The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Initially planned for Riyadh, the event has shifted to the Abady Al Johar Arena, sources from an internal email directed towards IPL stakeholders have reported.
The email details logistics and says, “The venue for the auction will be Abady Al Johar Arena, otherwise known as Benchmark Arena. Accommodation will be provided at the Hotel Shangri-la, which is located just 10 minutes from the auction venue. Our operations team will be in touch regarding visa and logistical requirements.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided on Tuesday that Jeddah would be the mega auction site. A total of 1,574 players registered for the mega auction, including 320 capped players, 1,224 uncapped players, and 30 players from Associate Nations.
The much-awaited IPL auction will coincide with the commencement of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia on November 22 in Perth. The broadcaster Disney Star, which has the rights to both events, wants to avoid any overlap of coverage. Given the time difference from Australia, the auction would probably be scheduled in the afternoon (IST) so that it does not conflict with the match.
The BCCI had considered holding this mega sporting event elsewhere, too—in Dubai, Singapore, and Vienna. The Board finally shortlisted Saudi Arabia as the place for the mega sporting extravaganza. Last month, delegations from BCCI visited potential venues in Saudi Arabia to scout logistics and accommodation options.
As the auction date nears, the level of interest among franchises has amplified the thrill of the preparation for the auctions of those prominent players. Key names that shall attract the most attention would include Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh, and Ishan Kishan, each of whom is strong in their T20 presentations with batting prowess, being a good leader and sharp fielding ability the most coveted abilities through which franchises want to find success in the 2025 season.
While some franchises have already confirmed the retention of players, these five stars will surely bring forth a huge bidding war. The franchises are playing with the wallet to utilize the full funds but retain the superstars. With Pant’s explosive wicket-keeping and batting skills and Iyer’s potential to emerge as a leader and a consistent bat like Rahul in the speedy climate of IPL, they add great value.
