The IPL 2025 mega auction is only a few weeks away! After franchises set up their core teams via player retentions, building the remainder of the squad will be the next major challenge.
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Several teams will be on the lookout for top-order batters and in particular, some exciting Indian stars, with experienced players like Shreyas Iyer.
At the same time, franchises have also relied on Indian middle order and finishers in the past, with the likes of Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi playing instrumental roles for their teams in trophy-winning seasons.
In this article, The Sporting News takes a look at the most in-demand Indian batters ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Check IPL 2025 teams' retentions: CSK | MI | KKR | PBKS | DC | SRH | RCB | RR | GT | LSG
Who are the most in-demand Indian batters for IPL 2025 mega auction?
1. KL Rahul
KL Rahul had a solid IPL 2024 season, scoring 520 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 136. However, his batting was not deemed to be particularly impactful for the team.
LSG released him citing a similar reason but given his vast experience at the international level and potential in T20 cricket, it will be interesting to see which teams go after him at the mega auction.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 | 616 | 56 | 135.4 | 6 |
| 2023 | 9 | 274 | 34.2 | 113.2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 14 | 520 | 37.1 | 136.1 | 4 |
| Total | 37 | 1410 | 42.7 | 130.7 | 12 |
However, KL has not played for India in T20Is since 2023 and was not part of the World Cup winning squad in 2024 either.
The 2025 season might be his last opportunity for him to make a case to return to the Indian T20I team.
MORE: IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Which franchises are favourites to sign KL Rahul?
2. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer, the Indian middle-order batter, was a key figure for Kolkata Knight Riders in the team's IPL 2025 winning season.
Iyer's leadership and batting will make him a highly sought-after player in the IPL 2025 auction.
In IPL 2024, Iyer had an impressive campaign. His performances in the last few seasons have proven his value in the middle-order.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 | 401 | 30.8 | 134.1 | 3 |
| 2024 | 14 | 351 | 39 | 146.9 | 2 |
| Total | 28 | 752 | 34.2 | 139.8 | 5 |
Iyer did not play the IPL 2023 season as he was ruled out due to injury and he has only played two T20Is for India since 2023.
Like KL, he was not part of India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad either.
3. Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer has emerged as a promising all-rounder for Kolkata Knight Riders, but his batting form has been the highlight of his performances.
With his powerful hitting and ability to turn games around at the top of the order, Iyer was one of the key performers for KKR in the 2024 season, finishing the season with 370 runs.
His versatility to hit big sixes make him an attractive prospect for IPL franchises looking for dynamic players who can impact matches.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12 | 182 | 16.5 | 107.7 | 1 |
| 2023 | 14 | 404 | 28.9 | 145.8 | 3 |
| 2024 | 13 | 370 | 46.2 | 158.8 | 4 |
| Total | 39 | 956 | 29 | 140.8 | 8 |
4. Rahul Tripathi
Rahul Tripathi's reputation as one of the most reliable middle-order batters in the IPL has only grown in the last few years. In the 2024 season, he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, finishing with 165 runs in 6 matches.
Known for his balanced style between aggression and classical, Tripathi has been pivotal in high-pressure situations, helping his team in tight finishes.
His consistency in scoring runs at a quick pace makes him a top choice for franchises that need someone who can perform both as an anchor and a power hitter.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 | 413 | 37.5 | 158.2 | 3 |
| 2023 | 13 | 273 | 22.8 | 128.2 | 1 |
| 2024 | 6 | 165 | 27.5 | 143.5 | 1 |
| Total | 33 | 851 | 29.3 | 144.5 | 5 |
5. Nehal Wadhera
Nehal Wadhera has been a rising star in Indian domestic cricket, known for his aggressive batting. Though he has limited IPL experience, Wadhera impressed with his performance in domestic T20s.
He is expected to attract interest from IPL franchises looking for a fresh talent who can fill the role of a top-order batter.
His recent form suggests that he can be a valuable addition, for the teams looking to inject youthful energy into their batting lineups for IPL 2025.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 | 241 | 26.8 | 145.2 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 | 109 | 18.2 | 129.8 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 350 | 23.3 | 140.0 | 2 |
Nehal Wadhera for Punjab in Syed Mushtaq Ali 2023/24: Innings - 4, Runs - 128, Avg/SR - 64/162, 50+ scores - 2
6. Angkrish Raghuvanshi
Angkrish Raghuvanshi's name has started circulating in IPL circles following his performances in domestic T20s.
