Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked five likely most expensive wicketkeeper-batters in the IPL 2025 auction. He put England white-ball captain Jos Buttler at No. 5 on that list. However, the IPL 2025 auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Heinrich Klaasen, Nicholas Pooran, Prabhsimran Singh, and Abishek Porel are among the wicketkeeper-batters already retained by their respective franchises as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “At No. 5, I have got Jos Buttler. I was firstly surprised how Rajasthan let him go. However, since they let him go, he will come into the auction and be very expensive because he brings that skill set to the table. He can also be some team’s captain. He is a T20 World Cup-winning captain. He can go till eight to 10 crores. At No. 4, I have got Phil Salt. He showed last year that he is an incredible guy. He is dangerous, a game-changer, and can also be consistent on these pitches. His success mantra will be to play on pitches where the ball comes onto the bat.”
Aakash Chopra also said that there might be a close fight between Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul as the second-most expensive wicketkeeper-batter as well. He doesn’t see the Lucknow Super Giants using the Right To Match card for Rahul as well.
“At No. 3, I am slightly split. It could be either Ishan Kishan or KL Rahul. KL Rahul will come first in the marquee list, so there might be aggressive bidding for him. Since RCB need him, he might go there. It could be 15 to 18 crores. KL Rahul is going to demand a lot of attraction although I have kept him at No. 3 for now. I don’t think LSG will use the RTM card for him,” he said. “At No. 2, you might have guessed it already, Ishan Kishan. People are saying that his stars have gone down but he will be favored by many teams. He is a left-hander, opener, proven, and will be hungry to prove himself one more time. Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul can go up and down between No. 2 and No. 3.”
Aakash Chopra also stated that Rishabh Pant will undoubtedly be the costliest wicketkeeper-batter at the IPL 2025 auction.
“Last but not the least, Rishabh Pant will be at No. 1. There is no doubt about that because he is that sort of player. You will get very few keepers who bat down the order. I don’t think Delhi Capitals will use the RTM card for him. How much money he gets will depend on what’s in Punjab’s mind,” he concluded.
