IPL Auction 2025: Punjab Kings rope in Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore using RTM

Arshdeep Singh became the first player to be sold in the IPL 2025 mega auction on Sunday when his former franchise Punjab Kings used the right-to-match (RTM) card to secure the services of the left-arm pacer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After a fierce bidding war among Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, the Indian was sold to SRH for ₹15.75 crore. As per the new RTM rule, SRH was given a chance to raise the price. Punjab Kings agreed to SRH's new price of ₹18 crore to secure the player.

They didn't stop there as the franchise also bought a potential captain Shreyas Iyer for a record price of ₹26.75 crore. Ever since his IPL debut, Arshdeep has been a part of PBKS family. In IPL 2024, Arshdeep was Punjab Kings' highest wicket-taker with 19 scalps.

The left-arm pacer then went to play a crucial role in India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph with 17 wickets. Among other buys, Rishabh Pant became the costliest so far with LSG shelling out ₹27 crore.

Reacting to him joining Punjab Kings, Arshdeep said, “I am very happy to be back in Punjab. Hopefully, we will the title this time,” he said in a video from Australia.

Moments before Pant emerged as the most expensive player, Iyer surpassed the record held by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹24.75 crore in the last auction.

Pant went to LSG after his former franchise Delhi Capitals did not use the Right to Match card to buy him back. Starc got a much lower price this time and was sold to Delhi Capitals for ₹11.75 crore, while England's Jos Buttler went to Gujarat Titans for ₹15.75 crore.

South African speedster Kagiso Rabada was bought for ₹10.75 crore by Gujarat Titans. Iyer, the former Kolkata Knight Riders captain, started with a base price of ₹two crore.

Delhi Capitals had the bid at ₹26 crore for him but PBKS raised the amount to get the player. Chennai Super Kings started with the first bid for Arshdeep, whose base price was also ₹two crore.

Eventually, after an intense bidding war, the seamer was bought back by Punjab, who exercised the right to match option to complete the deal, having released him earlier. This is the second time an IPL auction is being held outside the country after last year's event in Dubai.

With PTI inputs