RIYADH: The TATA IPL 2025 mega auction will be held in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Nov. 24 and 25, 2024.
Unlike regular auctions, the mega auction, which takes place every three years, is spread over two days instead of one and is one of the most followed events in cricket, as the 10 IPL franchises build their squads for the next three years (2025-2027).
Following the big announcement by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation said on Wednesday: “The SACF, within the events in Jeddah calendar, are thrilled to announce that Jeddah has been selected by the BCCI to host the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Player Auction on November 24th and 25th, 2024 making it the first-ever international cricket event of this stature to be held in Saudi Arabia.”
The TATA IPL, widely recognised as the world’s most prestigious T20 cricket league, has registered 1,574 players from around the world for the 2025 player auction — 320 capped players, 1,224 uncapped players, and 30 players from associate nations. With only 204 slots available, teams will engage in competitive bidding wars to secure top talent, promising a thrilling experience for cricket fans worldwide.
“We are very pleased to host this prestigious event, which confirms the depth of our relationship with the BCCI and its honorary secretary, Jay Shah. In addition to the Kingdom’s commitment to developing the sport and showcasing its position as a global destination for sporting events,” said Prince Saud bin Mishal, chairman of the SACF.
“This prestigious event is a testament to our dedication to develop the sport in the Kingdom, and we look forward to celebrating this remarkable moment with cricket fans across the Kingdom,” Prince Saud added.
مزاد الكريكيت الأكبر عالمياً في قلب المملكة العربية السعودية!
جدة تستضيف مزاد لاعبي الدوري الهندي الممتاز للعام 2025 - استعدوا لسباق المزايدات وبناء فرق الأحلام للموسم القادم!
#SACF | #SaudiCricket | #الاتحاد_السعودي_للكريكيت | #كريكيت | #IPL2025 | #IPLAuction |… pic.twitter.com/I7L5V3zdkm
— الاتحاد السعودي للكريكيت | Saudi Cricket (@cricketsaudi) November 5, 2024
Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the IPL 2025 Player Auction not only highlights its potential as a cricketing destination but also signals a new era of cultural exchange and sporting excellence in the region.
Cricket fans in Saudi Arabia will have a unique opportunity to witness the creation of the TATA IPL 2025 teams and be part of a popular global event, the federation said.
Commenting on the mega auction heading to the Kingdom, India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan said: “It is a matter of great pride and excitement for us to witness the TATA IPL 2025 Players Auction being held in Saudi Arabia, a historic first that underscores the deepening ties between India and Saudi Arabia. This event reflects the growing cultural and sports exchanges between our two nations, symbolizing a new era of shared aspirations and people-to-people connectivity.”
Bringing the auction to Jeddah not only highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a global sports and entertainment destination, but will also serve as catalyst for popularizing and developing cricket in the Kingdom, the ambassador said.
“Congratulations and best wishes to all those involved in making this momentous occasion possible,” Khan said.
There were 1,165 Indian and 409 overseas players registered for the auction, which will be held at the Abady Al Johar Arena (also known as Benchmark Arena), by the Nov. 4 deadline, the BCCI said.
Players are from countries including Italy, Canada, Netherlands, Scotland, the US and the UAE, apart from the full member nations excluding Pakistan.
Each franchise can build a squad of up to 25 players, which means that there are 204 slots available at the auction after the retention.
On Oct. 31, the deadline for teams to finalise which of their players they were keeping from their 2024 squads, a total of 46 players were retained across the 10 franchises.
The IPL allowed teams to retain up to six players this time — of which a maximum of five can be capped and a maximum of two can be uncapped. The six players can either be retained outright ahead of the auction, or can be bought back using right-to-match options at the auction, or a combination of both.
The IPL auction is being held overseas for the second successive year — 2024 was in Dubai.
