The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that the IPL 2025 mega auction will feature a dual marquee player format, a strategy last employed in 2014 and 2018. The auction is set to take place on November 24 and 25 at the Benchmark Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Each of the two marquee sets will include 8-9 elite players, with the BCCI looking to elevate competition among franchises eager to secure top talent.
Star-studded marquee lineup
The list of marquee players expected to draw high bids includes Indian superstars Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin, alongside international sensations Mitchell Starc and Jos Buttler. Each player in the marquee category has set a base price of INR 2 crore, with the franchises anticipated to spend between 30% to 50% of their auction budgets on these top-tier athletes.
Financial stakes and spending strategy
With a total purse of INR 641.5 crore available across franchises, bidding for marquee players is expected to be intense, with each franchise likely to spend around INR 20-25 crore on securing two marquee names. This will be a crucial allocation as franchises aim to build winning combinations while balancing their spending on other players throughout the auction.
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Auction preparations and dynamics
Franchises have been busy preparing for the auction, having had until November 12 to propose additional player names for consideration. A massive pool of 1,574 players, including both Indian and international talents, will be up for selection in the auction, giving franchises a vast array of options to structure their squads.
As teams strategize on their marquee picks and budget management, fans eagerly await what promises to be one of the most thrilling events in the IPL calendar. The unique setting in Jeddah and the dual marquee player format add to the excitement, making the IPL 2025 mega auction a pivotal moment for franchises to define their squads and championship aspirations.