Wednesday, 01 January 2025
Wednesday, 01 January 2025
The Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions have always captivated global attention and this year's mega auction, held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24-25, is no different.
Despite several recent changes in the rules of the tournament, the overseas player rule remains unchanged - teams can field four overseas players in their playing eleven. This puts a premium on Indian players, making their role crucial to a team’s success.
The Telegraph Online takes a look at five Indian stars who are likely to spark intense bidding wars and emerge as key assets ahead of the much anticipated auction.
Rishabh Pant - which team will match his true value
Rishabh Pant has emerged as one of the most surprising releases ahead of the mega auction in Jeddah. The 27-year-old, who captained the Delhi Capitals during the 2021 and 2022 IPL seasons, is set to be a hot commodity. Franchises like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders—each in search of a captain—will have Pant at the top of their wishlist.
Pant's skillset fills a critical gap for many teams as a wicketkeeper-batter with a knack for turning games on their head. He had a stellar IPL 2024 campaign for the Capitals, scoring 446 runs at a sensational strike rate of 155.40, further solidifying his status as one of the tournament's most impactful players.
With Delhi Capitals holding the option to retain him using the Right to Match (RTM) card, Pant remains a valuable asset. As a proven match-winner, a potential leader, and a fan favorite, his presence is bound to ignite fierce bidding wars.
Arshdeep Singh - the Yorker king
Since IPL 2022, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (64) and T Natarajan (61) have delivered more yorkers in death overs than Arshdeep Singh, who has bowled 50. With his remarkable consistency, he has cemented his place as a key figure in India’s T20 combination. Arshdeep has represented India in 59 T20Is, taking 95 wickets at an outstanding average of 18.47.
In terms of yorkers, his economy rate of 5.76 is higher than Jasprit Bumrah's 5.38, making him one of the most effective bowlers in the death overs. Earlier this year, Arshdeep played a pivotal role in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, claiming 17 wickets in eight matches at a sensational average of 12.47. Since his debut in 2022, he has emerged as India’s most successful pacer in T20Is and the second-highest wicket-taker overall.
Arshdeep is expected to be one of the most sought-after players in upcoming auctions.
Shreyas Iyer - IPL 2024 winning captain
The 29-year-old enters the auction as one of the most anticipated players, with multiple franchises eyeing potential captains. Among the frontrunners for leadership roles is Shreyas Iyer, who, like Rishabh Pant, is expected to draw significant interest. Iyer had led KKR to an IPL title last season.
A dependable middle-order batter, Iyer has scored 3,127 runs in 115 matches at an average of 32.27, including 21 half-centuries.
As a captain, Iyer's record is equally impressive. In 70 matches at the helm, he has secured 38 wins and suffered 29 losses, translating to a win rate of 54%—one of the most consistent in IPL history.
KL Rahul - the struggle for glory
KL Rahul, despite facing a dip in form in the international circuit, has cemented his reputation as a dependable batter and an astute leader. Under his captaincy, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) reached the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023. Since 2018, Rahul has scored over 500 runs in six IPL seasons. The only exception was in 2023 when a quadricep injury sidelined him for the second half of LSG’s campaign. In 2022, he made headlines by moving to LSG for a record-breaking ₹17 crore.
With 3,582 IPL runs at an impressive average of 45.47, including four centuries and 37 fifties, Rahul remains one of the most dependable players in the league, and his availability could spark an intense bidding war.
Ravichandran Ashwin - the veteran all-rounder
With 212 IPL matches to his name, Ravichandran Ashwin stands as the most experienced player heading into the upcoming mega auction. Despite being in the twilight of his career, Ashwin’s vast experience as a spinner and his ability to deliver crucial knocks in the middle order make him a prime contender to attract significant bids from franchises. The off-spinner will feature in Set 4, which includes capped all-rounders.
Ashwin, who represented Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the previous auction cycle, has registered himself with a base price of ₹2 crore. Renowned for his unparalleled prowess as a spinner, he also remains a reliable lower-order batter. RR will be unable to retain the veteran using the RTM (Right to Match) card, having already utilized all six retention spots.
A natural fit for the number eight position, Ashwin brings the rare combination of consistently delivering his four overs while contributing valuable runs down the order—qualities any franchise would covet in their arsenal.
