Former Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Nitish Rana became the centre of attention on the second day of the IPL 2025 auction as Rajasthan Royals secured him for Rs 4.20 crore. Rana's inclusion adds depth and experience to the Royals' batting lineup as they aim for a championship title. Despite fierce competition from CSK and RCB, RR emerged victoriously in the bidding war for the reliable middle-order batter. Other notable moments from the auction include Washington Sundar's move to Gujarat Titans and Sam Curran's return to Chennai Super Kings.
Nitish Rana Joins Rajasthan Royals for a Stellar IPL 2025 Auction
Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Nitish Rana stole the limelight at the IPL 2025 auction, with Rajasthan Royals (RR) acquiring his services for a handsome INR 4.20 crore. Rana's arrival significantly bolsters the Royals' batting unit, bringing a wealth of experience and reliability to the middle order.
Despite intense competition from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), RR emerged victorious in the bidding war for the highly sought-after batter. His acquisition reflects the team's ambition to challenge for the elusive championship title this season.
Other Notable Auction Developments
In addition to Rana's move, the IPL auction witnessed several other notable developments:
Background on Nitish Rana
Nitish Rana, a left-handed batter and occasional right-arm off-spinner, rose through the ranks after an impressive domestic season in 2015-16. He made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2016 and has since represented KKR and Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).
Known for his aggressive strokeplay and ability to anchor innings, Rana has consistently posted impressive numbers in the IPL. In 101 matches, he has amassed 2,315 runs at an average of 29.20 and a strike rate of 138.09. He has also scalped 40 wickets at an economy rate of 7.83.
FAQs
Q1: Why was Nitish Rana released by KKR? A: KKR released Rana due to salary cap constraints and their desire to rebuild their team.
Q2: What are Rajasthan Royals' expectations for Nitish Rana? A: RR expects Rana to contribute significantly with the bat in the middle order and provide occasional off-spin bowling.
Q3: Which other players did Rajasthan Royals target at the auction? A: RR was also interested in acquiring Ben Stokes and Cameron Green, but they were outbid by other franchises.
Q4: Has Washington Sundar ever played for RR before? A: No, this is the first time Sundar will represent RR in the IPL.
Q5: When is the IPL 2025 season scheduled to begin? A: The IPL 2025 season is expected to commence in late March or early April.
CSK adds dynamic young bowler Anshul Kamboj to their squad with a whopping 3.4 crore bid at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The 24-year-old made headlines with his historic 10-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy and is known for his seam-bowling skills. Kamboj previously played for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024 and will now join forces with CSK in their bid for the IPL title.
With the IPL 2025 mega auction underway in Jeddah, the Mumbai Indians surprised many by only spending big on one player, New Zealand's Trent Boult. The defending champions, who have won the title five times in the past, bought only four players on the first day of the auction, indicating a strong faith in their current squad. The two-day auction will see 577 players up for grabs, with cricket fans eagerly following the moves of their favorite teams.
A heartwarming video of New Zealand cricketers Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra went viral on social media after Santner's impressive run-out of Indian batsman Rishabh Pant in the second Test at Pune. While Santner was responsible for taking 13 wickets in the game, Ravindra's display of affection towards the all-rounder added to the celebratory mood. The Black Caps are now in a dominant position with a 359-run target for India, who are on the verge of losing two consecutive home Tests.
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaches, all eyes are on Tim David, the Singapore-born cricketer known for his powerful batting. After a successful debut with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2021, David attracted bids from six franchises in the 2022 auction before ultimately securing a record deal with Mumbai Indians (MI). With a strike rate of 216.28 in his first season with MI, David has cemented his place as one of the top T20 batsmen in the world. However, after being released by MI in 2024, it remains to be seen which team will secure his services in the upcoming auction. Stay tuned for more updates.
After making his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2024, Will Jacks has emerged as a highly sought-after player in the league. His power-hitting ability and versatile batting skills have earned him a spot in Mumbai Indians (MI) for a whopping price of INR 5.25 crore in the IPL 2025 auction. Despite interest from other teams, MI managed to secure him after RCB chose not to use their RTM card. With his impressive performance and impact on the team, Jacks has become the talk of the town and will definitely be a player to watch out for in the upcoming season.
Al Ahli Saudi FC continued their unbeaten streak in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 season with a convincing 5-1 victory over Al Shorta from Iraq. Playing at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, the home team dominated from the start and secured their fourth win in a row. The impressive performance solidifies their spot at the top of the table and places them as strong contenders for the championship title.
In the third day of the Ranji Trophy 2014-15 Group A tie, a steady bowling performance from Swapnil Singh and Yusuf Pathan kept Railways at 251/7, trailing Baroda by 47 runs. Despite initial struggles with losing two openers early on, Railways managed to hold up a strong partnership of 77 runs between Arindam Ghosh and Rohan Bhosale. However, Baroda's careful line and length led by Swapnil and Yusuf, hampered Bhosale's progress and led to other key wickets being taken, dampening Railways' hopes. With a day of play left and only a 47-run deficit, both teams remain determined to secure a win.
In a major blow to Deepak Hooda's hopes of featuring in the IPL 2025 mega auction, the BCCI has added him to the list of players with suspected bowling action. This comes at an unfortunate time for the all-rounder who was recently released by his IPL team. While veteran batter Manish Pandey has been banned from bowling altogether, Hooda's situation is uncertain which raises doubts over his value as an all-rounder. With not many established names in the category of Indian batters who can also bowl, this turn of events puts Hooda's future in IPL at risk.
Indian pacer Anshul Kamboj, who made his IPL debut last season with Mumbai Indians, was snapped up by Chennai Super Kings at the mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The bidding war for Kamboj started with Delhi Capitals before Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians joined in, resulting in a record-breaking price of Rs 3.4 crore. The Super Kings successfully secured Kamboj's services for the upcoming IPL season.
In a highly competitive bidding war at the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah, Australian all-rounder Tim David was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for a whopping Rs. 3 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad initiated the bidding, but RCB quickly joined in and outbid them to secure David's services. This comes after he was released by Mumbai Indians earlier this year.