The much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction is officially underway, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiling a detailed timeline and set of guidelines for the event. The auction, taking place on November 24, will see 84 players going under the hammer, with the marquee players expected to grab the most attention and stir up heated bidding wars. The auction is scheduled to kick off at 3:30 PM IST (1 PM local time) and will span two days, with Day 1 focusing on a diverse range of players.
New RTM Option and Key Auction Guidelines
A notable change this year is the introduction of a more flexible Right to Match (RTM) option. According to a BCCI advisory, the raised bid when a franchise exercises the RTM option can be any amount, and does not necessarily need to be a rounded figure. This change has divided opinions among franchises, adding an interesting twist to the auction dynamics. Each franchise has been allotted 14 RTM cards, which can be used strategically during the bidding process.
The auction will begin with the marquee player sets, followed by specific player categories such as batters, all-rounders, wicketkeepers, and bowlers, before moving into the final uncapped player category.
The Marquee Players
The marquee players are undoubtedly the main attraction of the auction, and this year’s list features a blend of international and domestic stars who are expected to command high bids. The marquee players are divided into two groups:
- Group 1:
- Jos Buttler (England)
- Shreyas Iyer (India)
- Rishabh Pant (India)
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
- Arshdeep Singh (India)
- Mitchell Starc (Australia)
- Group 2:
- Yuzvendra Chahal (India)
- Liam Livingstone (England)
- David Miller (South Africa)
- KL Rahul (India)
- Mohammed Shami (India)
- Mohammed Siraj (India)
These players, with their vast IPL experience and proven track records, are expected to grab a significant portion of the available INR 641.5 crore total purse.
Auction Day 1 Structure
The auction proceedings on Day 1 will follow a structured order:
- Marquee Lots (Group 1 and Group 2)
- Lunch Break
- Capped Batters
- All-Rounders and Wicketkeepers
- 15-Minute Break
- Capped Bowlers
- 10-Minute Break
- Uncapped Players Set 1 (Including big names like Faf du Plessis, Kane Williamson, and Ajinkya Rahane)
While Day 1 will feature some exciting bidding for capped players, the most anticipated names among the uncapped players will be up for grabs on Day 2, including players like Prithvi Shaw.
Day 2 Auction Highlights
The auction on Day 2 will cover the remaining players in the pool, starting from Player No. 117. The process will follow a normal flow up to Player No. 116, after which a fast-tracked accelerated process will begin. Each franchise will submit a list of 25 players for this rapid-fire phase. The auction will close with the selection of up to 70 overseas players, which makes this phase critical for teams looking to bolster their squads with international talent.
IPL Auction Bidding Increments
The bidding increments for the auction have also been set by the BCCI:
- Base Price INR 0 – 1 Cr: Increment of INR 5 Lakh
- Base Price INR 1 – 2 Cr: Increment of INR 10 Lakh
- Base Price INR 2 – 5 Cr: Increment of INR 20 Lakh
- Base Price INR 5 Cr+: Increment of INR 25 Lakh
For example, if a player’s base price is INR 1.25 Cr, the second bid would automatically increase to INR 1.3 Cr.
Expectations and What’s Next
As franchises gear up to acquire the best available talent for IPL 2025, all eyes will be on how the bidding unfolds on Day 1. Will big-money franchises like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore go after top names like KL Rahul and Jos Buttler, or will smaller teams find hidden gems in the uncapped players category? The dynamic nature of the auction, combined with the new RTM rule and large number of international stars on the block, promises to make this year’s IPL Mega Auction one of the most exciting and unpredictable to date.
Stay tuned for further updates as Day 1 unfolds and the IPL 2025 teams take shape for what promises to be another thrilling season of the Indian Premier League.
