Given the plethora of promising talents, it might be difficult for some of the veteran stars to become a mainstay.
The recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction witnessed some intense bidding wars with all 10 teams putting their best effort to construct a squad that can punch above their weight in a bid to lift the coveted title.
While experience in a player is a big selling point, given the plethora of promising talents coming in every season, it might be difficult for some of the veteran stars to feature in the starting XII roster of their respective franchises.
In this article, we take a look at five such stars who might struggle to become a consistent starter in the upcoming season.
ALSO READ: 3 players KKR bid for unsuccessfully at the IPL 2025 auction
The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper was picked up by the Delhi Capitals (DC) for his base price of INR 2 crores at the auction in Jeddah. Notably, RCB had the chance to use RTM for the Proteas star but decided against it.
While the addition of du Plessis for the price DC got is a steal deal, he might not get enough opportunities, given DC’s overseas talent pool and the limitation to feature only 4 foreigners.
DC already has the young and exciting Aussie opener Jake Fraser-McGurk alongside English big-hitter Harry Brook in the top-order and Tristan Stubbs as well at No.5 or No.6 which gives their batting a solid firepower.
No doubt Faf is a brilliant batter but given that he is in the twilight of his career, it is expected that DC might use him in a backup role or in specific games where the management feels the need.
Last season’s runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) purchased Jaydev Unadkat for INR 1 crore. Notably, the move created a new record as Unadkat got sold for a 13th time – the most for a player in the tournament’s history.
However, SRH also spent heaps of money on getting premier pacers like Mohammad Shami and Harshal Patel, in order to firm up their bowling department. Thus it will be extremely difficult for the 33-year-old to become a mainstay, although he might be preferred in some games given he is the only left-handed pacer in the side.
After being released by DC ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Ishant Sharma was picked up by the 2022 IPL winners Gujarat Titans for his base price of INR 75 lakhs.
Titans have already built a strong pace battery with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj & Gerald Coetzee and it will be extremely difficult for Ishant to secure a place for himself in the starting XII.
Notably, Ishant has featured in just 17 games over the past two seasons, claiming 20 wickets. Additionally, recurring injuries have hindered him from performing at his best in recent years.
Lungi Ngidi has featured in 43 T20Is and 14 IPL matches in his career, taking 63 and 25 wickets, respectively. His impressive track record highlights his ability as a genuine wicket-taker, and RCB secured a valuable addition by acquiring him at his base price of INR 1 crore.
Despite this, breaking into the plaing XII may prove challenging for Ngidi, given the presence of overseas pacers like Josh Hazlewood and Nuwan Thushara. Hazlewood, RCB’s most expensive purchase at the IPL 2025 auction for INR 12.5 crores, is likely to lead the pace attack. Thushara, who has performed well in recent T20 matches, might also be ahead in the pecking order. As a result, Ngidi’s opportunities could be limited to a few sporadic appearances.
Moeen Ali initially went unsold in the auction but was later picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 2 crore. He is expected to serve as a backup option for Sunil Narine. The defending champions are likely to rely on Quinton de Kock, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Anrich Nortje as their primary overseas players.
If KKR require a replacement, West Indies T20 captain Rovman Powell is likely to be the first choice. This means Moeen might spend most of the season on the bench unless Narine becomes unavailable. However, utilizing Moeen could disrupt KKR’s bowling strategy, as the England all-rounder may struggle to deliver his full quota of overs effectively on the batting-friendly pitches of Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
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