IPL 2025 Auction: Glenn Phillips and Gerald Coetzee are among the Top five strategic buys at the auction.
The Indian Premier League 2025 auction saw franchises making calculated moves to strengthen their squads and enhance their chances in the tournament. These strategic acquisitions are game-changers who bring the X-factor to their respective teams. Here’s a look at the top five strategic buys from the IPL 2025 auction.
Will Jacks to Mumbai Indians for 5.25 crore INR
Will Jacks had a good maiden IPL season in 2024 when he turned up for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He cracked a brilliant ton, aggregating 230 runs at an average of 32.86 and a strike rate of 175.57 with one ton and one fifty in eight games. His T20 figures read 4847 runs at an average of 28.51 with four tons and 32 fifties in 191 matches. He is a steal for Mumbai Indians (MI) at 5.25 crore INR.
As a big hitter of the ball, he is expected to add muscle to the batting firepower, which has the likes of Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav. Jacks could possibly open the batting with Rohit to give the team quick starts and set the platform for big hitters to follow. Jacks is also a handy off-spinner with 60 wickets in T20s and could be used sporadically in the middle-overs to contain the opposition.
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Rovman Powell to Kolkata Knight Riders for 1.5 crore INR
Rovman Powell is remembered for his big sixes and impactful cameos, playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2024. He will now play for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025. KKR got the West Indies star for just 1.5 crore INR. They could use him strategically to further the team’s cause.
Powell could bat lower down the order and finish off chases with his big hitting or accelerate in the death overs to give the team a match-winning total. He could be used as an impact player as well after he is done with his primary job of finishing off the innings. Powell has scored 4563 runs at an average of 24.40 and a strike rate of 138.02 with one ton and 17 fifties in 256 T20s.
Romario Shepherd to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for 1.5 crore INR
Remember the 32 runs MI’s Romario Shepherd smashed off the last over bowled by Anrich Nortje of Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2024? Shepherd smashed four sixes and two fours in that over. He will now ply his trade for RCB, who got him for just 1.5 crore INR. He is expected to give the finishing touches to the innings with his big hitting—the same role Dinesh Karthik played last season.
However, Shepherd’s medium-pace bowling adds another layer. He could be more than handy with 150 wickets in 148 T20s under his belt. He has also scored 1461 runs at an average of 23.19 with three fifties. Shepherd can also be used as an impact player after he is done smashing the bowling attack to all parts of the ground.
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Glenn Phillips to Gujarat Titans for 2 crore INR
Glenn Phillips can keep, bat, and bowl off-spin. He is a great buy for the Gujarat Titans (GT) at just 2 crore INR. He has scored five tons and 43 fifties in 253 T20s, aggregating 6471 runs at an average of 31.72 and strike rate of 140.58.
The T20 veteran will have a major role to play for the Titans in the upcoming IPL season, where he is expected to bat in the middle order. He can provide the team with a match-winning total or anchor the chase in the company of all-rounders. Philips can also be called on to bowl his off-spin, having taken 23 wickets in T20s.
Gerald Coetzee to Gujarat Titans for 2.4 crore INR
The South Africa pacer can rake up some real pace to rattle the opposition. He can bowl consistently at 140 km/hr and has the knack of picking up wickets in the powerplay. He is a great buy for the Titans at 2.4 crore INR.
He can be a good support to his national mate Kagiso Rabada for Gujarat, along with Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Besides, Gerald Coetzee is a good hitter of the ball as well. He recently showed his finishing skills in the lone T20I won by South Africa in the recent T20I series loss against India. Not to forget, Coetzee has an impressive tally of 86 wickets in 64 T20s.
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