IPL 2025 Auction: Teams break banks to bolster their bowling attack

Bowlers had great two days at the IPL 2025 auction as teams went hard for them on Sunday and Monday in Jeddah. Several pacers and spinners went for more than Rs 8 crore.

Both Indian and foreign bowlers were in demand, with pacers taking away most of the big money. Experienced spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin also got good money.

Indian veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and pacer Arshdeep Singh were sold for Rs 18 crore each to Punjab Kings, the most spent in this auction on a bowler. Chahal also became the most expensive spinner ever in the league. Other experienced Indian players like Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also saw their pockets swell with Rs 10 crore, Rs 12.25 crore and Rs 10.75 crore, respectively. Further, Indian legend Ravichandran Ashwin returned to for Rs 9 crore and will partner his spin-twin in Tests, Ravindra Jadeja.


Young Indian pacers Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan got Rs 9.50 crore and Rs 9.75 crore respectively. Harshal Patel, too, was paid Rs 8 crore on the first day. More youngsters found a fat paycheck on the second day. Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar and Akash Deep went for Rs 8 crore, 9.25 crore and Rs 8 crore, respectively. Rasikh Salam also sprung a surprise with Rs 6 crore.

Among the overseas bowlers, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, New Zealand bowler Trent Boult, and England fast bowler Jofra Archer, all three were sold for Rs 12.5 crore to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals, respectively.