The IPL mega auction will take place in the last week of November and is set to be a big day for some of the best cricketers in the world. However, over the years, the audience has not seen the biggest Indian players part of the pool as they have been retained by their top teams.
Virat Kohli has never been part of the auction and remains the only player to play all 17 seasons of the league for the same franchise. MS Dhoni put his name in the hat only in the first-ever IPL auction in 2008, when he became the highest-paid player in the league. Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya were last part of the auction in 2011, 2014, and 2015, respectively.
However, the 2025 auction could be different story as some top players could be part of the auction pool due to the retention rules being framed in such a way and players looking to secure a better deal.
So what if every player decided to be part of the auction instead of being retained? How much would they like to earn? Here is our prediction:
Also Read: IPL 2025 Retention List: Rule Change Set To Force Pant, Shreyas, Arshdeep, Kuldeep Into Auction Pool: Report
Jasprit Bumrah – Rs. 30 Crore
There is no doubt that if Jasprit Bumrah is part of the auction pool, he will break all records as a bowler like him has no substitute across the world. The star pacer has the ability to win matches and could captain a team. The Rs. 24.75 crore bid for Mitchell Starc last year showed how deep into their pockets teams are ready to go in order to get the best pacer in the world in their ranks. If Bumrah decides to leave Mumbai Indians and enter the auction, he could easily become IPL's first-ever Rs. 30 crore player.
Virat Kohli – Rs. 25 Crore
Virat Kohli might have retired from T20I cricket, but he remains the biggest brand in cricket. As far as his performances with the go, he won the orange cap last year for an incredible season that saw him score 741 runs at a strike-rate above 150. No team in the world will not want to have Kohli in their ranks, and a bid of anything less than Rs. 25 crore will be surprising.
Rohit Sharma – Rs. 22 Crore
Rohit Sharma might have retired from T20Is and might not have the most productive run with the bat in recent years in the IPL but he is among the most popular cricketers in the world and there are hardly any leaders as good as him. Rohit is the joint most successful captain in IPL history as well as T20 World Cup-winning skipper.
Hardik Pandya – Rs. 27 Crore
Few players around the world offer the package that Hardik Pandya does. Not only is he among the most destructive lower-order batters in world cricket, but he is also a handy pacer, who is a reliable four-over bowler in various situations as well as one of the best fielders around the globe. Pandya is also an IPL-winning captain and could become the highest-paid player in the league's history.
MS Dhoni – Rs. 20 Crore
MS Dhoni is yet to confirm if he will play IPL 2025 or not, and he might be in the sunset of his career, but if he enters the auction pool, he is likely to have interest from all 10 franchises. While Dhoni might have batted lower down the order in the 2024 season, he still had a huge impact despite batting for a few balls in every match. Not to forget, his captaincy and wicketkeeping still remain top-notch. Dhoni's presence in any team is set to ensure any team's brand value will skyrocket.
KL Rahul – Rs. 17 Crore
KL Rahul is likely to leave Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and enter the auction pool if reports are to be believed. While his stock has fallen significantly in the last three seasons as a T20I player with major concerns over his strike-rate, there are few players like Rahul in the pool as a top-order Indian batter, wicket-keeper as well as a captaincy option which should mean he is among the most in-demand players.
Shreyas Iyer- Rs. 15 Crore
Despite being the only captain to take Delhi Capitals (DC) to an IPL final and the skipper, who led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the title in the 2024 season, Shreyas Iyer could find himself in the auction pool once again. With many teams in search of a captain, the 29-year-old will be in high demand. However, doubts over his T20I batting could reduce his price.
Also Read: Rohit Stays For Rs. 14 Crore, Dhoni Takes 66% Pay Cut; KL Rahul Out! IPL 2025 Likely Retentions For Each Team
Rishabh Pant – Rs, 22 Crore
Rishabh Pant's future at Delhi Capitals (DC) has come into major doubt with a cryptic tweet adding spark to speculation. If Pant does enter the auction pool, there should be no shortage of suitors for him being India's premier wicket-keeping batter and one of the better captains going around. Pant's international record in T20Is might not be great but his IPL record with the bat is brilliant with 3284 runs at an average of 35.31 at a strike-rate of 148.93.
Sanju Samson – Rs. 20 Crore
Like Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson offers a captaincy option as well as wicketkeeper-batter, who is capable of batting in multiple positions. As among the most popular Indian players, Samson is set to generate interest from across the room.
Arshdeep Singh – Rs. 20 Crore
As already established, pacers are set to earn a premium in the auction and top Indian fast-bowlers to fancy a big day. Arshdeep Singh offers rare utility as a left-arm pacer and will be in huge demand. His incredible display in India's 2024 T20 World Cup-winning campaign has put his stock at an all-time high.
Mohammed Siraj – Rs. 15 Crore
While Mohammed Siraj has blown hot and cold in recent times, especially in T20I cricket, there are few Indian pacers with his pedigree and quality which should ensure a big payday for him.
Kuldeep Yadav – Rs. 10 Crore
Kuldeep Yadav is by far the best Indian wrist spinner and there should be no shortage of interest with him as every team searches for high-quality wicket-taking bowlers. However, spinners generally do not get bids as high as top batters, pacers, or all-rounders.
Ravindra Jadeja – Rs. 15 Crore
Ravindra Jadeja is India's premium all-rounder and it is hard to match the package he provides with bat, bowl, and on the field. However, Jadeja has retired from international cricket in the shortest format and recent debates over his utility in the T20 format could have an adverse impact.
Axar Patel – Rs. 17 Crore
Axar Patel was among India's most important players in the T20 World Cup, with him excelling in all three departs in crunch moments. As far as the T20I format is concerned, he is at the top of his game and providing value, which is hard to match for any player across the nation.
Suryakumar Yadav – Rs. 23 Crore
Alongside Heinrich Klaasen and Nicholas Pooran, Suryakumar Yadav is the best T20I batter in the world. His consistent ability to get big scores in tough situations with a high strike rate is a value hard to match across the world and should make him the top commodity in the auction. Not to forget, Suryakumar is the Indian T20I captain, making him a sure-shot captaincy option for any team that buys him.
Yuzvendra Chahal – Rs. 8 Crore
Yuzvendra Chahal is IPL's highest wicket-taker in history as well as the leading wicket-taker for both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals (RR). His consistent ability to be a wicket-taker with the ball is set to ensure he is a player who generates interest from across the table, but his value might take a beating due to his exile from the Indian team.
Ravichandran Ashwin – Rs. 7 Crore
Ravichandran Ashwin is India's one of the greatest-ever cricketers, especially in Test cricket, and over the years, he has been among the finest bowlers in the IPL. Although off-spinners have gone out of fashion in white-ball cricket, Ashwin has found a way to remain a bowler that is handy for his team over the years in the IPL. His batting has continued to improve in the shortest format with his stunning display in the TNPL proof of it.