The highly anticipated IPL 2025 mega auction is set to take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking the second time the auction is held outside India. With 574 players on the list, this event will determine the squads for all ten franchises for the coming seasons. Out of these players, 48 are capped Indians, and 193 are capped overseas players. Ahead of the auction, franchises retained 46 players, leaving 204 slots to be filled across all teams.
Key Auction Rules and Processes
What is the Right-to-Match (RTM) Card?
The RTM rule, returning for the first time since 2018, allows teams to reacquire players from their previous season’s squad. This can only be exercised by teams that retained fewer than six players before the auction.
Here’s how it works:
When a player from a team’s previous squad receives a winning bid during the auction, the original team can use the RTM card to match the highest bid and reclaim the player.
If the team exercising the RTM card matches the final bid, the player returns to their squad. However, the opposing bidder gets one last chance to raise their bid.
If the RTM-using team opts not to match the final bid, the bidding team secures the player, and the RTM card is restored for future use.
Teams Ineligible for RTM Cards
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) cannot use the RTM option as they have already retained the maximum limit of six players. All other teams retained fewer players and can use this option during the auction.
What is the Accelerated Auction?
Not all 574 players will necessarily be presented for bidding. The accelerated auction process helps streamline the selection.
- Phase One:
After the first 116 players are presented for bidding, franchises nominate the remaining players (from 117 to 574) they want to see in the auction pool.
- Phase Two:
This phase, scheduled for November 25, includes players who went unsold or unpresented earlier but are re-nominated by franchises for bidding.
What are Marquee Sets?
The auction begins with two Marquee Sets featuring top-tier players. Each set includes six players who are expected to attract intense bidding wars.
Marquee Set Highlights:
Key Names: KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, and Mitchell Starc.
Other Player Categories: The auction also includes capped batters, bowlers, spinners, fast bowlers, uncapped players, and more.
Auction Schedule and Timings
The mega auction will begin at 3:30 PM IST with bidding for Marquee Sets, followed by other categories.
Timetable:
First Session: 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM IST (Marquee Sets)
Break: 5:00 PM to 5:45 PM IST
Final Session: 5:45 PM to 10:30 PM IST
Summary
The IPL 2025 auction will not only shape team rosters but also introduce strategic elements like RTM cards and the accelerated auction process. With star players like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Mitchell Starc in the Marquee Sets, intense bidding battles are guaranteed. All eyes will be on how franchises build their squads within the updated rules and budget constraints.
