The IPL auction sees multiple combinations being tried as teams look to fill the void that they could not previously fill. But due to the dynamics of the auction,
not every call turns out to be correct. Over the years, from releasing future superstars to overspending on players who failed to deliver, franchises have made decisions that hurt them.
These auction blunders often grab attention when the same players shines elsewhere or when a team struggles in a role they thought they had covered. Notably, even the most experienced think-tanks can slip up and in a league as competitive as the IPL, even a single misjudgement can affect a franchise’s plans.
Here are 3 IPL auction blunders teams regret most
Kolkata Knight Riders letting go of IPL-winning skipper
Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to release title-winning skipper Shreyas Iyer ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction was shocking, especially after he had guided the franchise to its first trophy in a decade. Despite initial discussions about retention, Iyer revealed that a lack of communication from KKR eventually pushed him towards the exit.
The decision backfired almost instantly for Kolkata, as the star batter was snapped up by Punjab Kings for a record INR 26.75 crore. Following this, Iyer led Punjab to the IPL final the very same year. While KKR backed their long-standing core, the franchise is still believed to be hurt by letting go of a captain who delivered them a title.
RCB releasing KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2018
Royal Challengers Bengaluru releasing KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2018 mega-auction has been the franchise’s biggest regret to date. Rahul had returned to RCB in 2016 and enjoyed a breakthrough season, scoring 397 runs at a strike rate of 146.49, before injury ruled him out of IPL 2017.
RCB wanted to retain him for 2018, but as former team manager Avinash Vaidya revealed, last-minute negotiations during Rahul’s flight to South Africa did not materialise. Once he entered the auction, Punjab Kings snapped him up for INR 11 crore, and he has been on the list of the biggest names in IPL history.
1. Yuvraj Singh becoming most expensive player for two successive seasons
Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s back-to-back record as the most expensive player at the IPL auctions in 2014 and 2015 is one of the biggest IPL auction blunders. Coming after recovering from a life-threatening illness, many expected him to go unsold in 2014. Instead, a bidding war was triggered, with RCB eventually securing him for a massive INR 14 crore. Despite flashes of brilliance that season, his performances did not justify the price tag.
Released ahead of 2015, the southpaw triggered another intense bidding war. Delhi Daredevils, having a heavy purse, outbid RCB and bagged him for a whopping INR 16 crore, making him the most expensive player for a second straight year. But the returns dipped further, with just 248 runs at a strike rate of 118.
