NEW DELHI: Swashbuckling Rishabh Pant is set for a date with history as he and other big domestic and international superstars will go under the hammer at the two-day Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction starting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
The 10 franchises will be bidding for a total 577 players to fill 204 possible slots and build a team around their core set of players as world’s top cricketers are expected to laugh their way to the banks.

The 10 teams will have a cumulative Rs 641.5 crores in the kitty with Punjab Kings — Rs 110.50 crore in their coffers — ready to outbid the others.
As top cricketers gear up for a massive payday, here’s a look at the top 10 players to watch out for at the auction.
1) Rishabh Pant
After failed negotiations with Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant is expected to become one of the most expensive players at the IPL auction history, potentially exceeding the Rs 20-crore mark.
At 27, Rishabh Pant was sidelined from competitive cricket for over a year following a severe car accident in December 2022. However, he made a comeback to captain the Delhi Capitals in 2024.
India’s premier wicketkeeper-batsman and the franchise then parted ways after a disappointing sixth-place finish, and Pant is now set to enter the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore.
Multiple franchises, including Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders, are seeking a captain, and Pant could step into that role.
DC however have the option to buy him back with a right-to-match (RTM) card.
2) KL Rahul
After Lucknow Super Giants failed to reach the play-offs last season, the franchise and KL Rahul parted ways.
Along with his leadership, Rahul’s performance with the bat too was under-par as his strike rate was a key topic of discussion.
Rahul scored 520 runs in 14 matches last season at a strike rate of 136.
But despite the criticism, Rahul’s experience as both a batter and a captain makes him an appealing prospect for other franchises.
RCB, in search of a new captain, could look to bring the Karnataka batter back to his home ground, while Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans might also show interest.
3) Shreyas Iyer
Title winning skipper Shreyas Iyer’s release by Kolkata Knight Riders came as a major shock, especially just a few months after he led the franchise to their third title.
Iyer now is expected to attract significant attention in the auction, with several teams looking for a new captain.
Delhi Capitals could go all out to bring Iyer back, while RCB may also be interested in adding him to their squad.
After missing IPL 2023 due to injury, Iyer made a strong comeback in IPL 2024, scoring 351 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 146.
Iyer is one of the star players whose price is likely to exceed Rs 20 crore at the auction.
4) Arshdeep Singh
After the retention deadline came to an end, Punjab Kings’ decision to release Arshdeep Singh came as a surprise to many.
Arshdeep, who played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup victory earlier this year, has been one of the most consistent bowlers in both T20Is and the IPL over the last three years.
But Punjab retained just two uncapped players — Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh — and with the largest purse of Rs 110.5 crore, they are looking to completely rebuild their squad under new coach Ricky Ponting.
Arshdeep, who impressed during the South Africa T20I series with eight wickets from four matches, is renowned for his ability to swing the new ball and bowl yorkers at the death.
Punjab may attempt to use the RTM (Right to Match) card to bring him back, but with several teams showing interest in the young pacer, the competition could drive his price beyond Rs 20 crore.
5) Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan had a disappointing IPL 2024, scoring just one fifty in 14 matches and totaling 320 runs at a strike rate of 148.
He then lost his India central contract after choosing not to play in the Ranji Trophy, which led to him falling out of favor across all formats.
Mumbai Indians decided to retain Tilak Varma over Kishan, among their five retained players.
With Rs 45 crore remaining in their purse, MI may struggle to bring Kishan back at the auction.
Kishan will be on target for several franchises, including RCB, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals.
Bought for Rs 15.25 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction, Kishan is likely to attract another significant bid this time.
Ishan has played 105 matches for Mumbai Indians, scoring 2,644 runs at a strike rate of 135, including 16 half-centuries.
6) Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal, the star performer for Rajasthan Royals, was released despite his top service to the franchise.
Having joined the Royals during the IPL 2022 mega auction, Chahal was a key figure with the ball, taking 66 wickets in 46 matches.
At 34, the leg-spinner is the IPL’s all-time leading wicket-taker, with 205 wickets in 160 matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.84.
Franchises like Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Gujarat Titans will be on a lookout for an experienced leggie, which could lead to intense bidding war at the auction.
7) Glenn Maxwell
Despite his inconsistency, Glenn Maxwell remains a favorite at every IPL auction.
Known for his ability to dismantle bowling attacks with unconventional shots like reverse sweeps and switch hits, Maxwell stands out as a powerful T20 batter.
He is also a useful bowler, adding value in multiple areas.
Maxwell had a tough IPL 2024, scoring only 52 runs in 10 matches for RCB, with a best of 28. However, he was effective with the ball, taking six wickets at an economy rate of eight.
With a solid T20 record of 10,052 runs in 449 matches at a strike rate of 153, Maxwell remains a sought-after player.
RCB could use their RTM option to bring him back, as he shares a strong bond with Virat Kohli. However, Punjab Kings, under new head coach Ricky Ponting, and Delhi Capitals, with their revamped coaching staff, could also be ready to make a strong bid for the spin all-rounder.
8) Mitchell Starc
Australian speedster Mitchell Starc, 34, made headlines last year when he set a new IPL auction record, with Kolkata Knight Riders securing his services for Rs 24.75 crore.
The left-arm quick and powerful lower-order hitter played a crucial role in their title run, including a standout performance in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he took 2-14.
However, despite his impact, KKR chose not to retain him ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
With 193 wickets from 142 T20 matches, the towering Starc – standing at 1.96 meters (6 feet 4 inches) – will yet again be on the radar of the franchises during the bidding war.
9) David Miller
Known as “Killer Miller” for his explosive batting, the South African has a T20I strike rate close to 140.
The 35-year-old is now on the lookout for a new team after playing with Gujarat Titans since the franchise’s inception in 2022, having scored 210 runs in nine matches during last season.
India’s dismissal of Miller in this year’s T20 World Cup final in Barbados was a key moment in the match and the Proteas went on to lose.
Miller is expected to spark a bidding war at the auction, having registered with a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.
10) Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra made an instant impact in his IPL debut this year, smashing 222 runs at a punishing strike rate above 161 for Chennai Super Kings.
The left-hander’s ability to play spin with aplomb on subcontinent pitches saw him fare well during last year’s ODI World Cup and in New Zealand’s recent 3-0 Test whitewash in India.
The Wellington-born Ravindra’s parents hail from Bengaluru and hopes abound there that he will join the city’s franchise, which also features fan favourite Virat Kohli.
Ravindra enters the auction at Rs 1.5 crore base price.