10 big names released by franchises ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction ft. Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant
All 10 Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises submitted the list of their retained players on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
While most franchises have looked to retain their core team and star players, some have released big players ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The said releases have opened up the purses of the franchises but it remains to be seen if the void can be filled. On the other hand, it is exciting times ahead for fans to see their star players playing for another franchise in IPL 2025.
On that note, here is a look at 10 big names released by franchises ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction:
#1 Shreyas Iyer
Iyer guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to glory during IPL 2024. He was sharp with his leadership skills and brought out the best in the team.
In 28 innings for KKR with the bat, he has a strike rate of 140.04 and an average of 34.18. He is a handy batter in the middle order and has displayed good leadership skills.
Iyer could raise a few bidding wars during the IPL 2025 auction and could be one of the costliest picks.
#2 Rishabh Pant
Pant has played all of his 111 IPL matches for the Delhi franchise and has been an integral part of the team since 2016. He has an astounding strike rate of almost 149 and is a dangerous batter once he gets his eye in.
Pant captained Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 and scored 446 runs at an average of 40.55. He is a safe keeper and an experienced campaigner.
The 27-year-old has been released by Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2025 and could attract bids from a few franchises during the IPL 2025 auction.
#3 KL Rahul
Rahul has parted his ways with Lucknow Super Giants before the IPL 2025 auction. He captained the said franchise during the last three seasons and the team qualified for the playoffs in IPL 2022 and 2023 under his captaincy.
In the last seven IPL seasons, Rahul has crossed the 500-run mark in six seasons and has been a consistent run-getter for his team. He also keeps wickets in the IPL which adds to his value. Now that Rahul has been released by the Lucknow Super Giants, he could be in demand during the auction considering that a few teams would be looking for a captain ahead of IPL 2025 and Rahul fits the bill perfectly.
#4 Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell is a three-dimensional player in the shortest format. His aggressive batting skills, his ability to pick up wickets with the ball, especially in the power play overs and his heroics in the field, make him a complete package in the shortest format.
Over 129 IPL innings, Maxwell has an astounding strike rate of 156.73 with the bat and has won many matches single-handedly for his team. He has also picked up 37 IPL wickets and is more than a handy off-spinner.
Maxwell is one player Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) may regret letting go of unless the franchise utilizes the RTM option during the auction.
#5 Mohammed Siraj
Siraj is one of India's main strike bowlers in the shortest format. He has also been an integral part of the RCB franchise over the years.
In eight IPL seasons, Siraj has bagged 93 wickets at an average of 30.34 and an economy rate of 8.65. He played seven seasons for RCB and the franchise has witnessed the growth and maturity of Siraj as a bowler.
RCB have retained just three players ahead of the IPL 2025 auction and surprisingly have let Siraj go ahead of the mega auction.
#6 Yuzvendra Chahal
The 2022 Purple Cap holder will not be a part of the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Chahal is the highest wicket-taker (205) in the history of the IPL.
He has picked up 66 wickets in the last three IPL seasons and has tasted stupendous success with Rajasthan Royals.
Wrist spinners are in high demand in the shortest format and Chahal could be one of the most sought-after players in IPL 2025. His experience and ability of picking up wickets in the middle overs will be missed by the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024.
#7 Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians team over the years. The franchise retained Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma ahead of the IPL 2025 action. The franchise has let go of Kishan ahead of the auction.
Kishan is an aggressive batter at the top of the order and his keeping skills add to his value in the team.
Kishan had an ordinary IPL 2024 and averaged under 23 with the bat. It remains to be seen if Mumbai Indians bid for him in the auction.
#8 Quinton de Kock
The South African keeper-batter has an impressive record in the IPL at the top of the order. In 107 innings, he has scored 3157 runs at an average of 31.26 and a strike rate of 134.23.
Quinton de Kock scored three half-centuries for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024 and played well at the top of the order. He is an experienced player and has tasted success on Indian pitches in the past.
Quinton de Kock is one of the big names released ahead of the IPL 2025 auction and could be in great demand in the mega auction.
#9 Arshdeep Singh
The left-handed pacer has been a part of the Punjab franchise since 2019. In six IPL seasons, Singh has bagged 76 wickets at an average of 27 and an economy rate of 9.03.
Singh has been a much-improved bowler in the past couple of seasons and is now a vital part of the Indian T20I team. He played a crucial role in India's triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024.
The pacer picked up 19 wickets for Punjab Kings in IPL 2024 and was their strike bowler for the past couple of seasons. He is known for his exceptional death bowling skills.
Punjab Kings retained only two uncapped players viz, Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, and have surprisingly let go of their star pacer ahead of the IPL 2025 auction.
#10 Jos Buttler
England's white-ball skipper was surprisingly not retained by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2025 auctions.
Buttler has been an integral part of the team's top order over the past few IPL seasons and more often than not, he got his team off to flying starts. He formed a formidable opening partnership with the young Yashasvi Jaiswal and the duo complemented each other very well.
Buttler won the Orange Cup in IPL 2022, scoring 863 runs that included four centuries and four half-centuries. He had a decent IPL 2024, averaging 39.89 with the bat and had an impressive strike rate of 140.78. He also scored two centuries in IPL 2024.
It is therefore surprising that the franchise has let go of the star batter ahead of the auctions. Buttler is likely to be in high demand during the auction and should have a few franchises bidding for him.