The 2025 IPL mega auction is over in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and all 10 franchises are set for the new season. Punjab Kings boasted the biggest purse, Rs 110.5 crore, going into the auction. The franchise retained only two players, wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh and all-rounder Shashank Singh, so they had much to fill at the auction.
Hits
Under head coach Ricky Ponting, the Punjab franchise’s biggest buy was the former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer for a staggering sum of Rs 26.75 crore. Iyer led KKR to the IPL 2024 title and is going to be the captaincy choice for Punjab, also bolstering their top-order batting. Iyer and Ponting who have previously worked together at Delhi Capitals (DC), are expected to deliver this time for Punjab and guide them to glory.
The PBKS management exercised their Right-to-Match (RTM) card on Arshdeep Singh and secured the services of the left-arm pacer for Rs 18 crore. They also roped in leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for the same amount, along with Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis for Rs 11 crore.
Both Arshdeep and Chahal are among the top wicket-takers from last season. Chahal in 15 matches took 18 wickets for Rajasthan Royals, with an economy of 9.41. Arshdeep picked up 19 wickets in 14 matches for PBKS.
The 35-year-old Aussie all-rounder, Stoinis, is one of the most experienced foreigners in the IPL, playing the tournament since 2016 for four different franchises. He started with Punjab, then played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and now he is back with PBKS. Under Australian head coach Ponting, Stoinis might be a regular choice for the team with a proven track record in middle-order batting and bowling as well, picking up 43 wickets in the IPL.
One of the most exciting buys for the side was Delhi boy Priyansh Arya, a T20 specialist, who might have been relatively unknown to many before this auction. In a fierce bidding war between RCB, DC and PBKS, the 25-year-old left-hand batter and right-arm off-break bowler bagged a purse of Rs 3.8 crore. Arya, in the inaugural season of Delhi Premier League scored 608 runs for South Delhi Superstarz and also hit six sixes in an over in a match, which garnered all attention to this explosive opener.
Misses
PBKS wanted Australian left-arm pacer, Spencer Johnson, who was with Gujarat Titans last season. KKR won the battle at Rs 2.6 crore.
To bolster their spin attack, PBKS wanted Tamil Nadu tweaker and former GT player Sai Kishore. At a base price of Rs 75 lakh, the bid was contested between GT, Sunrisers Hyderabad and PBKS, the Punjab side winning it for 90 lakh, but GT exercised their RTM. They raised the price to Rs 2 crore, but that didn’t let GT back out on their man. Kishore will be playing for GT in the IPL 2025.
Media watch
Speaking to Star Sports, PBKS head coach Ponting said: ”I think there are three most crucial things with a successful auction. One’s definitely making sure you stick to your strategy and not getting off that early on.”
He added: “I think being really calm and clear at the auction table is also a really important thing. And then communication on the day because, you know, you’re working with the analysts, you’re working with your owners.”
PBKS Squad
- Shreyas Iyer – ₹ 26.75 crore
- Arshdeep Singh – ₹ 18 crore
- Yuzvendra Chahal – ₹ 18 crore
- Marcus Stoinis – ₹ 11 crore
- Marco Jansen – ₹ 7 crore
- Priyansh Arya – ₹ 3.80 crore
- Josh Inglis – ₹ 2.60 crore
- Azmatullah Omarzai – ₹ 2.40 crore
- Vijaykumar Vyshak – ₹ 1.80 crore
- Yash Thakur – ₹ 1.60 crore
- Harpreet Brar – ₹ 1.50 crore
- Aaron Hardie – ₹ 1.25 crore
- Lockie Ferguson – ₹ 2 crore
- Nehal Wadhera – ₹ 4.20 crore
- Glenn Maxwell – ₹ 4.20 crore
- Kuldeep Sen – ₹ 80 lakh
- Xavier Bartlett – ₹ 80 lakh
- Vishnu Vinod – ₹ 95 lakh
- Musheer Khan – ₹ 30 lakh
- Suryansh Shedge – ₹ 30 lakh
- Harnoor Pannu – ₹ 30 lakh
- Pyla Avinash – ₹ 30 lakh
- Pravin Dubey – ₹ 30 lakh
- Shashank Singh – Retained (₹ 5.5 crore)
- Prabhsimran Singh – Retained (₹ 4 crore)