The Indian Premier League (IPL) is preparing for its much anticipated big auction, which will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 to 25. This marks only the second time the IPL auction is being held outside India, following the 2024 event in Dubai.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finalized a pool of 366 Indian players and 208 overseas cricketers for this year’s auction. Star players like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Jos Buttler, and Shreyas Iyer are expected to be at the center of intense bidding wars as teams aim to secure top talent.
Also Read: Pant and Rahul Draw Massive Bids in IPL 2025 Auction Mock-up
In the initial years, IPL auctions were conducted in US dollars. During the inaugural season in 2008, total spending by teams reached $36.43 million. Over the next five editions, expenditures ranged from $3.65 million in 2010 to $62.775 million in 2011. From 2014 onwards, the currency shifted to Indian Rupees. The spending during this period showcased the league’s growing extravagance, with ₹262.6 crore spent in 2014 and peaking at ₹431 crore in 2018. Despite disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, expenditures continued to rise, reaching ₹551.7 crore in 2022 and ₹230.45 crore in 2024.
The auction will begin at 3:30 PM IST, starting with the Marquee Sets, and will proceed until 5 PM IST. After a 45-minute break, the session will resume at 5:45 PM IST and conclude by 10:30 PM IST.
Mallika Sagar will return as the auctioneer for this year’s IPL mega auction, continuing her leadership from previous editions.
