IPL Mega Auction 2025: From Buttler to Pant, a look at marquee players

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction will witness plenty of twists, turns, unexpected signings and records broken, as the availability of Indian and international stars is more than ever and all ten franchises are looking to rebuild their squads from the start. The presence of 12 marquee players, including Indian stars like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul has created a lot of buzz within the cricket fraternity.

A total of 574 players have been shortlisted from an initial pool of 1,574 names. These players will go under the hammer from November 24-25 in Jeddah. The list includes 208 overseas players, 12 uncapped overseas talents, and 318 uncapped Indian players, according to Wisden. Here is a look at all marquee players who will be going under the hammer:

Jos Buttler (England)

Buttler is one of finest white-ball batters of this generation, with 11,929 runs, eight centuries and 83 fifties to his name in 427 T20s. A T20 World Cup-winning captain for England, Buttler made a name for himself in the IPL during his stint with Rajasthan Royals (RR) from 2018 to 2024.

For RR since 2018, Buttler scored 3,055 runs at an average of 41.84 and a strike rate of 147.79, with 7 centuries and 18 fifties. His best score was 124. He is the team's third-highest run-getter of all time. The IPL 2022, in which RR finished as runners-up, was the zenith of Buttler's career, as he ended up on the top of run-scoring charts, with 863 runs in 17 matches at an average of 57.53 and a strike rate of over 149, with four centuries and four fifties. His best score was 116. 

In the last season, Buttler scored 359 runs in 11 matches at an average of 39.88, with two centuries. Buttler also represented Mumbai Indians (MI) from 2016-17, scoring 527 runs in 24 matches with one half-century. He won the title with them in 2017.

Shreyas Iyer

Iyer has played all formats for India, proving his mettle mostly in ODI cricket, where he averages 47 and has scored five centuries and 18 fifties in 57 ODIs. In 51 T20Is for India, Iyer has scored 1,104 runs at an average of 30.66 and a strike rate of over 136, with eight half-centuries and best score of 74*.

During his time with Delhi Capitals (2015-21), he earned a reputation as a fierce young leader, taking DC to finals in 2021. After joining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2022, Iyer went one step further and won the franchise its third IPL title, its first in 10 years, this year. Throughout the season, Iyer along with mentor Gautam Gambhir, led the team's aggressive, high-scoring brand of cricket from the front.

In his IPL career, Iyer has scored 2,375 runs at an average of 31.67, with a strike rate of 123.96 and 16 half-centuries. His best score is 96. In his last season for KKR, he scored 351 runs in 15 matches at an average of 39.00 and a strike rate of over 146, making two fifties.

Rishabh Pant

The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter is an all-format for India and a livewire on the field. Having proven himself as a man for big stages in Test cricket, Pant's T20 game is just as solid. Though he has scored 1,209 runs in 76 T20Is at an underwhelming average of 23.25, strike rate of almost 128 and just three fifties, his overall T20 numbers are way better, having made 5,022 runs in 202 matches at an average of 31.78, strike rate of over 145, with two centuries and 25 fifties.

Pant has represented Delhi Capitals (DC) for his entire IPL career since 2016, scoring 3,284 runs in 110 matches at an average of 35.31, with a century and 18 fifties. He was appointed as the team's captain in 2021 and led them to playoffs in the same season.

During this last season, which marked his return from competitive cricket after a serious road accident in 2022-end, Pant scored 446 runs in 13 matches at an average of 40.54 and a strike rate of 155.40, with three fifties and best score of 88*. He was the leading run-scorer for DC.

Kagiso Rabada

The South African pacer is among the best in the world, having taken 71 wickets in 65 T20Is. He is the part of the SA team which reached the T20 World Cup finals this year and took 13 wickets in nine matches. Rabada has played T20 leagues and competitions worldwide and taken 264 scalps in 211 matches.

In the IPL, Rabada has represented Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings, having taken 117 wickets in 80 matches. With PBKS from 2022-2024, he took 41 wickets in 30 matches while with DC from 2017-2021, he took 76 wickets in 50 matches. In 11 matches last season for Punjab Kings, he took 11 wickets at an average of 33.81.

Arshdeep Singh

A brilliant left-arm pacer for his swing and wicket-taking abilities, Arshdeep has represented India in 59 T20Is and already taken 92 wickets at an average of 18.47, making him the most successful pacer for India in T20Is and their second-highest wicket-taker of all-time despite debuting only in 2022. The youngster was a crucial part of India's T20 WC winning squad this year and was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 17 wickets in eight matches at an average of 12.47.

Since 2019, the year of his IPL debut, Arshdeep has represented Punjab Kings in 65 matches, taking 76 wickets at an average of 27.00 and best figures of 5/32. The season this year was his strongest-ever showing, taking 19 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 26.58.

Mitchell Starc

A multi-time world champion with Australia across all formats, Starc is considered as one of the deadliest pacers of this era, having taken 681 wickets in 281 matches. In 65 T20Is for Australia, he has taken 79 wickets at an average of 23.81. in 142 T20Is played worldwide, he has taken 193 wickets at an average of 20.59 and best figures of 4/15.

