IPL 2025 Auction: Bhuvneshwar Kumar Sold for INR 10.75 Crore as Bowlers Dominate Day Two
The second day of the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah witnessed intense bidding wars for fast bowlers, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) making the biggest splash by acquiring seasoned pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a whopping INR 10.75 crore (approximately USD 1.28 million). Bhuvneshwar, a proven performer in both the IPL and international cricket, emerged as the most expensive player sold on day two.
The demand for pace bowlers continued to dominate proceedings. Mumbai Indians (MI) secured Deepak Chahar for INR 9.25 crore (USD 1.10 million), while Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) went all out for Akash Deep, spending INR 8 crore (USD 0.95 million). Delhi Capitals (DC) also invested INR 8 crore in Mukesh Kumar, signaling a clear strategy to bolster their pace attack. Punjab Kings (PBKS) added South African allrounder Marco Jansen for INR 7 crore (USD 0.83 million), and Rajasthan Royals (RR) picked up Tushar Deshpande for INR 6.50 crore (USD 0.77 million).
Spin Allrounders in Focus
RCB and RR also engaged in an intense bidding war for Indian spin allrounders. RCB acquired Krunal Pandya for INR 5.75 crore (USD 0.68 million), while RR added Nitish Rana to their squad for INR 4.20 crore (USD 0.50 million).
Big Names Go Unsold
While some players commanded significant bids, several high-profile names surprisingly went unsold. Established stars like Shardul Thakur, Kane Williamson, Ajinkya Rahane, and Prithvi Shaw failed to find takers, even with competitive base prices. This trend continued from day one, where marquee players like David Warner and Jonny Bairstow also went unsold.
Record-Breaking Day One
Day one of the auction saw unprecedented records being shattered. Punjab Kings (PBKS) set the tone by purchasing Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crore, only to be outdone shortly after by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who signed Rishabh Pant for a staggering INR 27 crore. Both players became the most expensive buys in IPL history.
As the auction progresses, teams are clearly focusing on pace and versatility, with several more marquee players yet to go under the hammer. Day three promises more surprises and excitement as franchises finalize their squads for IPL 2025.
