Yuzvendra Chahal, the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) all-time leading wicket-taker, has become the league’s costliest spinner, joining Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a whopping INR 18 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The intense bidding war saw PBKS outbid Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, and Chennai Super Kings for the premier leg-spinner.
Chahal, who had previously played for Rajasthan Royals for INR 6.5 crore in IPL 2022, entered the auction with a base price of INR 2 crore after being released by the Royals. His INR 18 crore deal has set a new benchmark for spinners in IPL history.
PBKS secure Chahal in a record-breaking auction for INR 18 Crore
Speaking to JioCinema, Chahal shared his excitement and relief, saying, “I was very nervous during the auction, but I believe I deserve this. Playing for Punjab Kings is a new challenge, and I’m thrilled to work under Ricky Ponting. It’s an opportunity to learn and give my best.”
Chahal is also looking forward to playing alongside his close friend Shreyas Iyer, who also joined PBKS during the auction. Reflecting on his massive paycheck, he added, “I thought I’d go for INR 12-13 crore, but this exceeded my expectations. I’m ready to justify the price tag.”
Apart from Chahal, PBKS made significant additions to their squad, securing Shreyas Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Arshdeep Singh, and Nehal Wadhera on the first day of the auction.
With Chahal’s addition, Punjab Kings aim to make a strong bid for their maiden IPL title in the 2025 season.
