The IPL 2025 auction saw teams spending huge amounts to grab the biggest names in cricket. But have these star players delivered the kind of performances their price tags promised? Let’s take a look at how the top buys have fared so far this season.

1. Rishabh Pant – ₹27 Crore

Team: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Pant was the most expensive signing of the season, but his bat has been relatively quiet. In 10 innings, the wicketkeeper-batter managed only 128 runs – far below what fans and his team would’ve hoped for.

2. Shreyas Iyer – ₹26.75 Crore

Team: Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Shreyas Iyer has shown some solid form. With 405 runs in 11 innings, he’s been a dependable presence in the Punjab lineup. His price tag was high, but he’s starting to justify it.

3. Venkatesh Iyer – ₹23.75 Crore

Team: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
KKR invested big in Venkatesh Iyer, but so far, the return has been modest. He’s scored 142 runs in 7 innings, showing glimpses of promise but still falling short of expectations.

4. Heinrich Klaasen – ₹23 Crore

Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Klaasen has brought some firepower to the middle order. With 311 runs in 10 innings, he’s played a few impactful knocks, proving to be a solid buy for SRH.

5. Nicholas Pooran – ₹21 Crore

Team: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Pooran has been a standout performer. Scoring 410 runs in 11 innings, he’s been consistent and aggressive, giving LSG a good return on their investment.

6. Virat Kohli – ₹21 Crore

Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Kohli continues to be the backbone of RCB’s batting lineup. With 505 runs in 11 innings, he’s been in great form and remains one of the most valuable players in the league.

Wrapping Up

Big names bring big expectations, and while some stars like Virat Kohli and Nicholas Pooran are justifying their price tags, others have a lot of catching up to do. As the season progresses, it’ll be interesting to see who steps up and who slips under pressure.