Punjab Kings acquire Yuzvendra Chahal for whopping INR 18 crore in IPL 2025 Auction
After a fierce bidding war, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) have acquired the services of Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for a staggering INR 18 crore, making him the most expensive Indian spinner in IPL history. The 2025 IPL mega auction is taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
While the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were keen to re-sign their former spinner, it was the Punjab Kings and the SunRisers Hyderabad who went head-to-head in a tense bidding battle for the 34-year-old.
Ultimately, the Punjab Kings, who had already retained Arshdeep Singh through the Right to Match (INR 18 crore) and purchased Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crore, managed to secure the spinner.
Chahal was a key player for Rajasthan Royals over the past three seasons, delivering outstanding performances with 66 wickets in 46 matches. His best season came in 2022, when he claimed 27 wickets in 17 games, winning the Purple Cap and playing a pivotal role in leading his team to the final.
However, the Rajasthan Royals were defeated by Gujarat Titans in the final by seven wickets. Despite his strong performances, the franchise decided to release him, and now the spin wizard will be donning the Punjab Kings jersey.
Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history
The 34-year-old is the all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history, and the only bowler to have taken more than 200 wickets. Chahal has played 160 IPL matches, claiming 205 wickets, including six four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.
The Haryana cricketer is also India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, with 96 wickets in 80 matches, including a five-wicket haul. He was also part of the squad that triumphed in the 2024 T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma's captaincy.
Recently, on Saturday, November 23, he displayed his outstanding form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 while representing Haryana. The leg-spinner claimed four wickets and gave up only nine runs in his four-over spell against Manipur, playing a key role in Haryana's eight-wicket victory.