Delhi: The IPL 2025 Mega Auction lived up to its name, shattering previous records and making history on the first day. With franchises increasing their budgets from ₹90 crore to ₹120 crore, the auction witnessed an unprecedented splurge, with ₹467.95 crore spent on 72 players. Punjab Kings emerged as the most active, acquiring 10 players, while Mumbai Indians secured just four.
Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history, fetching ₹27 crore after a fierce bidding war. Lucknow SuperGiants outbid Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad to secure Pant, leaving Delhi Capitals unable to match the price. Shreyas Iyer, acquired by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore, briefly held the record before being surpassed by Pant.
Foreign players also attracted significant bids, with Jos Buttler going to Gujarat Titans for ₹15.75 crore, while Jofra Archer, Trent Boult, and Josh Hazlewood were all snapped up for ₹12.50 crore each. Uncapped players like Rasikh Salam (₹6 crore) and Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore) hit jackpots, showcasing the franchises’ interest in investing in emerging talent.
Senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned to Chennai Super Kings for ₹9.75 crore, while Arshdeep Singh, with an RTM card, fetched ₹18 crore for Punjab Kings. The auction resumes on Monday to finalize remaining rosters.
