

Tom Moody, under whom SunRisers Hyderabad won their first IPL title in 2016, was the head coach for Punjab Kings in their first three seasons. He is disappointed with the present PBKS players, especially the capped players. 

Moody feels that he wouldn’t retain the capped PBKS players before the mega auction. However, he would use the RTM for Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, and Kagiso Rabada, along with Jitesh Sharma.

Moody told Star Sports, “For Punjab Kings, I don't think I would retain any players, certainly not capped players, but I’d be looking to use the right-to-match option for players like Arshdeep Singh, Sam Curran, and Rabada. Jitesh Sharma is another one I’d consider using the right-to-match for in the auction.” 

While Harshal Patel won the Purple Cap in the last season with 24 wickets for Punjab Kings, Arshdeep, Curran, and Rabada took 19, 16, and 11 wickets, respectively. 

Tom Moody on uncapped players

Talking about the uncapped players, Moody would retain players like Shashank Singh and Harpreet Brar.

Moody added, “When it comes to uncapped players, there are a couple of good players I’d like to secure before the auction: Shashank Singh, who is a solid middle-order power hitter and had a great season last year, and Harpreet Brar, the left-arm spinner.” 

Shashank Singh was the leading run-scorer for PBKS in the IPL 2024 with 354 runs in 14 games with an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 164.65, including two half-centuries. Meanwhile, Brar took seven wickets in the last season.  

Ricky Ponting is beginning his journey with the Punjab Kings by forming a dedicated support staff team, including some familiar faces from his time at Delhi Capitals. With a new four-year contract, he’s setting the stage for a successful tenure.

Familiar faces join Ponting at Punjab Kings

Ricky Ponting has taken his first major step in creating his team at Punjab Kings, starting with the addition of James Hopes, the former Australian all-rounder. Hopes, who has worked closely with Ponting at Delhi Capitals, joins as the new fast-bowling coach. Hopes had been offered a contract extension with the Delhi franchise after Ponting’s exit, but he chose to follow his former captain to Punjab Kings. This move signifies the exit of Charl Langeveldt, the former South African pacer, who had been in charge of fast-bowling under Trevor Bayliss in the last two IPL seasons.

Hopes, known for his international career with 84 ODIs and 12 T20Is for Australia, previously played for Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) during the inaugural IPL season in 2008. His familiarity with the IPL landscape and experience in the league will bring strategic insights to the team’s bowling lineup.

Key retentions and departures in the support staff

Alongside Hopes, Ponting has retained Brad Haddin as assistant coach, with responsibilities over batting and wicket-keeping. Haddin, initially brought in by Bayliss, had worked with Ponting in the past and has been a reliable presence for the team’s coaching framework. Sunil Joshi, former India spinner, also remains in his role as spin-bowling coach, adding continuity to the Punjab Kings’ coaching roster. Sanjay Bangar, however, has exited from his role as head of cricket development. His contract, initially set for three years, was terminated midway.

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Ponting has kept other essential staff, such as Adrian le Roux as strength and conditioning (S&C) coach and Andrew Leipus as team physio, to ensure continuity in the player fitness program. Now, his main priority is finalizing the player retention list, with discussions around key players like Arshdeep Singh and options for utilizing Right to Match (RTM) cards to secure talent at competitive prices.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) team Punjab Kings (PBKS) has reportedly ended the journey with Trevor Bayliss and Sanjay Bangar, the head coach and head of cricket development, respectively.  

Earlier this month, the Punjab Kings officially announced Ricky Ponting as the new head coach of the team. The team CEO Satish Menon also revealed that Ponting will handle the team for the next four years. 

Ponting’s appointment almost confirmed Trevor Bayliss’ exit from the team. Punjab Kings also ended their contract with Sanjay Bangar.

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Trevor Bayliss joined Punjab Kings after IPL 2022

Bayliss joined Punjab Kings as the head coach after the IPL 2022. The Australian had replaced Anil Kumble in the head coach role. Kumble coached PBKS from IPL 2020 to IPL 2022. While the Punjab franchise finished in sixth places under Kumble’s three-year coaching, including in the ten-team competition in the IPL 2022, the team finished in eighth and ninth places under Bayliss’ coaching in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, respectively.

Sanjay Bangar rejoined Punjab Kings in December 2023

On the other hand, Sanjay Bangar joined Punjab Kings as head of cricket development in December 2023. Previously, Bangar was the head coach of the Punjab franchise between 2014 and 2016. 

Punjab Kings are struggling

Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, are among the most underperformed teams in IPL history. Although they debuted in the inaugural edition of the IPL (2008) and appeared in every IPL season, they only managed to finish in the top four twice. 

During the inaugural IPL season, the Punjab franchise finished in second place in the points table but lost the semi-final against Chennai Super Kings. 

In the IPL 2014, Punjab Kings finished on top of the points table. Although they lost the Qualifier 1 against Kolkata Knight Riders by 28 runs, they won the Qualifier 2 against Chennai Super Kings by 24 runs to book their ticket for the final. In the final of that tournament, they lost against Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets in the final over and finished as the runners-up. 

In the Champions League T20 2014, Punjab Kings were eliminated from the semi-final. 

Legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting has been appointed as the head coach of the IPL team Punjab Kings. The IPL team has officially announced their new head coach appointment on Wednesday (September 18).

In the IPL 2023 and 2024, Trevor Bayliss was the head coach of the Punjab Kings. Now, from the IPL 2025, the Punjab-based IPL franchise will play under Ricky Ponting’s coaching. Ponting will have an important role in the upcoming mega auction.

In the official statement, Punjab Kings’ CEO Satish Menon revealed that Ponting has been appointed as the head coach of the team for the next four years.

𝐏𝐔𝐍TER is 𝐏𝐔𝐍JAB! 🦁♥️

🚨 Official Statement 🚨
Ricky Ponting joins Punjab Kings as the new Head Coach! #RickyPonting #SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/DS9iAHDAu7

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 18, 2024

I am excited to take up the new challenge: Ricky Ponting

Ponting said, "I am grateful to Punjab Kings for presenting me with the opportunity to be the new Head Coach. I am excited to take up the new challenge. I had great conversations with the owners and the management about the way forward and was truly elated to see the alignment of our visions for the team. We all want to repay the fans who have stayed with the franchise over the years and we promise that they will see a much different Punjab Kings going forward."

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Punjab Kings are struggling in the IPL for a long time

Punjab Kings have been among the underperformed IPL teams for many years. Apart from their IPL 2008 semi-final exit and IPL 2014 runners-up finishing, Punjab Kings, formerly known as Kings XI Punjab, have never finished in the top four of an IPL season. 

Punjab Kings last time finished in the top five during the IPL 2017. While ten teams have been participating in the IPL since 2022, Punjab Kings finished in the sixth, eighth, and ninth places in the last three seasons, respectively. 

Ricky Ponting has a great experience in IPL coaching

Ricky Ponting is a very experienced coach, especially in the Indian Premier League. During the IPL 2015 and 2016, Ponting was the head coach of Mumbai Indians. Under his coaching, Mumbai Indians won the IPL 2015 trophy. 

Between 2018 and 2024, Ponting was the head coach of the IPL team Delhi Capitals (formerly known as Delhi Daredevils). During his coaching tenure, Delhi Capitals made huge improvements, including reaching the playoffs for three straight seasons (2019, 2020, and 2021) and finishing as the runners-up in the IPL 2020, which was their first-ever IPL final appearance.