Five released openers who got big money in IPL 2025 auction

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction in Jeddah witnessed teams investing heavily in top-order talent after the run-fest observed in the previous season. With 182 players signed across two days of bidding, the opening batters appeared as a key investment for franchises seeking explosive starts. 

Teams invested substantial resources in acquiring proven opening batters who could provide momentum from the first ball. While teams like Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Chennai Super Kings retained at least one familiar opener from the 2024 season, others went on to break their bank to strengthen their batting arsenals.

Big openers like David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, and Prithvi Shaw found themselves unsold, while new talents caught the attention of teams, eventually resulting in them going to their respective teams. The biggest moment came with Rishabh Pant's record-breaking INR 27 crore deal with Lucknow Super Giants, though he isn't primarily an opener. However, the only team that notably missed out on specialist openers was the Lucknow Super Giants. With teams investing a total of INR 639.15 crore, the auction showed the important role of opening batters in the league.

Here are the five released openers who got big bucks in the IPL 2025 mega-auction:

5. Jake Fraser-McGurk (INR 9 crore, Delhi Capitals):

Jake Fraser-McGurk emerged as a hot property in the auction, securing a whopping INR 9 crore deal with the Delhi Capitals. The 22-year-old Australian made headlines with his explosive debut season in 2024, smashing 330 runs at a strike rate of 234. After making his debut in ODI and T20I for Australia, Fraser-McGurk has become a sought-after talent in T20 leagues.

The bidding saw Punjab Kings initially seeming to win the race before Delhi Capitals exercised their Right to Match card to retain their prized asset. With his aggressive batting style, he's set to form a formidable opening partnership with KL Rahul. The Capitals also have a selection dilemma, with Faf du Plessis being another opener in their squad. DC will look at balancing their overseas slots while ensuring they field their strongest batting lineup.