As the IPL 2025 mega auction comes close, teams will be looking to build tournament winning squad comprising a combination of experience, youth, Indians and overseas players.
On the day of the retentions, there were a few surprises as teams left out top overseas batters like Jos Buttler and David Miller
Here is a look at seven batters who might go for a big amount in the auction that will be held on 24 and 25 November at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Jos Buttler
England white-ball captain Jos Buttler will likely be one of the hottest picks in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The 34-year-old brings multiple facets to the table, including leadership, wicketkeeping and a gun batter.
Considered as one of the best white ball batters of the generation, Buttler’s best IPL season came in 2022. He scored 863 runs in 17 matches, including four hundreds that year, taking the Rajasthan Royals into the final of the tournament.
Buttler has scored 3,582 runs in 107 IPL matches, including seven centuries and 19 half centuries.
With four teams desperately needing captains, and more teams needing a wicket-keeper who can bat at the top of the order, Buttler will be on the radar of teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings.
Jake Fraser-McGurk
Jake Fraser-McGurk, the young Australian batter set IPL 2024 on fire with his fearless batting at the top of the order for Delhi Capitals. In the nine matches that he played, he scored 330 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 234. He had four half centuries with a highest score of 84.
Though Fraser-McGurk could not replicate his heroics for Australia in the limited internationals opportunities that he has got, he has still scored at a strike rate of over 150 in both ODIs and T20Is.
The 22-year-old could also be considered as a long term investment for teams requiring an explosive opener. A bidding war between several teams is expected when the player’s name comes up. DC could also use the Right to Match Card on Fraser-McGurk.
Harry Brook
Harry Brook is a 25-year-old batter from England. He is termed as the next big thing in English cricket and has scored heaps of runs in T20s.
In 144 T20 matches across the globe, Brook has scored 3,358 runs at a strike rate of 150 and an average of 33. The batter could be the one that teams need to attack the bowlers in the middle overs.
He played 11 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2023 IPL, where he scored a century opening the innings. However, he struggled for runs for the rest of the season. Brook was picked by DC for the 2024 season, but pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons.
Brook himself will be keen to come good in the IPL, and teams would want a proactive middle order batter like him to keep the scorecard running in the middle overs.
Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra has become a superstar, especially in India. He was one of the key players for the Black Caps in last year’s World Cup and had a decent outing in this year’s T20 World Cup.
The top order batter, who started off as a left-arm spinner, has scored 1011 runs in T20s at a strike rate of 131.
Playing for Chennai Super Kings in the 2024 season, Ravindra scored 222 runs at a strike rate of over 160.
Teams looking for a stable top order batter will bid for the 25-year-old, especially after the way he played spin against India in the recently concluded Test series.
David Miller
David Miller has been a longstanding player for South Africa and in the IPL. Having made his debut in the 2012 IPL season, the 35-year-old has represented Punjab Kings (the Kings XI Punjab) and Gujarat Titans.
He has been a key finisher for the teams over the years and has chased down targets in pressure situations more often than not.
With vast experience and over 10,000 T20 runs across leagues and internationals, Miller is a dependable batter lower down the order. He also scores at a strike rate of 137.
Miller was the key for South Africa in the 2023 World Cup as he scored a century in the semi final. He also almost won the T20 World Cup for his country in the final.
Teams needing a dependable middle order batter and a finisher could bid high for Miller in the 2025 mega auction. GT can also use the Right to Match card on the South African.
Phil Salt
Phil Salt is another England wicketkeeper opener who scores at a brisk rate. Only 28-years-old, he has already played over 250 T20 matches and has scored over 6,000 runs at a strike rate of 155. He is also ranked number two in the ICC T20 batters list.
Last year, Salt joined Kolkata Knight Riders as an injury replacement and smashed 435 runs in only 12 matches at a strike rate exceeding 180. His partnership with Sunil Narine at the top was one of the many reasons the franchise won the championship.
Like Buttler, Salt too brings wicket-keeping, top order batting and captaincy to the table. His big hitting ability from the word go can fetch him some big bucks at the auction.
Devon Conway
Devon Conway, a late bloomer from New Zealand, has experience and composure as an opener. He has scored over 6,000 T20 runs in 187 matches at a strike rate of 129 and an average of 42.
He played for CSK for 2022 and 2023 scoring 924 runs. He had a stellar 2023 season, where he scored 672, leading the franchise to a trophy. He was ruled out of the IPL due to an injury in the 2024 season.
Conway is a solid player at the top of the order, who can play both spin and pace with ease. Like Ravindra, teams are looking for an experienced opener who can anchor the innings.
