IPL 2025 auction kicks off in Jeddah with Rishabh Pant setting record sale

The IPL 2025 mega auction has begun in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking the first time the event is held in the country. A total of 577 players are competing for 204 slots across 10 franchises over two days. Rishabh Pant made headlines by joining Lucknow Super Giants for a record Rs 27 crore, breaking previous auction records. Shreyas Iyer's brief record as the highest-paid player was overshadowed by Pant's monumental sale. Punjab Kings retained Arshdeep Singh for Rs 18 crore using their Right-To-Match option. The auction has sparked significant excitement online, with many memes circulating about the high-profile player transactions.