Known for his attacking stroke play, Raghuvanshi has shown the potential to make an impact at the top of the order.
While he is still developing his IPL career, his performances at the junior levels and in state cricket have made him a player to watch for franchises looking to nurture fresh talent for the upcoming mega auction.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 | 163 | 23.3 | 155.2 | 1 |
Angkrish, who is still only 19, was the highest run-scorer for India in the U19 World Cup of 2022 and he had an impressive start to his IPL career with a crucial half-century in 2024.
7. Nitish Rana
Nitish Rana, a seasoned IPL performer, has been part of Kolkata Knight Riders in recent years.
His ability to stabilize the innings while also striking big has been valuable, especially in pressure situations.
Rana’s consistency and adaptability in different batting positions have made him a reliable middle-order player for KKR, and his performances in IPL 2024 continued to show his importance in the T20 format.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 | 361 | 27.8 | 143.8 | 2 |
| 2023 | 14 | 413 | 31.8 | 141 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 | 42 | 21 | 123.5 | 0 |
| Total | 30 | 816 | 29.1 | 141.2 | 5 |
Nitish Rana's in Syed Mushtaq Ali in 22/23 and 23/24 (Delhi): Innings - 9, Runs - 401, Avg/SR - 57.3/132.3, 50+ scores - 2
8. Abdul Samad
Abdul Samad is known for his power-hitting, making him a sought-after prospect for franchises that need a finisher.
His ability to strike the ball long distances, especially in the death overs, had earned him a place in Sunrisers Hyderabad's IPL squad.
Samad’s form in IPL 2024 was somewhat inconsistent, but his ability to turn games around with a few big shots makes him an intriguing option for franchises looking for a dynamic middle-order batter.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 | 169 | 42.2 | 132 | 0 |
| 2024 | 12 | 182 | 18.2 | 168.5 | 0 |
| Total | 20 | 351 | 25.1 | 148.7 | 0 |
Samad's usage at SRH might have been questionable. However, teams are well aware of his potential as a finisher in the side at 23 years of age. In the recent Ranji Trophy, he smashed twin centuries in the match against Odisha for J&K.
9. Abhinav Manohar
Karnataka's Abhinav Manohar is a very underrated player in the domestic circuit and has also show his talent in the late middle order for the Gujarat Titans.
He is known for his big-hitting abilities as a finisher and has also shown his displayed that he can bring stability to an innings during a batting collapse.
Manohar was under-utilized by the Titans last season, but he will nonetheless be on the radar of several teams after his exploits in the Maharaja T20 trophy 2024.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 | 108 | 18 | 144 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 114 | 19 | 137.3 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 56.2 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 231 | 16.5 | 132.8 | 0 |
Abhinav Manohar in Maharaja T20 2024: Innings - 10, Runs - 507, Avg/SR - 84.5/196.5, 50+ scores - 6
10. Mahipal Lomror
Mahipal Lomror has been a consistent performer in domestic T20s. He performed decently during his IPL stint in 2024, with several solid knocks that helped RCB in the middle overs.
He will be an ideal player for teams that need lower middle order batters, who can strike the ball really hard in the back end of the innings.
| Year | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50+ scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 5 | 86 | 17.2 | 150.9 | 0 |
| 2023 | 10 | 135 | 16.9 | 139.2 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10 | 125 | 15.6 | 183.8 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 346 | 16.5 | 155.9 | 1 |
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IPL 2025 mega auction hotlist ranking: Indian batsmen
| Player | Hotlist Ranking |
|---|---|
| KL Rahul | RED HOT |
| Venkatesh Iyer | RED HOT |
| Shreyas Iyer | RED HOT |
| Rahul Tripathi | WARM |
| Nehal Wadhera | WARM |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | WARM |
| Nitish Rana | WARM |
| Abdul Samad | WARM |
| Abhinav Manohar | HOT |
| Mahipal Lomror | HOT |
| Ashutosh Sharma | WARM |
| Sameer Rizvi | WARM |
| Sarfaraz Khan | COLD |
| Prithvi Shaw | COLD |
| Mayank Agarwal | COLD |
| Atharva Taide | COLD |
| Suyash Prabhudessai | COLD |
| Deepak Hooda | COLD |
| Naman Dhir | COLD |
| Devdutt Padikkal | COLD |
MORE: IPL 2025 mega auction: What is the remaining purse and budget for each Indian Premier League team?
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