IPL Auction 2025: Top 5 most expensive bowlers sold

The IPL 2025 Auction in Jeddah was two days filled with roller-coaster entertainment and drama, with franchises going all out to secure top talent. Rishabh Pant grabbed the spotlight, becoming the most expensive player with a whopping INR 27 crore bid from Lucknow Super Giants, closely followed by Shreyas Iyer at INR 26.75 crore, who joined Punjab Kings.

International stars like Jos Buttler, who was picked up by Gujarat Titans for INR 15.75 crore, and talents like Jitesh Sharma (From INR 1 crore to 11 crore) made big signings. The auction was a rollercoaster of bidding wars, with 577 players under the hammer and 182 ultimately finding a place in the league. The auction also saw teams looking to strengthen their bowling line-ups. 

Teams recognized the need for strong bowling attacks after the run-fest of the 2024 edition, investing heavily in pacers and spinners. The auction saw a total spend of INR 639.15 crore, with 62 overseas players and 120 Indian players securing contracts. PBKS, with the largest purse of INR 110.50 crore, looked to rebuild a new team for the upcoming season.

Here are the five bowlers who got big bids in the IPL 2025 mega-auction:

5. Jofra Archer (INR 12.50 crore, Rajasthan Royals):

England's ace pacer Jofra Archer made a return to the Rajasthan Royals, the franchise where his IPL career first took flight. The speedster was picked for a whopping INR 12.50 crore, ending a bidding war with the Mumbai Indians. Archer's initial stint with the Royals from 2018 to 2020 was impressive.

He quickly became a fan favorite, winning the Most Valuable Player award in 2020 with 20 wickets and 113 crucial runs. After spending time with MI and battling injuries, his last-minute inclusion in the auction created excitement amongst the franchise. The 29-year-old will be heading the bowling attack and will partner with indigenous talents like Sandeep Sharma and Tushar Deshpande.