The first day of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction

The first day of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was a spectacle of high spending, as the 10 franchises aggressively pursued their top targets. Held at the Abadi Al Johar Arena, the opening day saw a staggering INR 467.95 crore spent on players, with the Lucknow Super Giants leading the charge by shelling out INR 27 crore for star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant.

From the roster of 577 players, 84 were presented, of which 68 were sold, while four were retained using the Right-to-Match (RTM) option. The auction showcased fierce competition, with big bids dominating the session.

The Punjab Kings stood out as the most aggressive buyers, leveraging their massive purse of INR 110.50 crore. They acquired eight players, spending INR 88 crore, demonstrating their intent to reshape their squad.

The second day of the auction promises more action, with 32 players set to be presented before the accelerated bidding process begins from player No. 117 onwards.

all photos taken from ipl website