IPL auction 2025: Rishabh Pant shatters record, little-known Indian youngster's monster payday
Top 20 IPL earners
Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer shattered records at the IPL auction, but only three players from Australia cracked the top 20 biggest earners.
Elsewhere, a player from India who hasn't played at the international level in nearly three years was near the top of the list, while a handful of English stars eye off a dominant campaign in the T20 league.
Here's the top 20 earners from the first night of the IPL auction.
(All prices in AUD)
20. Mohammed Shami - $1.82 million
An integral part of India's international set-up in all formats, the veteran seamer will be back for another IPL campaign, this time with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Shami is inching closer to a return from injury and could play in the Test series against Australia in the coming weeks.
19. Noor Ahmad - $1.82 million
Another tricky leg-spin bowler from Afghanistan, Ahmad was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for 2025.
The left-arm tweaker has played 24 international games and will cause plenty of headaches for rival batters.
18. Kagiso Rabada - $1.96 million
A rapid fast bowler who has terrorised rivals the world over, Rabada is the only South African player inside the top-20 list.
The right-arm speedster joins the Gujarat Titans after spending multiple seasons playing for the Punjab Kings.
17. T. Natarajan - $1.96 million
His lone Test match came in the shock series win over Australia three years ago and Natarajan is still clearly in the minds of IPL franchises for his strike bowling.
The left-arm seamer spent more than half a decade with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but will move the Delhi Capitals in 2025.
16. Jitesh Sharma - $2.01 million
With just four international caps to his name, Sharma is one of the lesser-known players on this highest-paid list.
The 31-year-old wicket-keeper will join Royal Challengers Bangalore after spending a few seasons in Punjab.
15. Marcus Stoinis - $2.01 million
A staple of Australia's white-ball teams for close to a decade, Stoinis has spent plenty of time in the IPL over the years and will now take his talents to the Punjab Kings.
The all-rounder is one of just three Aussies taken in the top 20 of the auction.
14. Ishan Kishan - $2.05 million
A keeper-batsman with two Test caps and a stack more international games on his resume, Kishan will remain at Sunrisers Hyderabad next year.
The 26-year-old has been in and around the Indian side for a few years now and will bring plenty of quality to the roster.
13. Phil Salt - $2.1 million
Salt is a specialist T20 batter and can wicket-keep as well.
The 28-year-old will join RCB for the upcoming campaign.
12. Mitchell Starc - $2.14 million
He shattered the record for the highest-priced player in IPL history last year, but the Aussie tearaway will take a hefty paycut in 2025 with Delhi Capitals.
Starc is regarded as one of the most dangerous T20 bowlers in history and will have a point to prove this season.
