The Indian Premier League IPL 2025 mega auction, held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, set the stage for a series of record-breaking bids. Rishabh Pant emerged as the most expensive player, acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for an astounding ₹27 crores. Close on his heels, Shreyas Iyer fetched ₹26.75 crores, joining the Punjab Kings.
Amidst the dazzling bids and headline-grabbing deals, several franchises adopted a more strategic and calculated approach, showcasing their shrewdness at the auction table.
5. Gerald Coetzee – 2.40 Cr to Gujarat Titans
The South African bowling all-rounder was acquired by Gujarat Titans for under 3 crores. While he may serve as a backup to Kagiso Rabada, his inclusion is a smart move for the GT squad.
Coetzee made a name for himself in 2023 with standout performances in the SA20, for South Africa, and during the 2024 IPL season with Mumbai Indians. Known for his passion and relentless bowling, he gives his all for the team.
In 64 T20 matches, Coetzee has taken 86 wickets at an average of 21.56 and an economy rate of 8.62. During IPL 2024, he claimed 13 wickets in 10 matches, with an average of 26.23.
4. Lockie Ferguson – 2.00 Cr to Punjab Kings
The Kiwi express pacer is currently in the form of his life. In T20s in 2024, including international matches, he has claimed 44 wickets in 27 games, boasting an impressive average of 15.63 and an economy rate of 7.0.
Earlier this year, he made history by becoming the fifth New Zealand bowler to take a hat-trick in T20Is. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, he also delivered a stunning performance, finishing with figures of 3/0 in his 4 overs.
What makes his story even more remarkable is that Punjab Kings secured him for just a base price of ₹2 crore, a move that took even the PBKS owners by surprise given how quickly and strategically the acquisition was made.
3. Washington Sundar – 3.20 Cr to Gujarat Titans
The Tamil Nadu all-rounder, whose fortunes turned after his standout performance in the New Zealand Test series, was widely expected to attract significant bids at the auction.
However, Gujarat Titans made a shrewd move by securing him at a bargain price, recognizing his skill to bowl effectively during the powerplay and middle overs, making it tough for batters to score.
In addition to his bowling prowess, he is a dependable middle-order batter, capable of building solid partnerships for GT alongside fellow Tamil Nadu players Sai Sudharsan and Shahrukh Khan.
2. Sam Curran – 2.40 Cr to Chennai Super Kings
Curran’s potential to add value in both batting and bowling is immense. Even though he has faced a dip in form recently, CSK managed to get the best out of him during his previous stint. With the same setup in place, expectations remain high for another successful season!
1. Will Jacks – 5.25 Cr to Mumbai Indians
The England international, who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2024, was selected later in the mega auction. RCB, having already acquired Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone, essentially replaced Jacks in their top order, leading them to not use a Right to Match (RTM) on him. With many franchises’ purses stretched thin, Mumbai Indians made a late bid and secured him. At MI, he is expected to partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the order at Wankhede and provide a useful off-spin option as well.
