Picking the most expensive playing 11 with impact sub from IPL 2025 Auction ft. Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer
The two-day IPL 2025 mega auction wrapped up on Monday, November 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking a historic event as players were sold at record prices. According to data from the official website, a total of 182 players were bought, including 62 overseas players, with a total expenditure of ₹639.15 crore. Additionally, eight Right to Match (RTM) options were exercised to retain players.
Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant emerged as the most expensive purchase, sold to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for ₹27 crore. Shreyas Iyer followed closely, moving to Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore, making him the second-highest-priced player.
With all teams now finalized and several big names added to their rosters, anticipation is building for the IPL 2025 season, which is set to begin on March 14, 2025. However, before that, let’s take a look at the most expensive playing XI with impact substitutes from the IPL 2025 auction.
Top Order: KL Rahul (₹14 crore), Jos Buttler (₹15.75 crore), Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore)
Opening the batting will be Indian cricketer KL Rahul and England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler. Rahul and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) parted ways ahead of the 2025 mega auction, and now the Karnataka player will represent Delhi Capitals. Rahul has an impressive IPL record, having scored 4,683 runs in 132 matches at an average of 45.47, with a strike rate of 134.61, including 37 fifties and four centuries.
Meanwhile, joining Rahul at the top of the order in the most expensive playing XI from the IPL 2025 auction is Jos Buttler. In a surprising move, Rajasthan Royals opted not to retain the English player, and Buttler will now play for Gujarat Titans (GT). The 34-year-old was bought by GT for ₹15.75 crore and boasts an outstanding IPL career. He has scored 3,582 runs in 107 matches, with 19 fifties and seven centuries to his name.
At No. 3 will be Venkatesh Iyer. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player saw his salary soar from ₹8 crore to ₹23.75 crore, making him the third-most expensive player in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The Madhya Pradesh cricketer is expected to captain the three-time champions in the 2025 season. Iyer has an impressive IPL record, having scored 1,326 runs in 51 matches, including 11 fifties and one century.
Middle-order and all-rounders: Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75 crore), Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore), Marcus Stoinis (₹11 crore)
Shreyas Iyer led KKR to their third IPL title in the 2024 season but parted ways with the team ahead of the 2025 season. He became the second-most expensive player in IPL history, sold to Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore. The stylish right-hander will also captain the most expensive playing XI from the IPL 2025 auction. Iyer has played 116 matches, scoring 3,127 runs, including 21 fifties.
Next in line is Rishabh Pant, who became the most expensive purchase at ₹27 crore when he was sold to Lucknow Super Giants. After making his IPL debut in 2016 with Delhi Capitals, the left-hander remained with the franchise until 2024.
However, he decided to part ways and will now play for LSG. Pant has a solid IPL record, having scored 3,284 runs in 111 matches, including 18 fifties and one century.
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis will bat at No. 5 in the middle order. The 35-year-old was bought by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for ₹11 crore, a franchise where he made his IPL debut in 2016 and played until 2018. Stoinis has featured in 96 IPL matches, scoring 1,866 runs, including nine fifties and one century. Additionally, he has taken 43 wickets.
Bowlers: Jofra Archer (₹12.25 crore), Arshdeep Singh (₹18 crore), Yuzvendra Chahal (₹18 crore), Mohammed Siraj (₹12.25 crore), Trent Boult (₹12.50 crore)
England’s Jofra Archer became Rajasthan Royals' most expensive signing, purchased for ₹12.25 crore. Archer made his IPL debut with the Royals in 2018 and will now be rejoining the franchise. The 29-year-old has played 35 IPL matches, taking 46 wickets.
Although Punjab Kings did not retain him, they used their Right to Match card to re-sign Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore. The left-arm pacer made his IPL debut in 2019 and has since been a consistent presence with the franchise, taking 76 wickets in 65 matches.
Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal saw a significant salary rise, moving from ₹6.5 crore to ₹18 crore as he was acquired by Punjab Kings. Chahal had been a consistent performer for Rajasthan Royals over the past three seasons, but the franchise decided to release him.
Now, he joins Punjab Kings as the most expensive spinner in IPL history. The 34-year-old is the highest wicket-taker in the tournament's history, with 205 scalps from 160 matches.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) opted not to retain Mohammed Siraj and did not use their Right to Match card. The 30-year-old pacer was subsequently bought by Gujarat Titans for ₹12.25 crore. The right-arm fast bowler has taken 93 wickets in as many IPL matches.
In exciting news for Mumbai Indians fans, Trent Boult will reunite with Jasprit Bumrah in their bowling attack. The New Zealand pacer was bought for ₹12.50 crore, having previously played two seasons for MI, where he took 38 wickets in 29 matches. Overall, the left-arm pacer has claimed 121 wickets in 104 IPL games.
Impact player: Ishan Kishan (₹11.25 crore)
Ishan Kishan will be the impact player in the most expensive playing XI from the IPL 2025 auction. The dynamic batter was acquired by SunRisers Hyderabad for ₹11.25 crore. The 26-year-old has featured in 105 matches, scoring 2,644 runs, including 16 half-centuries.