IPL bids: a variety of strokes across teams

Some went for marquee names, others focused on value investments—every franchise had its own algorithm

- Sumit Chakraberty

The Indian Premier League (IPL) triennial auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 24-25 November had as much game strategy as you see on the cricket field. When the dust settled, 10 teams emerged with strengths as well as weaknesses, setting up a well-contested IPL 2025. Here's a look at each franchise's algorithm for winning.

AMBANI PLAYS JACKS
After a barren four years and finishing last in IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians (MI) wanted to strengthen the bowling around Jasprit Bumrah. They brought back Kiwi left-arm swinger Trent Boult, who was in their 2020 winning side. But what excited fans was the acquisition of 18-year-old Afghan spinner Allah Ghazanfar for ₹4.8 crore.

MI's batting coup was English top-order striker Will Jacks, who hit a 41-ball century for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) earlier this year. How much that meant became apparent when a beaming MI owner, Akash Ambani, shook hands with RCB CEO Prathmesh Mishra. RCB did not exercise the right-to-match (RTM) option, allowing MI to get Jacks for ₹15.25 crore. Earlier, MI did not use the RTM for late-order hitter Tim David, who went to RCB for ₹3 crore.

PONTING'S HUGE GAMBLE
The new Punjab Kings (PBKS) coach, Ricky Ponting, who parted ways with Delhi Capitals (DC), had the biggest purse for the auction, after retaining only two uncapped players. It was widely expected he would use it to get his DC mate, Rishabh Pant. Instead, he outbid DC to buy another skipper he had groomed, Shreyas Iyer, for a whopping ₹26.75 crore. Iyer was in demand after leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the 2024 title. Perhaps Ponting sees him as a captain who can execute his strategy better than Pant.

NEHRA'S CALCULATED BETS