Riyadh to Stage Blockbuster IPL 2025 Mega Auction on November 24 & 25

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is expected to create history as it travels to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With a likely date of November 24–25, the two-day event would mark the second time an IPL auction has taken place outside of the Indian subcontinent; the first one was conducted in Dubai last year.  

However, because the auction dates fall on India's first Test match against Australia in Perth, which is scheduled for November 22–26, scheduling issues have emerged. Disney Star, the company that broadcasts the India-Australia Test series and the Indian Premier League, is eager to prevent the two events from directly overlapping. Fortunately, if the auction were to take place in the afternoon (IST), it would probably avoid conflicts with the match broadcast because of the time difference with Australia.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has meticulously planned this event, with officials having already evaluated potential locations in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh was chosen as the ideal destination for this important auction despite consideration of a number of other locations, including Dubai, Singapore, and Vienna.

Anticipation is high as teams get ready to place crucial bids on well-known players in the upcoming IPL 2025 big auction. Prominent figures who have made an impact in the T20 format include Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh, and Ishan Kishan. These guys are a great addition to any team hoping for a successful 2025 season since they combine leadership skills, hitting ability, and quick fielding.

🚨 RIYADH TO HOST THE IPL MEGA AUCTION 🚨

- BCCI has finalized Riyadh as the venue to host the IPL mega auction. [Sports Tak] pic.twitter.com/KsCE1M0b2l

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 4, 2024

On Thursday, October 31, the teams revealed their retention lists. A total of 46 players, valued at INR 558.5 crore, were kept by the teams. Notably, 36 of the retained players, including 10 uncapped prospects, were Indian, indicating that Indian skill predominated in the squad. Jos Buttler, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer are among the well-known individuals joining the auction pool.

According to reports, BCCI representatives have already made initial trips to Saudi Arabia to evaluate possible locations. To finalize plans, a second group is scheduled to visit the Gulf nation on Monday. The capital, Riyadh, has emerged as the most likely host city for the two-day auction, while Jeddah was previously considered. Saudi Arabia seems to have been chosen as the best venue, while the BCCI also looked at other foreign cities like Dubai, Singapore, and even Vienna.

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