Cricketer Jofra Archer has been signed by the Rajasthan Royals, making this the most expensive transaction in the IPL 2025 auction. The Punjab Kings splashed 26.75 Crore Indian Rupees to acquire the services of Shreyas Iyer, who led Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title. Other big names that were picked up include Rishabh Pant, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammad Siraj, and Devon Conway for record-breaking prices.
In a surprising move, Kolkata Knight Riders bought back Indian cricketer Venkatesh Iyer for a record-breaking price of Rs 23.75 crore in the IPL mega auction. Iyer, who has previously represented KKR, expressed his excitement to take on the captaincy challenge and lead the team to defend their championship title. The franchise's decision to choose Iyer over their previous 2024 winning captain Shreyas Iyer at the auction came as a shock to many, but Iyer is grateful for the trust and confidence shown in him by the team.
Despite the fierce competition between the two nations, the camaraderie between Indian debutant Harshit Rana and Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc during the Perth Test was a heartwarming moment. Starc's friendly jibe to Rana about his bowling speed brought a smile to the latter's face, highlighting the bond they formed while playing together for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. While Starc played a crucial role in KKR's title win with his impressive spells, Rana contributed to the team's success with 19 wickets. Their friendly banter on the field shows the growing camaraderie between players from different countries, breaking traditional rivalries.
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, two young cricketers from India, received their maiden Test caps in Perth, marking a significant moment in their careers. Nitish, known for his aggressive batting and impressive all-round performance, has already made a mark in the IPL and received a call-up for the national team. Harshit, recognized by Kolkata Knight Riders for his height and pace, has also impressed with his variations and all-round skills, making a successful domestic debut. As their journey continues, cricket fans eagerly look forward to the rise of these exciting young talents in Indian cricket.
With the IPL mega auction just around the corner, teams will be vying for top overseas players such as Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, Marco Jansen, Mitchell Marsh, and Liam Livingstone. Buttler's batting prowess and leadership qualities make him a hot commodity, while Starc's thunderbolts and left-arm angle could fetch him a big bid. Youngsters like Jansen and Livingstone also have a chance to land lucrative deals with their impressive T20 performances. It remains to be seen which team will come out on top in the bidding war for these players.
As the mega IPL auction draws near, all eyes are on some of the biggest names in Indian cricket who are expected to go for huge sums. Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, and Arshdeep Singh are all on the radar of several teams looking to strengthen their squads. But where will these players ultimately end up? Let's take a closer look at the potential destinations for them. Likely Destinations for Top Indian Players in the IPL 2024 Auction The IPL 2024 auction is set to be a star-studded affair, with some of the top Indian players up for grabs. Among them, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Ishan Kishan are expected to be the most sought-after players. With teams like Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Kolkata Knight Riders in the mix, it will be interesting to see who manages to secure these talented cricketers in the auction.
After a dominant performance by Seamer Spencer Johnson, Australia defeated Pakistan by 13 runs to claim the three-match T20I series 2-0. Pakistan struggled to chase down a target of 148 as Johnson claimed five wickets, including three in the top order. Despite a late counter-attack by Irfan Khan, Pakistan fell short and were dismissed for 134. Earlier, Australia had a strong start with their opening batsmen hitting boundaries and sixes, but Pakistan's Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi restricted them to 147-9. Ultimately, Australia's strong bowling performance proved to be the difference as they clinched the series.
In a nail-biting match, the Kolkata Knight Riders emerged victorious against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final match of the 2024 Indian Premier League. The two teams had battled it out in the Qualifier 1, with the Knight Riders having secured their spot in the finals. But the Sunrisers put up a strong fight, only to be narrowly defeated by the Knight Riders in the ultimate showdown. This marks the third IPL title win for the Kolkata Knight Riders, cementing their position as one of the top teams in the league.
On the tour of South Africa, middle-order batsman and medium-pace bowler Ramandeep Singh was rewarded with his maiden call-up to the Indian T20I squad. After being on the bench for the first two matches, he finally got to make his T20I debut in the third game at Centurion. Ramandeep's impressive performances in domestic and IPL cricket earned him a spot in the national team's lineup. His power-hitting lower down the order for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024 caught the attention of selectors and led to him being retained for the IPL 2025 season for a whopping INR 4 crores.
After being released from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction, Shreyas Iyer delivered a stunning unbeaten 152 off 164 balls for Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy 2024-25 game against Odisha. With fellow batsman Siddhesh Lad also remaining unbeaten on 116, Iyer and Lad's partnership of 231* runs for the fourth wicket was a highlight of the day. This performance by Iyer has raised questions about his exclusion from the KKR squad, with mixed reports about his absence from a previous game.