Mega Money Moves: How IPL 2025's Top Auction Buys Actually Performed

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2025 [Source: AP Photos]Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2025 [Source: AP Photos]

The IPL 2025 mega auction broke multiple records, with franchises spending unprecedented amounts to secure top talent. Five players commanded fees of ₹18 crore or more, making them the most expensive buys in tournament history. As the season concluded, their performances varied dramatically, raising questions about value for money in modern cricket's biggest marketplace.

5. Yuzvendra Chahal - ₹18 Crore (Punjab Kings)

Performance Rating: 6/10 - Mediocre

IPL 2025 Performance: Matches - 14 | Wickets - 16 | Economy Rate - 9.55 | Average - 26.87

The Punjab Kings paid ₹ 18 Cr to secure the services of the experienced Indian leg spinner. Yuzvendra Chahal did not deliver as expected during IPL 2025, but showed signs of brilliance in some of the games. Notably, he also picked up a hat-trick against the Chennai Super Kings.

Even though there were flares of brilliance from Chahal, it was not a consistent show from the leg spinner. In 14 matches, he picked up 16 wickets while having an economy of nearly 9.55. 

4. Arshdeep Singh - ₹18 Crore (Punjab Kings)

Arshdeep Singh For PBKS [Source: AP Photos]Arshdeep Singh For PBKS [Source: AP Photos]

Performance Rating: 7/10 - Mediocre

IPL 2025 Performance: Matches - 17 | Wickets - 21 | Economy Rate - 8.88 | Average - 24.66

Arshdeep Singh was a part of the Punjab Kings in IPL 2024. However, ahead of IPL 2025 they released and then reacquired his services during the IPL 2025 mega auction for ₹ 18 Cr. For most of the tournament, Arshdeep played a crucial role in PBKS bowling with wickets especially in the death overs.

However, Arshdeep lost a bit of his form towards the end of the tournament and failed to deliver in the most important games. Even though he picked up three wickets in his last over of IPL 2025 final, the runs he leaked prior to that went a big way in PBKS losing momentum in the game.

3. Venkatesh Iyer - ₹23.75 Crore (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Performance Rating: 4/10 - Poor

IPL 2025 Performance: Matches - 11 | Wickets - 142 | Average - 20.28 | SR - 139.21

One of the biggest surprises of the IPL 2025 mega auction was KKR paying ₹ 23.75 Cr for Venkatesh Iyer. Given his performances in the big matches previously and him a part of the KKR nucleus, some might call this a justified investment. However, during the tournament, Iyer failed to deliver as one expect from such a highly paid player. 

In 11 matches, Venkatesh Iyer has scored 142 runs in the tournament at an average of 20.38 while maintaining a strike rate of just 139.21. After investing about ₹24 Cr on a player, KKR would have hoped for a much better performance from him.

2. Shreyas Iyer - ₹26.75 Crore (Punjab Kings)

Performance Rating: 8/10 - Excellent

IPL 2025 Performance: Matches - 17 | Wickets - 604 | Average - 50.33 | SR - 175.07

Shreyas Iyer was the second highest paid player in IPL 2025 mega auction. This turned out to be the best investment from any franchise when it comes to buying a player with more than ₹ 15 Cr.

Shreyas Iyer not only played consistent knocks for the team but also showed his brilliance as a captain. His knock in the Qualifier 2 against the Mumbai Indians was an example of the nerves he has in crunch games and clutch situations. 

1. Rishabh Pant - ₹27 Crore (Lucknow Super Giants)

Performance Rating: 3/10 - Poor

IPL 2025 Performance: Matches - 14 | Wickets - 269 | Average - 24.45 | SR - 133.16

From being the highest paid player in the auction to not showing up for the time at the correct time, Rishabh Pant remained in the headlines during the latest edition of IPL. In 14 matches, Pant scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45 with a strike rate of 133.16. But interestingly, 181 runs of these 269 came in only two matches.

Hence, if we see the overall performance and impact of Rishabh Pant, it was no where near what was expected of the highest paid player in the league.