The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is set to be a crucial event for franchises looking to build their squads for the upcoming season. As teams prepare to form their rosters from scratch, uncapped players are expected to be in high demand.
IPL 2025 Mega Auction: The rise of uncapped Indian players
These emerging talents, who have not yet represented India at the international level, offer a wealth of potential and are seen as future stars of Indian cricket. With their affordable price tags and the opportunity to develop them into key players, uncapped players have become an integral part of IPL teams’ long-term strategies.
Uncapped players have consistently proven to be valuable assets in the IPL, with many franchises benefiting from taking a chance on raw talent. The upcoming auction will give these young players an opportunity to showcase their skills and aim for a breakthrough that could propel them into the national team. Here’s a closer look at some of the uncapped players who have impressed in domestic cricket and could attract significant bids at the IPL 2025 auction.
IPL 2025 Auction: 5 uncapped players who can cross the 5 crore mark
1. Nehal Wadhera: A Rising Star with Remarkable Batting Skills
Nehal Wadhera is an explosive left-handed batter who made his mark in IPL 2023 with Mumbai Indians (MI). Although his 2024 season did not go as planned, with three consecutive single-digit scores, his previous performances have shown that he is a talent to watch. In 2023, Wadhera impressed with his ability to stabilize the middle order and take the attack to the opposition, making crucial contributions during MI’s campaign.
Wadhera’s explosive batting was also on display in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023-24, where he played a pivotal role in Punjab’s title win. Despite a lackluster 2024 season, his batting power and potential make him an attractive prospect for many IPL franchises. His left-handed approach suits the demands of franchises looking to build a solid middle order, and MI, the team that initially nurtured him, may also look to repurchase him during the auction. Wadhera’s ability to turn the game around in the middle overs and his power-hitting capability will likely make him a highly sought-after player at the IPL 2025 auction.
2. Ashutosh Sharma: The Explosive Finisher
Ashutosh Sharma was one of the few positives for Punjab Kings (PBKS) during their forgettable IPL 2024 season. Known for his aggressive batting, Ashutosh has the ability to finish games with explosive cameos in the death overs. In his debut season, Ashutosh played 11 matches, scoring 189 runs with a highest score of 61. His strike rate, which hovered over 160, showcased his ability to accelerate the innings and provide the necessary momentum in the latter stages of the game.
Ashutosh’s natural ability to strike the ball cleanly, particularly in the final overs, makes him a valuable asset for teams looking to add a hard-hitting finisher to their squad. Despite not ending the 2024 season on a high note, his consistent performances throughout the season and his aggressive batting approach will ensure that he remains in demand at the auction. Teams seeking power-hitting depth are likely to place high bids on Ashutosh in the IPL 2025 auction.
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3. Swastik Chikara: The Power-Hitting Sensation
Swastik Chikara has been one of the standout performers in the UP T20 League 2024, where he scored a staggering 499 runs in just 12 matches. His performances for Meerut made him the highest run-scorer in the tournament, showcasing his exceptional talent and ability to dominate bowlers. With a strike rate of 191.56 and an average of 61.57, Chikara has proven that he can take on the best bowlers in the shortest format of the game.
Swastik’s batting prowess, including his ability to hit sixes and fours with ease, makes him an exciting prospect for IPL franchises looking for dynamic middle-order players. His 2024 domestic record also includes 1 century and 4 half-centuries, which highlights his consistency in scoring big runs. Chikara’s power-hitting style is well-suited to the fast-paced nature of IPL, and he is expected to draw significant interest from franchises.
His background in List A cricket, where he has accumulated 200 runs from 6 matches, further adds to his credibility as an all-rounder with the potential to deliver in various formats. IPL teams are likely to see Swastik Chikara as an excellent investment, especially considering his proven ability to perform under pressure in domestic competitions.
4. Sameer Rizvi: A Dynamic Middle-Order Batter
Sameer Rizvi, a 20-year-old right-handed batter, made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2024, where he showed glimpses of his explosive batting. Although Rizvi could not make a significant impact in his limited opportunities, his domestic form has been impressive. Known for his ability to attack the bowlers from the start, Rizvi is a player who can take the game away from the opposition in a matter of overs.
Rizvi’s performances in domestic cricket, particularly in middle-order roles, have established him as a promising talent. Despite limited IPL exposure, his aggressive playing style, which is well-suited for the middle order, makes him a key prospect for franchises looking to add depth to their batting line-ups. Given his familiarity with the CSK setup, it is possible that the franchise could bid for him again, but other teams are also likely to show interest in securing his services for IPL 2025. His ability to turn games with his dynamic batting makes him a valuable asset for any team.
5. Mahipal Lomror: An Upcoming All-Rounder with IPL Potential
Mahipal Lomror, the 24-year-old all-rounder, has been making waves in Indian domestic cricket with his remarkable performances. Despite his impressive IPL history, where he has accumulated 527 runs in 40 matches—including a solid 125 runs in the previous edition for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) – Lomror was released by RCB ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, his recent sensational display in the Ranji Trophy has put IPL franchises on high alert as they prepare for the upcoming auction on November 24-25 in Jeddah.
Lomror’s explosive form was on full display during his record-breaking triple century in a Ranji Trophy Group B match against Uttarakhand. Scoring an astonishing 300 runs off 357 balls, Lomror’s innings included a blistering 13 sixes and 25 fours, which not only displayed his exceptional batting technique but also his ability to dominate bowlers in longer formats. His strike rate of 83.33 was particularly impressive, showing his ability to maintain a high level of aggression without losing control over his shots.
This innings has surely caught the attention of IPL franchises, especially given his ability to score quickly and play a crucial role in both formats of the game. With his power-hitting and ability to perform under pressure, Lomror is now seen as a valuable asset for teams looking to add depth to their middle-order batting and all-round options.