Rohit Sharma on being asked if England were rightly awarded the World Cup title in 2019
Copyright © 2024 Cricket Winner. All Rights Reserved.
Published Nov 29, 2024, 11:24 pm IST
The 2025 Indian Premier League Mega Auction ended with a record outlay of 182 players. The IPL mega auction generated much interest, especially among star players. Several uncapped players commanded high sums for their outstanding performances in domestic cricket and T20 competitions. These hefty bids show the franchises' focus on acquiring homegrown players capable of delivering impactful performances.
With the tournament's slogan being where talent meets opportunity, it would be intriguing to see how their calibre would unfold and have a robust chance to earn their maiden international call from the prestigious national side. Here's the list of the top five expensive uncapped players in the 2025 IPL Mega Auction.
Rasikh Salam Dar became the most expensive uncapped player during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Rasikh is primarily a new-ball bowler who can be efficient in the first six overs and a reliable death-over bowler due to his strong yorker and slower deliveries. The quick bowler was the top selection among uncapped players and was auctioned by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for INR 6 crore.
Dar is prominent for his lethal and devastating yorkers with the Delhi Capitals in the previous season. Despite his inexperience, Rasikh will be a long-term investment, so he was acquired for a high price. Whether it's justified or not, only time will tell. In his short and promising IPL stint, he has scalped nine wickets in 11 appearances.
Naman Dhir is a noteworthy pace hitter who can bat anywhere from third to sixth place, indicating a solid addition to any squad's middle-order batting. Furthermore, he is a naturally aggressive hitter with good off-spin. Naman Dhir sparked a bidding battle between the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore before the Delhi Capitals intervened.
Later, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings joined in before the Mumbai Indians opted to employ the Right-to-Match (RTM) to reclaim him for INR 5.25 crores. In seven IPL matches, he has scored 140 runs with a strike rate of 177.22.
Abdul Samad is known for his big-hitting ability and has previously played as a finisher for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Samad is a decent pace hitter who bats in the lower order and adds momentum to innings during slog overs. His subsequent years have been less promising, but his tremendous potential enticed teams to pay a hefty amount to obtain his expertise, with the Lucknow Super Giants emerging victorious.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru initially started the bid for Samad, but the Super Giants were eager to sign him and increased the bidding battle from INR 30 lakhs to INR 4.20 crores. In 50 matches, he has made 577 runs with a strike rate of 146.08.
See Also: IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Top Five Buy Punjab Kings dominate IPL auction with three top signings
Nehal Wadhera is a top homegrown prospect who can handle speed and spin. Wadhera's performance in past IPL seasons with Mumbai Indians highlights his impressive all-round abilities. As a player from the Punjab side, he will be familiar with the circumstances in the new Mullanpur pitch and may finally be able to unleash his full ability; thus, it is no surprise that the Punjab Kings have chosen him.
They bought they young sporting campaigner for INR 4.20 crores after competing with three teams: Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Delhi Capitals. In just 20 IPL games, he has scored 350 runs at a 140 strike rate and taken 13 wickets at an economy of 6.50.
Ashutosh Sharma is a clean-ball hitter who can take on pacers from the start, as seen by his time with the Punjab Kings. His presence will offer his new team, the Delhi Capitals, much-needed firepower in the lower order to deliver that finishing touch in the final overs.
Sharma was a revelation last season and was expected to command a reasonable price in the IPL 2025 auction. He was sold for INR 3.80 crores to the Delhi Capitals, who outbid three other teams for him. In his 11 IPL matches performance, he was able to make 189 runs, averaging 27 and a strike rate of 167.26.
Tags:
IPL 2025IPL AuctionNaman DhirAshutosh Sharma