Naman Dhir Returns to Mumbai Indians; Ashutosh Sharma Joins Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025 Mega Auction
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), November 24 : The IPL 2025 Mega Auction on Sunday witnessed an eventful day as Mumbai Indians (MI) secured Naman Dhir, marking his return to the franchise, while Delhi Capitals (DC) made headlines by acquiring promising youngster Ashutosh Sharma at a significant price.
Key Highlights of the Auction
Among the uncapped all-rounders, Gujarat Titans (GT) bagged Nishant Sindhu at his base price of Rs 30 lakh. Meanwhile, Sameer Rizvi, known for his explosive power-hitting, sparked bidding interest. Rizvi initially drew attention from Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who bid Rs 8.4 crore, but ultimately found his way to Delhi Capitals for Rs 95 lakh.
Naman Dhir, whose impressive performance for MI last season made him a hot commodity, saw a competitive bidding war. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and MI quickly raised the stakes to Rs 1 crore. DC joined in, pushing the bid to Rs 2 crore before stepping back. Rajasthan Royals (RR) entered the fray and, along with Punjab Kings (PBKS), escalated the bid to Rs 3.40 crore.
Just when it seemed RR might seal the deal, MI exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card, reclaiming Dhir for Rs 5.25 crore, marking an emotional homecoming for the player.
Other Notable Moves
Abdul Samad, known for his hitting prowess, attracted fierce bidding between RCB and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). After RCB exited at Rs 1.5 crore, PBKS joined the chase. LSG eventually outbid PBKS with a winning bid of Rs 4.20 crore. Notably, Samad’s former team, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), chose not to exercise their RTM option.
PBKS retained Harpreet Brar, a vital member of their squad, for Rs 1.50 crore. CSK secured all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who represented India in the 2019 World Cup, for Rs 1.20 crore.
Mahipal Lomror, a standout player for RCB last season, joined GT for Rs 1.70 crore. Meanwhile, Ashutosh Sharma, who showcased his talent with PBKS in IPL 2024, became the subject of intense bidding involving RCB and RR. Ultimately, DC emerged victorious, acquiring Sharma for Rs 3.60 crore.
In contrast, Utkarsh Singh went unsold, while Kumar Kushagra transitioned from DC to GT for Rs 65 lakh.
Final Takeaways
The auction demonstrated a mix of emotional returns, fierce bidding wars, and strategic acquisitions as franchises aimed to build balanced squads. With standout performances anticipated, the IPL 2025 season promises to be as exciting as ever.
