Kevin Pietersen Names Delhi Capitals as Winners of IPL 2025 Mega Auction
Ex-England cricketer Kevin Pietersen says Delhi Capitals won the IPL 2025 mega auction. The high-stakes, two-day auction saw record player prices. All ten franchises finalized their squads for the 18th season of the tournament.
The moment came when Lucknow Super Giants bought Rishabh Pant for INR 27 crore. He became the most expensive player in IPL history. Punjab Kings matched with an INR 26.75 crore bid for Shreyas Iyer. KL Rahul was a top value pick, going to Delhi Capitals for just INR 14 crore.
Rishabh Pant Sets IPL Auction Record
The IPL 2025 auction witnessed a historic bidding war for Rishabh Pant. The Lucknow Super Giants bought the wicketkeeper-batter for INR 27 crore. He is a key figure in Indian cricket. This set a new IPL record. Pant’s addition strengthens Lucknow’s squad. They are now a favorite for the upcoming season.
Shreyas Iyer Joins Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 Crore
Punjab Kings made headlines by securing Indian batter Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crore. The experienced batter will likely be key to the team’s batting lineup as they rebuild after a poor 2024 season.
Delhi Capitals Land KL Rahul and Mitchell Starc
Delhi Capitals’ smart buys in the auction drew praise from Kevin Pietersen. Analysts called their INR 14 crore buy of KL Rahul a bargain. He brings leadership and a strong record at the top of the order. The franchise also signed star pacer Mitchell Starc, bolstering their bowling attack significantly.
Other notable signings are Harry Brook, T. Natarajan, and Karun Nair. They further strengthen the team’s core. With these additions, Delhi Capitals are set to challenge for their first IPL title.
Kevin Pietersen Backs Delhi Capitals
After the auction, Kevin Pietersen tweeted on X. He was excited for his former team.
“My favourite @DelhiCapitals WON the auction! Now it’s time to WIN on the field,” he wrote on X.
My favourite @DelhiCapitals WON the auction!
Now it’s time to WIN on the field!
🙌🏼— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) November 26, 2024
Having played for Delhi in the IPL, Pietersen has a strong connection with the franchise. He first represented the team in 2012. He scored 305 runs at a strike rate of 147 in eight matches, including a century. In 2014, he returned to captain the side but had an underwhelming season with the bat. Despite this, Pietersen’s bond with the Capitals remains strong.
Full Delhi Capitals Squad for IPL 2025
Delhi Capitals’ finalized squad after the IPL 2025 auction is as follows:
- Retained Players: Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel
- Key Additions: KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, Harry Brook, T. Natarajan, Karun Nair
- Other Squad Members: Mohit Sharma, Faf du Plessis, Mukesh Kumar, Darshan Nalkande, Vipraj Nigam, Dushmantha Chameera, Donovan Ferreira, Ajay Mandal, Manvanth Kumar, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Sameer Rizvi, and Ashutosh Sharma.
Delhi Capitals’ Road to Redemption
Delhi Capitals last reached the IPL final in 2020, losing to the Mumbai Indians. The Capitals have a revamped squad of star players and young talent. They hope to turn their strong auction into on-field success.
The IPL 2025 season will be intense. Kevin Pietersen and fans are hopeful about Delhi’s chances. The team has the depth and firepower to secure their first-ever championship title.