Recently, Conway played an important role in New Zealand’s Test series win against India.
On the day of the retentions, there were a few surprises as teams left out top overseas batters like Jos Buttler and David Miller
Here is a look at seven batters who might go for a big amount in the auction that will be held on 24 and 25 November at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Jos Buttler
England white-ball captain Jos Buttler will likely be one of the hottest picks in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The 34-year-old brings multiple facets to the table, including leadership, wicketkeeping and a gun batter.
Considered as one of the best white ball batters of the generation, Buttler’s best IPL season came in 2022. He scored 863 runs in 17 matches, including four hundreds that year, taking the Rajasthan Royals into the final of the tournament.
Buttler has scored 3,582 runs in 107 IPL matches, including seven centuries and 19 half centuries.
With four teams desperately needing captains, and more teams needing a wicket-keeper who can bat at the top of the order, Buttler will be on the radar of teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings.
Jake Fraser-McGurk
Jake Fraser-McGurk, the young Australian batter set IPL 2024 on fire with his fearless batting at the top of the order for Delhi Capitals. In the nine matches that he played, he scored 330 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 234. He had four half centuries with a highest score of 84.
Though Fraser-McGurk could not replicate his heroics for Australia in the limited internationals opportunities that he has got, he has still scored at a strike rate of over 150 in both ODIs and T20Is.
The 22-year-old could also be considered as a long term investment for teams requiring an explosive opener. A bidding war between several teams is expected when the player’s name comes up. DC could also use the Right to Match Card on Fraser-McGurk.
Harry Brook
Harry Brook is a 25-year-old batter from England. He is termed as the next big thing in English cricket and has scored heaps of runs in T20s.
In 144 T20 matches across the globe, Brook has scored 3,358 runs at a strike rate of 150 and an average of 33. The batter could be the one that teams need to attack the bowlers in the middle overs.
He played 11 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2023 IPL, where he scored a century opening the innings. However, he struggled for runs for the rest of the season. Brook was picked by DC for the 2024 season, but pulled out of the tournament due to personal reasons.
Brook himself will be keen to come good in the IPL, and teams would want a proactive middle order batter like him to keep the scorecard running in the middle overs.
Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra has become a superstar, especially in India. He was one of the key players for the Black Caps in last year’s World Cup and had a decent outing in this year’s T20 World Cup.
The top order batter, who started off as a left-arm spinner, has scored 1011 runs in T20s at a strike rate of 131.
Playing for Chennai Super Kings in the 2024 season, Ravindra scored 222 runs at a strike rate of over 160.
Teams looking for a stable top order batter will bid for the 25-year-old, especially after the way he played spin against India in the recently concluded Test series.
David Miller
David Miller has been a longstanding player for South Africa and in the IPL. Having made his debut in the 2012 IPL season, the 35-year-old has represented Punjab Kings (the Kings XI Punjab) and Gujarat Titans.
He has been a key finisher for the teams over the years and has chased down targets in pressure situations more often than not.
With vast experience and over 10,000 T20 runs across leagues and internationals, Miller is a dependable batter lower down the order. He also scores at a strike rate of 137.
Miller was the key for South Africa in the 2023 World Cup as he scored a century in the semi final. He also almost won the T20 World Cup for his country in the final.
Teams needing a dependable middle order batter and a finisher could bid high for Miller in the 2025 mega auction. GT can also use the Right to Match card on the South African.
Phil Salt
Phil Salt is another England wicketkeeper opener who scores at a brisk rate. Only 28-years-old, he has already played over 250 T20 matches and has scored over 6,000 runs at a strike rate of 155. He is also ranked number two in the ICC T20 batters list.
Last year, Salt joined Kolkata Knight Riders as an injury replacement and smashed 435 runs in only 12 matches at a strike rate exceeding 180. His partnership with Sunil Narine at the top was one of the many reasons the franchise won the championship.
Like Buttler, Salt too brings wicket-keeping, top order batting and captaincy to the table. His big hitting ability from the word go can fetch him some big bucks at the auction.
Devon Conway
Devon Conway, a late bloomer from New Zealand, has experience and composure as an opener. He has scored over 6,000 T20 runs in 187 matches at a strike rate of 129 and an average of 42.
He played for CSK for 2022 and 2023 scoring 924 runs. He had a stellar 2023 season, where he scored 672, leading the franchise to a trophy. He was ruled out of the IPL due to an injury in the 2024 season.
Conway is a solid player at the top of the order, who can play both spin and pace with ease. Like Ravindra, teams are looking for an experienced opener who can anchor the innings.
Recently, Conway played an important role in New Zealand’s Test series win against India.
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