The IPL 2025 mega auction brought its fair share of surprises, with franchises showcasing bold strategies and making some unexpected picks. The significant increase in salary caps for a few players became the talk of the town, sparking intense bidding wars and raising eyebrows across the cricketing world. Here are the top five surprising picks from the auction:
1. Akash Deep – INR 8 Crore (Lucknow Super Giants)
The pacer, who had consistently been retained at a base price of INR 20 lakh by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), saw a staggering jump to INR 8 crore this season. An intense bidding war between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ultimately landed him with LSG. Despite having yet to debut for India in T20Is, Akash Deep showcased promise in the recent Test series against New Zealand. His IPL record, however, remains modest, with just 7 wickets in 8 innings at an economy of nearly 12. This made his high price a hot topic on social media, as fans speculated on the franchises’ faith in his potential rather than his past stats.
2. Jitesh Sharma – INR 11 Crore (RCB)
Known for his finishing abilities, Jitesh Sharma has been a consistent performer for Punjab Kings (PBKS). However, his performances in IPL 2024—187 runs in 12 matches—and his international stint (100 runs in 7 T20Is) were relatively underwhelming. Despite this, Jitesh’s auction saw a fierce battle between RCB and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), pushing his price to INR 7 crore. PBKS, determined to retain him, used their Right to Match (RTM) card and raised the bid to INR 11 crore, which RCB ultimately secured. The surprising RTM raise of INR 4 crore for a player with a dip in form left fans discussing whether Jitesh could live up to his price tag.
3. Rashik Salam Dhar – INR 6 Crore (Delhi Capitals)
Rashik Salam Dhar, with a base price of INR 30 lakh, saw his value skyrocket to INR 6 crore after an intense bidding war. Royal Challengers Bangalore initially bagged him for INR 2 crore, but Delhi Capitals exercised their RTM card, significantly raising his price. With just 9 wickets in 8 IPL matches and an economy nearing 11, Rashik’s price hike raised eyebrows, leaving fans questioning whether his domestic performances justified such a massive investment.
4. Vaibhav Suryavanshi – INR 1.1 Crore (Rajasthan Royals)
In a historic moment, 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player ever picked in the IPL. Known for his remarkable performances at the domestic level, Vaibhav’s selection in a league dominated by seasoned professionals and international stars was nothing short of sensational. Rajasthan Royals snapped him up for INR 1.1 crore after a brief but intense bidding war against Delhi Capitals. This move reflects the franchise’s focus on nurturing young talent and building for the future.
5. Venkatesh Iyer – INR 23.75 Crore (Kolkata Knight Riders)
In what was perhaps the most shocking moment of the auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spent a whopping INR 23.75 crore to bring back Venkatesh Iyer. Associated with KKR since his IPL debut in 2021 for a base price of INR 20 lakh, Iyer had been retained for INR 8 crore in 2022. Performing consistently for KKR, he earned a national call-up but failed to make a mark and was soon dropped after managing to score only 24 runs in 2 innings. Ahead of the 2025 mega auction, the franchise released Venkatesh. However, as the bidding began, the auction room witnessed an intense fight between RCB and his former franchise, KKR, which escalated his price to a whopping INR 23.75 crore—a massive increase in his salary cap. In his 49 IPL innings, he has scored 1,326 runs. While his performances have been commendable, fans were still shocked by the unexpectedly high bid he received at the auction.
These players not only highlight the unpredictable nature of the IPL auction but also emphasize how franchises value potential and specific team requirements over past records.