IPL 2025 mega auction: India's veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar may be finding it hard return to Team India set up but IPL franchises were aware of his bowling prowess in the ongoing mega auction held at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
RCB grab Bhunveshwar Kumar for a staggering Rs 10.75 crore
Bhuvneshwar got an appraisal of 156 per cent in the IPL 2025 mega auction as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) went on to break bank on the former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) ace pacer and acquired him for a whopping Rs 10.75 crore. Known for his exceptional powerplay bowling skills, Bhuvneshwar has been a consistent performer for the SRH for many years, who released him ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
In the previous IPL auction, Bhuvneshwar was acquired by SRH for a modest Rs 4.2 crores. However, his impressive performances attracted the attention of multiple teams this year. Three teams engaged in a bidding war, ultimately leading to RCB securing his services for a substantial amount.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's IPL journey in numbers
Bhuvneshwar is a force to reckon with when it comes to IPL. Since his IPL debut in 2011, he has scalped 181 wickets in 176 matches so far.
During the IPL 2024 season, Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a crucial role for SRH, claiming 11 wickets in 16 matches. His standout performance came against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Hyderabad, where he played a pivotal role in a thrilling last-ball victory.
As soon as Bhuvneshwar's name was announced at the IPL 2025 Auction, a bidding war erupted between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. The bidding started at his base price of 2 crore and quickly escalated, reflecting the high demand for his services. The bidding for Bhuvneshwar Kumar intensified, surpassing the 10 crore mark. Mumbai Indians eventually withdrew from the auction at 10.25 crores. It seemed like Bhuvneshwar was headed to Lucknow Super Giants, with the bidding reaching 10.5 crores. However, a late entry from Royal Challengers Bangalore changed the course of the auction. RCB placed a final bid of 10.75 crores, securing Bhuvneshwar's services.
RCB's buys at IPL 2025 mega auction so far:
1. Liam Livingstone: Rs 8.75 crore
2. Phil Salt - Rs 11.50 crore
3. Jitesh Sharma - Rs 11 crore
4. Josh Hazlewood - Rs 12.5 crore
5. Rasikh Dar - Rs 6 crore
6. Suyash Sharma - Rs 2.6 crore
7. Krunal Pandya - Rs 5.75 crore
8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar - Rs 10.75 crore
9. Swapnil Singh - Rs 50 lakh
10. Tim David - Rs 3 crore
List of RCB's retained players:
Virat Kohli (Rs 21 crore), Rajat Patidar (Rs 11 crore), Yash Dayal (Rs 5 crore)
