The first day of the IPL 2025 mega auction had already concluded, and the bidding wars reached new heights, as on more than one occasion, prices went up to an uncharted territory we have never seen before.
Rishabh Pant became the highest-ever buy in IPL history, as LSG signed him for Rs. 27 crore. Former KKR captain Shreyas Iyer also got a price of Rs. 26.75 crore, as the batter was sold to PBKS. Venkatesh Iyer with a price tag of Rs. 23.75 crore, third in the list, became the costliest all-rounder of this auction.

The auction started with a total pool of 574 players, including 366 Indians and 208 overseas players. On the first day, 84 players were already brought to the bidding table; now it is time for the remaining cricketers, capped and uncapped players included.
According to the guidelines, each team is required to assemble a squad consisting of 18 to 25 players, with a cap of 8 overseas players. Players are also categorised into different base price brackets, which range from Rs. 30 lakh to Rs. 2 crore. Importantly, there are 81 players listed at the highest bracket of Rs. 2 crore. As of now, none of the teams has been able to fill their squad. Hence, they will go with all guns blazing on the second day of the auction.
Washington Sundar is a 25-year-old versatile cricketer known for his all-round abilities. As an off-spin bowler, he excels in delivering economical overs, especially during power plays. Sundar’s accuracy and ability to extract subtle turns make him an effective option against right-handed batters. He is particularly effective in conditions favouring spinners and often takes on a defensive role to build pressure for wickets at the other end.
With the bat, Sundar is a dependable lower-order contributor capable of stabilizing innings or accelerating during death overs. His clean hitting and calm temperament under pressure make him a valuable asset in the shorter formats. Sundar’s ability to adapt quickly to match situations is complemented by his sharp fielding skills, adding further value to his role as an all-rounder.
In 60 IPL matches, Sundar scored a total of 378 runs and took 37 wickets. His playing style is well-suited to IPL dynamics, where his dual skill set enhances team flexibility. He has consistently delivered impactful performances for franchises, showcasing maturity beyond his years.
The second day of the IPL 2025 mega auction will begin at 3:30 PM IST, which corresponds to 1:00 PM local time in Jeddah. Sundar is placed into Set 14 along with six other star all-rounders around the world. Except for Sundar, there will be Sam Curran, Marco Jansen, Daryl Mitchell, Krunal Pandya, Nitish Rana, and Shardul Thakur.
As each of these players is often regarded as one of the best in this sport, bidding wars among the franchises are expected for them. Hence, the auction process could take more time than usual. As Set 14 will be the second set to be auctioned on the second day, it will start after the completion of Set 13, which could take around 40 minutes. If the auction starts at 3:30 PM IST onwards, then it is expected that the second set will start around 4:10 PM.
There are seven players in Set 14; if Sundar’s name came last among those seven, then it is expected the all-rounder will come to the auction table around 4:45 PM IST. Hence, between the expected period of 4:10 PM to 4:45 PM, Sundar’s bidding can be started.
Note: The timeline of a player\'s arrival at the auction table is based on assumptions related to the IPL auction and the player\'s position in the shortlist. The aforementioned time can change as per auction dynamics.