Predicting the top 5 steals of IPL 2025 Auction ft. Mohammed Shami
The hammer is set to undergo a severe pounding as 574 of the world's best T20 players will find their destination for the next three years in the 2025 IPL Mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. While the intrigue around the marquee set is naturally the highest, the best teams on paper and eventually performance are the ones that make the most number of 'steals'.
Also called value buys, steals are players whose potential remains high but the projected performance is lower than before. This is usually the case when a highly-rated player is coming off an injury or a poor season or two, resulting in a decreased price value.
As the franchises and their owners wait with bated breath on how their squads take shape during the two-day auction, let us predict the top five steals of the IPL 2025 auction.
#1 Mohammed Shami
We live in a world where the latest thing you've done for me is the only thing you've done. From this point of view, ace pacer Mohammed Shami's value could be surprisingly low during the auction for his caliber.
An ankle injury has relegated him to the bench since the 2023 ODI World Cup until his recent return for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. Yet, when last seen, Shami set records for fun in the World Cup on seemingly unfavorable Indian pitches.
The 34-year-old was also the leading wicket-taker the last time he played the IPL in 2023 with 28 scalps, helping the Gujarat Titans (GT) finish runners-up.
Considering GT did not retain Shami as even the third option for ₹11 crores, all signs point to him being sold for a price in that range or below. Should that be the case, the franchise acquiring Shami's services could benefit massively if his form is similar to the one pre-injury.
#2 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Another veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar could fall in the 'low price-high value' bucket at the IPL 2025 auction. A two-time purple cap winner in the IPL, the 34-year-old has been out of favor with the Indian team over the last couple of years, thus reducing his value.
Yet, Bhuvneshwar's consistency with the new ball has predominantly been exemplary, including occasional match-winning spells. Even in a down year in IPL 2024, he picked up 11 wickets despite the Hyderabad pitches being among the highest-scoring in the league.
Bhuvaneshwar enjoyed a 16-wicket season in 2023 and while his stock has reduced considerably, a reliable new-ball Indian pacer will be worth its weight in gold.
#3 Devon Conway
New Zealand opener Devon Conway has endured a dismal 2024 with the bat across formats. While he missed the IPL due to injury, an average of 25 in 16 outings in international cricket does not paint a pretty picture.
Yet, the southpaw showed glimpses of returning to his best in the recent away Test series against India. Lest we forget, Conway was the central piece to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) title run in 2023 with a remarkable 672 runs at an average of 51.69 and a strike rate of almost 140.
With the ability to keep wickets and bat in multiple gears opening the batting, Conway could be a steal for one of the franchises in the auction.
#4 Ravichandran Ashwin
Champion Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin might be getting up there in age, yet his drive to deliver remains intact. The Tamil Nadu cricketer had a sub-par IPL 2024 season, by his high standards, picking up only nine wickets in 15 outings for the Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Yet, his batting average of 14 and the ability to bat at different stages of an innings might go unnoticed among the bidders, reducing his overall value.
As a bankable four-over bowler who can also roll his arm over in the powerplay, Ashwin still remains a force to be reckoned with. Add to that his batting versatility, his presence would add tremendous depth to any franchise despite his value seemingly on the decline.
#5 David Warner
Australia's David Warner seemed to have lost his usual dominance with the bat in the last two IPL seasons with strike rates in the low-to-mid 130s. Add to that his retirement from international cricket earlier this year and the 38-year-old might not fetch the big bucks at the upcoming auction.
Yet, Warner still knows the ins and outs of the IPL like very few overseas batters. He remains the all-time leading run-scorer among foreign batters in IPL history and even in his supposedly down seasons in 2023 and 2024, the southpaw almost 700 runs across 22 outings.
As the only three-time orange cap winner in IPL history and a former title-winning captain, Warner could add invaluable experience and expertise just with his presence to any of the ten franchises.