After two seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from 2014-15, Starc made his IPL return this year as the most expensive player ever, brought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 24.75 crores. Though he delivered mixed returns during the league stage, the 'Big Match Starc' came into play during playoffs, delivering outstanding spells of 3/34 and 2/14 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Qualifier 1 and final. He ended the season with 17 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 26.12 including a four-wicket haul. So far in his IPL career, Starc has taken 51 wickets in 41 matches.

Yuzvendra Chahal

The Indian spin veteran is the chart-topping bowler, owning the most wickets by an Indian in T20is and by any bowler in the IPL. In the IPL, Chahal has taken 205 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 22.44, with best figures of 5/40. In 80 T20Is he has taken 96 wickets at an average of 25.09 with best figures of 6/25. Also in all of T20s, he has taken 354 wickets in 305 matches, the most by an Indian bowler.

Chahal remains the leading wicket-taker for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), even after departing in 2021 following a tenure that began in 2014. In 113 matches for RCB, he took 139 wickets at an average of 22.03, with a best of 4/25.

Since joining Rajasthan Royals (RR) in 2022, Chahal has helped the team reach the playoffs twice in three seasons. He is also the leading wicket-taker in IPL history, amassing 205 wickets in 160 matches at an average of 22.44, with a best of 5/44. He won the Purple Cap in 2022, his debut season with RR, securing 27 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 19.51, with best figures of 5/40. During the 2024 season, he took 18 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 30.33.

Liam Livingstone

A T20 World Cup-winning all-rounder, Liam has scored 877 runs in 53 T20Is at an average of 27.40 and a strike rate of almost 152, with a century and two fifties. With his useful right-arm spin, he has taken 32 wickets at an average of over 23, with best figures of 3/17. He owns the record for fastest T20I ton by an England player, in just 42 balls.

The batting all-rounder has played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) since his tournament debut in 2019, scoring 939 runs in 39 matches at a strike rate of 162.46 and six fifties. He has also taken 11 wickets. His best has come with Punjab, who signed him for Rs 11.5 crores ahead of the 2022 season, which proved to be his breakthrough, scoring 437 runs in 14 matches with four fifties and a strike rate of 182.08 and getting six wickets in 14 matches. In the last season, Livingstone scored 111 runs in seven matches at an average of 22.20, striking at over 142 and having the best score of 38*.

David Miller

An elite T20 finisher, Miller is considered as one of the modern white-ball greats for South Africa. In 128 matches for Proteas, he has made 2,473 runs at an average of 32.54, striking at almost 140, with two centuries and seven fifties.

In the IPL, Miller is known for his stints with Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans. His stint with Punjab from 2012-19 made him a valuable IPL commodity, as he enjoyed his peak years from 2013-15, reaching the finals in 2014. After a few years' of underwhelming performances and being benched, GT placed trust in his finishing abilities and he repaid the faith with a 481-run season in 16 matches with two fifties, playing a crucial role in the team's title win in his debut season. Miller is also known for his fine performances in knockout games.

In 41 matches for GT, he has scored 950 runs at an average of 45.24, with three fifties in 38 innings and a strike rate of 145.26. In the last season, he scored 210 runs at an average of 35.00 and a strike rate of over 151, with a half-century.

KL Rahul

A versatile batter for India across all formats. He can open, bat in middle-order, anchor and accelerate. A highly-capable wicketkeeper-batter as well. He is India's fourth-highest run-getter in T20Is, scoring 2,265 runs in 72 matches at an average of 37.75, striking at almost 140 with two centuries and 22 fifties to his name.

In 132 IPL matches since his debut in 2013, KL has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, even going on to captain the later two teams. In 132 matches, he has scored 4,683 runs at an average of 45.47 and a strike rate of 134.61, with four centuries and 37 fifties.

For LSG since 2022, he has scored 1,410 runs at an average of 41.47, with a strike rate of 130.68, two centuries and 10 fifties. He has never won an IPL title. In 14 matches last season, he scored 520 runs at an average of 37.14 and a strike rate of 136.12 and four half-centuries. His best score was 82 and he ended up as seventh-highest run-getter in the season.

Mohammed Shami

The Indian pace veteran has represented India in all formats, having taken 448 wickets in 188 matches. His finest hour in an Indian jersey came during the 50-over World Cup at home last year, where he emerged as the leading-wicket-taker with 24 wickets in just seven matches and played a crucial role in India's runners-up finish.

In IPL, Shami has played for Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans. He has taken 127 wickets in 110 matches at an average of 26.86. Shami was the Purple Cap holder for most wickets in GT's 2023 runners-up season and has taken 48 wickets in 33 matches at an average of 21.04 for the team. This also remains his last IPL season as he missed the previous season due to an ankle injury.

Mohammed Siraj

Siraj is a solid all-format pacer for India, having taken 165 wickets across 91 matches, with a lot of match-winning performances in overseas Tests. He is the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 winner with the team. In his IPL career, he has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from his debut in 2017, taking 93 wickets in 93 matches at an average of 30.34. Since 2018, he has been a vital part of RCB's pace attack, having taken 83 wickets in 87 matches at an average of 31.45 and best figures of 4/21. In the last season this year, he took 15 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 33.07, playing a crucial role in the team's inspirational playoffs qualification. (ANI)