Jeddah to host IPL 2025 auction on November 24 and 25 after late venue change

Saudi Arabian port city Jeddah has been locked in as the venue for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction on November 24 and 25. The auction was initially scheduled to be held in Riyadh, but it has now come to light that Abady Al Johar Arena will host the two-day auction after a last-minute change in venue.
India Today accessed an internal email addressed to the stakeholders of the IPL that confirmed the change in venue from Riyadh to Jeddah.
“The venue for the auction will be Abady Al Johar Arena (also known as Benchmark Arena) and the accommodation will be at the Hotel Shangri-la which is at a distance of 10 minutes from the auction venue. Our operations team will be in touch for the visa and logistics requirements,” the email read.
The BCCI, on Tuesday, confirmed Jeddah as the venue. It also announced that 1574 players, including 320 capped players, 1224 uncapped players, and 30 players from Associate Nations, registered for the mega auction.
The IPL auction, one of the most anticipated events of the cricket calendar, will coincide with the first Test match of the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia. The series opener will get underway in Perth on November 22. As reported earlier, Disney Star, which holds the broadcast rights for both the IPL and the India-Australia Test series, is keen to avoid a direct overlap between the events. Thankfully, due to the time difference with Australia, the auction, if held in the afternoon (IST), would likely avoid clashes with the match broadcast.
The BCCI also explored other international locations like Dubai, Singapore, and even Vienna, but Saudi Arabia has won the race to host one of the most-watched sporting events on television. BCCI delegations visited potential venues in Saudi Arabia last month to assess logistics and lodging arrangements.
With the IPL 2025 mega auction around the corner, anticipation is high as franchises prepare to make pivotal bids on high-profile players. Among the standout names are Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh, and Ishan Kishan, each renowned for their impact in the T20 format. These players bring a mix of batting prowess, leadership qualities, and sharp fielding, making them invaluable assets for any franchise aiming for a strong 2025 season.
While several franchises have already declared their retentions, these five players will undoubtedly be at the center of intense bidding wars. Teams are strategizing to secure the best players within their budget, and these star players are likely to command some of the highest prices. Pant’s explosive wicketkeeping-batsman role, Iyer’s dynamic leadership potential, and Rahul’s consistency with the bat are especially appealing attributes in a fast-paced tournament like the IPL.