IPL 2025: 5 released openers who can earn big bucks in mega auction

The upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is set to be a game-changer, particularly for teams looking to strengthen their opening slots. With Sunrisers Hyderabad being the only franchise to have locked in both their openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, the remaining nine teams are looking for powerful top-order batters who can capitalize on the crucial powerplay overs.

The importance of a solid opening pair cannot be understated in T20 cricket, where the first six overs often change the course of the entire innings. This year's retention policies were interesting, with teams being allowed to retain up to six players for the first time, the highest ever in IPL history.

Several high-profile openers have been released back into the auction pool, with intense bidding wars on the cards. Teams will be looking for that perfect combination of experience and explosive batting proficiency to strengthen their top order. The focus will likely be on players who can not only provide quick starts but also maintain consistency throughout the tournament.

With nine teams potentially bidding for top-order talent, we could see record-breaking bids for some experienced openers. The pressure will be particularly high on franchises that have retained just one opener, as they'll need to find the perfect partner to complete their batting lineup.

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Let's take a look at openers who can earn big bucks in the IPL 2025 auction:

5. Jos Buttler

Rajasthan Royals parted ways with their powerful opener Jos Buttler ahead of the 2025 mega auction. The England white-ball skipper, who was a key player in the Royals' batting lineup for seven seasons, had scored 8,055 runs at a strike rate of 147.80 in 88 matches.

In the 2022 season, he smashed four centuries and scored 863 runs, helping his team reach the finals, for the first time since 2008. Even in his final season with the Pink Army in 2024, he maintained his solid form with 359 runs and two centuries in 11 matches.

While the Royals have retained young Yashasvi Jaiswal among six players, their decision to release Buttler might be due to his prolonged injuries in the recent past. With several teams desperate for a quality opener and captain, the 2022 T20 World Cup-winning skipper could trigger a bidding war.