Top 5 best steal deals at IPL 2025 mega auction

182 players were sold at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction was a highly compelling event as 182 cricketers, including 62 overseas, were sold in the two-day event that was hosted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

As expected, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer emerged as the biggest earners from the IPL 2025 mega auction, bagging deals worth INR 27 crores and INR 26.75 crores from Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings respectively.

One major shock was that Venkatesh Iyer was sold for INR 23.75 crores to Kolkata Knight Riders as the defending champions desperately wanted him back.

Further, there were a few big-name players who went for a lower price than perhaps what was anticipated for them by the fans. Some franchises were smart in picking the timing and were a bit lucky to get away match-winners at a cheaper rate than one would expect.

In this article, we will look at the five best steal deals of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Top 5 best steal deals at IPL 2025 mega auction:

5. Glenn Maxwell – INR 4.2 crores, PBKS

Although Glenn Maxwell and Punjab Kings had parted ways after IPL 2017 on terrible terms, the franchise respected his match-winning-ability and roped him back at the IPL 2025 mega auction. That also must have a lot to do with their new head coach, Australian Ricky Ponting.

Despite Maxwell’s poor IPL 2024 season – only 52 runs in 10 games – PBKS were happy to rope him in realizing that he is one of the most valuable assets in T20 cricket. The fact that Punjab managed to get him at INR 4.2 crores would please them further.

Maxwell has been part of the IPL since 2012 and has over 10,000 runs in T20 cricket at a strike rate of over 150. He is a serial T20 match-winner.

4. Rachin Ravindra – INR 4 crores, CSK

In Rachin Ravindra, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured an in-form player and someone they could retain for a long time.

The 25-year-old New Zealand all-rounder is averaging 47 across the three formats since October 2023 and has struck five centuries and seven fifties in 27 outings. During this period, he had a fabulous World Cup 2023 in India and a test series in India.

He was with CSK last season as well. He featured in 10 matches. While he averaged an ordinary 22, his strike rate of 160 was a testament to his fearlessness.

At the IPL 2025 mega auction, CSK used their RTM card on Rachin to grab him for INR 4 crores, which is a steal buy considering he is a young all-rounder. The fact that CSK used an RTM on Rachin tells you enough of the quality and potential of the youngster.

3. Washington Sundar – INR 3.2 crores, Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans won the bidding war with Lucknow Super Giants to purchase all-rounder Washington Sundar for INR 3.2 crores at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Sundar is the guy who played ahead of Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin in the recent test match in Perth against Australia. Sundar is the guy who has a batting average of 48 in test cricket, and a bowling average of 23 and economy of 6.87 in T20Is. He is also only 25 years old, can bowl in the powerplay, can open and also bat in the middle-order.

Getting an Indian player with such skillset and proven temperament for INR 3.2 crores is quite a steal for GT.

2. Faf du Plessis – INR 2 crores, Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals purchased former RCB and South Africa captain Faf du Plessis for only INR 2 crores, which was his base price.

It is one of the steals of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Du Plessis is a proven match-winner and one of the most experienced overseas players in the IPL, with 145 matches under his belt. He was a key cog in CSK winning the IPL 2018 and 2021 titles.

While his age of 40 might have been a deterrent for other franchises to bid for him. Du Plessis remains one of the fittest cricketers in the world and continues to take flying catches around the world.

1. Will Jacks – INR 5.25 crores, Mumbai Indians

Arguably, the steal of the IPL 2025 mega auction was Will Jacks, bought by Mumbai Indians (MI) for INR 5.25 crores. It could also be said it is only INR 5.25 crores.

The MI owners were so elated with Jacks’ acquisition that Akash Ambani got up from his seat and went over to RCB’s table to shake hands with their chairman Prathmesh Mishra as RCB didn’t use RTM on Jacks.

Jacks has emerged as one of the most powerful T20 hitters in the world and has become a first-choice player in England’s white-ball teams. In the IPL 2024 season, he was one of the main reasons for RCB’s turnaround as he smashed 230 runs in eight games at a strike rate of 175, including a century against Gujarat Titans.

Jacks also bowls handy off-spin which MI could use against left-handers.

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