The IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah delivered exciting developments as teams restructured their squads. Manish Pandey made a nostalgic return to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) acquired all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed for ₹2.4 crore. Gujarat Titans also made headlines by signing veteran pacer Ishant Sharma for ₹75 lakh.
Manish Pandey, a key player for KKR during their golden era between 2014 and 2017, rejoins the franchise for ₹75 lakh. The highlight of his KKR stint was his match-winning 94 in the 2014 IPL final, which secured the team’s second title. Pandey, with 3,850 IPL runs in 171 matches, including a century and 22 half-centuries, also brings his international experience of 39 T20Is for India, where he scored 709 runs.
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Shahbaz Ahmed, known for his all-round capabilities, joins LSG after an impressive season with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Last year, he contributed 215 runs and seven wickets in 16 matches, playing a pivotal role in SRH’s runner-up finish. Ahmed, who has represented India in three ODIs and two T20Is, has 536 IPL runs and 21 wickets to his name. His addition bolsters LSG’s depth in both batting and bowling.
Veteran pacer Ishant Sharma, who enjoyed a strong season with Delhi Capitals, was picked up by Gujarat Titans for ₹75 lakh. Ishant, with 434 international wickets in 199 matches and 145 scalps in 167 T20s, adds invaluable experience to GT’s bowling lineup.
Other Major Signings
- Jaydev Unadkat: The left-arm pacer, with 226 wickets in 192 T20s, was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹1 crore.
- Anshul Kambhoj: The Haryana bowler, who recently grabbed attention with a 10-wicket haul in a Ranji Trophy match, joined Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹3.4 crore.
- Shaikh Rasheed: The young batter, previously with CSK, returns to the five-time champions for ₹30 lakh. Rasheed has 296 runs in 10 T20s, including a century and a fifty.
- Swapnil Singh: The veteran all-rounder, after a fine domestic season with Uttarakhand, rejoined Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹50 lakh.
- Gurnoor Brar: The Punjab pacer was picked by Gujarat Titans for ₹1.3 crore.
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