The highly anticipated day one of the IPL 2025 mega auction is being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24, 2024. As many as 577 players are up for grabs for 204 open spots, as all ten organizations try to finalize their rosters before the league's 18th season.
The first name out for bidding was that of Harshal Patel. SRH and GT started the bidding process and GT pulled out at INT 6 Crs. SRH then made the bid with INR 6.75 and this is when PBKS used their RTM option and SRH raised the bid to INR 8 Crs. PBKS were not interested in matching and SRH got Harshal Patel.
Second name was that of Rachin Ravindra and CSK and PBKS tussled for the New Zealand allrounder. PBKS raised the bid to INR 3.20 Cr and CSK pulled out. However, after Ravindra was sold to PBKS, CSK used their RTM card and matched PBKS’s raised bid of 4 Cr and bought Ravindra back to Yellow Army.
The next big name out for auction was Indian off-spinner R Ashwin and CSK immediately started bidding for him. They got tough competition from the Lucknow franchise and the two tables continued to raise their peddles. Then RCB jumped in and RR also joined the fray, raising the bid to INR 7.25 Cr.
RR and CSK continued to tussle and CSK finally won at INR 9.75 Crs. R Ashwin made a special homecoming to the franchise, where he began his IPL career.
Venkatesh Iyer caused quite a commotion and a bidding war when his name came up. LSG and KKR started the bidding and then RCB also joined. The two franchises continued the bidding war and the amount crossed INR 20 Cr. Finally, KKR paid INR 23.75 Cr for Venkatesh Iyer’s services.
Marcus Stoinis was another big name that came up for bidding and RCB and CSK started the bidding war. RCB raised the amount to INR 8.25 Cr and CSK bowed out. Then Punjab Kings entered the fray and pushed RCB to their limits. Finally, PBKS made the winning bid at INR 11 Crs and LSG declined to use their RTM.
Mitchell Marsh was up next and after a short bidding process between Lucknow and Hyderabad, LSG bought the Australian all-rounder for INR 3.40 Crs.
Glenn Maxwell was perhaps the biggest name to come up for the bidding and multiple franchises jumped at the opportunity to get him. PBKS, SRH, and CSK all tried their best as per budgets.
But in the end, anti-climax happened as PBKS put the winning bid at INR 4.20 Crs as CSK tapped out. RCB didn’t use the RTM card and Maxwell will return to PBKS after a stint with RCB.
