IPL Auction: MI bags Will Jacks as Akash Ambani shakes hands with RCB management

Ten teams in the bid to claim world-class players for the world's biggest cricketing leage with thousand of crore at stake, where else would the drama had been if not in Jeddah at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Day 1 of the IPL mega auction witnessed Rishabh Pant breaking the bank and the record charts. The wicket-keeper batter bagged the highest bid in the history of the league as LSG put 27 crore on the table for Pant. While the first day was packed with intense bidding wars, Day 2 featured relatively subdued action as franchises operated under tighter budget constraints. However, the limited budgets did not dampen the drama in Jeddah. A notable moment occurred when RCB chose not to use their RTM card for Will Jacks, their star performer from IPL 2024, leaving fans surprised.

Akash Ambani shakes hands with RCB management as Bengaluru lets go of Will Jacks

Will Jacks hogged the limelight in IPL 2024 as he heavily aided RCB in the campaign where the team staged an impressive and last moment entry into the playoffs. Playing in his maiden season at the tournament, Jacks hit 230 runs in just eight games at an extraordinary strike rate of 175. His contributions included a blazing century off just 41 deliveries against Gujarat Titans. Treading carefully in the mega auction, RCB had kept their RTM card intact on the second day in Jeddah. Thus, when the turn came for Will Jacks to hear the bidding shouts, fans had expected RCB to finally bring the RTM to use.

Earning validation for his first-season wonder, Jacks ensued a bidding war at the IPL auction as Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians engaged in the tussle. Will Jacks was eventually snapped up by Mumbai Indians for a price of 5.25 crore. Shockingly, RCB never joined the bidding contest for one of their top performers from the last season. Even more shockingly, the franchise refused to put their RTM card at use when the auctioneer offered them the chance. The aftermath of RCB easily letting go of Jacks saw Akash Ambani, the owner of MI, approaching the RCB table. Ambani came and shook the hands of the RCB management.

BIGGEST MOMENT OF THE DAY.

- Akash Ambani hugging with RCB management as they decide not to use RTM for Will Jacks. pic.twitter.com/S4nEbwn3j8

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 25, 2024

Coming to the IPL 2025 mega acution, RCB ruffled many feathers, most of them being of their own fans. The franchise neither bid nor used the RTM card for their core player, Mohammed Siraj in the auction. Without any resistance from RCB, GT snapped the seamer for 12.25 crore. While Jacks went to MI, RCB managed to buy Australian batter Tim David, who formerly played for Mumbai, in a 3 crore bid.