The IPL 2025 mega auction turned out to be a record-breaking affair, with all 10 franchises collectively spending a staggering ₹639.15 crore, the highest in IPL history. Among the teams, Punjab Kings (PBKS) dominated the headlines, making bold moves and spending ₹110.50 crore, the most by any franchise. Despite their aggressive approach, PBKS lost bids for 19 players, the highest by any team in the auction.
Punjab Kings: Big Spenders but Tough Competition
PBKS entered the auction with the largest purse among the franchises, having retained only two players, Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh. With a virtually empty squad, they aimed to rebuild entirely, purchasing 23 players—the most by any team—to bring their roster to full strength.
The franchise made history by acquiring three of the top five most expensive players in IPL 2025. Shreyas Iyer became the highest-ever IPL auction buy at ₹26.75 crore, breaking Mitchell Starc’s record from the previous year. However, this record lasted only 21 minutes, as Lucknow Super Giants secured Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore. Unfazed, PBKS secured leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore, making him the costliest spinner in IPL auction history. They also exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card to reacquire Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore.
While PBKS raised the paddle for 47 players—more than any other team—they lost 19 bidding wars. Seven of their 23 acquisitions were made at base price, reflecting a mix of strategic splurges and budget buys.
Mumbai Indians: Calculated Spending with a Modest Purse
Mumbai Indians entered the auction with the smallest budget of ₹45 crore, having retained five players, including Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and World Cup stars Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya. Despite their limited funds, Mumbai managed to acquire 18 of the 20 spots in their squad, with 12 players bought at base price. Their total expenditure amounted to ₹44.8 crore, narrowly staying within their budget.
Mumbai ranked second in losing bids, missing out on 15 players, trailing only PBKS in this regard. Despite the competition, they effectively filled their roster with a blend of marquee signings and value picks.
Other Teams’ Strategies and Outcomes
While PBKS stood out for their aggressive bidding, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) took a conservative approach. KKR entered the bidding fray for just 25 players, the fewest of any team, and lost only five bidding wars, the least by any franchise. Rajasthan Royals had the highest proportion of base-price purchases, with four out of their 14 acquisitions made at minimum bids.
Chennai Super Kings (45), Delhi Capitals (40), Royal Challengers Bangalore (40), and Mumbai Indians (42) all entered bidding wars for over 40 players, showcasing fierce competition across teams.
Summary
The IPL 2025 auction was an intense and record-breaking event, with teams employing varying strategies to build their squads. Punjab Kings stole the spotlight with their extravagant spending and bold moves but faced tough competition, losing out on the most players. Meanwhile, franchises like KKR and MI adopted more measured approaches, highlighting the diverse tactics at play in this high-stakes auction.
