IPL Auction 2025: Mitchell Starc to Trent Boult - Top Ten Overseas Pacers in demand at Mega Auction

As the IPL 2025 mega auction is around the corner, excitement is building among the fans, and all the franchises are focused on gearing up to strengthen their attacks with world-class bowlers.

Throughout the history of the IPL, overseas pacers have always been in high demand. Fast bowlers are vital to providing early breakthroughs and controlling the death overs, making them high-priority targets in the IPL auctions, often leading to bidding wars on auction days.

Why Fast Bowlers Are Always in Demand in IPL Auction?

Fast bowlers are crucial in the powerplay, due to their ability to swing the ball and take early wickets. Breaking the opening partnership sets the tone for the bowling team, giving them an early breakthrough.

In the death overs also, fast bowlers are the go-to option in T20 cricket due to their ability to provide variations like yorkers, slower balls, and bouncers to restrict runs, which often make the difference between victory and defeat.

IPL Auction 2025: Top 10 Overseas Fast Bowlers Who Will Be in Demand

Trent Boult

Trent Boult, one of the most consistent overseas pacers in IPL history, has already bagged 121 wickets in his IPL career, playing 103 matches. With his ability to swing, he is a crucial player for the powerplay. In 2022, he was bought by Rajasthan Royals for a price of Rs. 8 crores and in the last IPL, he took 16 wickets.

Mitchell Starc

The 34-year-old Australian left-arm fast bowler was the most expensive player in last year’s IPL auction. He was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a price of Rs. 24.75 crore. Starc was crucial in KKR\'s last IPL journey to the trophy, especially in the later phase of the tournament. The veteran pacer has bagged 17 wickets for KKR in the last IPL.

Anrich Nortje

The South African speedster is renowned for his fiery pace and accuracy. The right-arm fast bowler was bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs. 6.50 crore and remained a standout performer for DC in the previous seasons. Nortje already has 60 wickets in his IPL career, and it is expected that he will be one of the most sought-after fast bowler options in the IPL mega auction.

Kagiso Rabada

The South African right-arm pacer remained a pivotal player for the Punjab Kings in recent years. He was bought for Rs. 9.25 crore. Rabada has 117 wickets in IPL career in just 80 matches. After debuting in 2017 for DC, he quickly became one of the most feared pacers, due to his extreme pace and lethal yorkers. In IPL 2020, Rabada won the Purple Cap by claiming 30 wickets.

Josh Hazlewood

The 33-year-old Australian fast bowler, Josh Hazlewood made his debut in 2020 for CSK, and in 2022, he was bought by RCB for Rs. 7.75 crore. Though he has limited exposure in the IPL, he bagged 35 wickets. Hazlewood’s height and accuracy make him a challenging option for the batters.

Lockie Ferguson

The 33-year-old Kiwi fast bowler made his debut in 2017 for Rising Pune Supergiants and is known for his extreme pace and bouncers. In 2021, he bagged 13 wickets for KKR in just 8 matches. In the last season, he played only a few matches but managed to nag 9 wickets. Ferguson has 46 wickets in his IPL career.

Nuwan Thusara

The Sri Lankan right-arm pacer made his debut in the last IPL for Mumbai Indians. In seven matches he took eight wickets. He is known for his unique low-arm slingy bowling action, which allows him to generate late swings and deceptive variation in pace, making it difficult to play him. Due to these specialities, he is expected to cause a bidding war among the franchises.

Mustafizur Rahman

The only Bangladeshi player on the list and the left-arm fast bowler known for his off-cutter and slower deliveries, often makes him difficult to play, making him a great weapon for the powerplay and the death overs. Besides these, his ability to provide precise yorkers also makes him a potent wicket-taker. He took 14 wickets in the last season in just 9 matches.

Nandre Burger

The 29-year-old South African left-arm fast bowler has played only six matches in IPL and taken seven wickets. He was bought for Rs. 50 lac by Rajasthan Royals before the last IPL. His accuracy and ability to swing the ball, along with his left-arm dynamics, make him a decent option for the overseas fast bowler slot.

Fazalhaq Farooqi

The 24-year-old left-arm fast bowler is the only Afghan fast bowler in this list. He has debuted in IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad and bagged six wickets in seven matches. However, Farooqi has a decent portion of experience in T20I cricket and has 54 wickets in 42 matches. Along with being a left-arm fast bowler, his ability to swing the ball in both directions allows him to maintain pressure in the death overs by checking runs, which makes him a valuable asset in limited-over cricket.