Overseas players are a big attraction, especially with some of the biggest matchwinners and game-changers in the offing.
Day 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction witnessed some intense bidding wars between the franchises as the teams broke the bank to secure the services of the best players in the business.
Amongst them, overseas players are a big attraction, especially with some of the biggest matchwinners and game-changers in the offing.
In this article, we take a look at the top 5 foreign stars who were the biggest earners in the IPL 2025 auction.
Jos Buttler marked a significant shift in his career as he moved on from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the 2025 IPL tournament. The England white-ball captain, who had been with the Royals family since 2018, became the highest-paid overseas star at the end of Day 1 of the IPL 2025 auction after the Gujarat Titans secured his services for a whopping INR 15.75 crores.
Buttler is a run-machine at the top of the batting order and his IPL stats speak volumes of the experience he brings in. In 107 IPL games, the 34-year-old has amassed 3582 runs with 7 centuries and 19 fifties to his name.
New Zealand pacer Trent Boult is the second most expensive player on the list after he made a return to the Mumbai Indians following a bid of INR 12.5 crores. Boult has previously plied his trade for the five-time champions during the IPL 2021 season.
Boult can bowl with the new ball in the powerplay and can also come back during the death overs. Added to his ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs, MI has made a solid signing in the Kiwi, who can form a lethal pair alongside Jasprit Bumrah in the pace department.
Rajasthan Royals, who had the lowest purse amongst all the franchises, decided to splurge on England speedster Jofra Archer. The England international made a return to the Royals family, having initially made his IPL debut with RR back in 2018.
Archer has been a proven contender in RR colours. He was even named the MVP in the last full IPL season he played, claiming 20 wickets for Rajasthan Royals in the 2020 edition held in the UAE.
Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood made a return to RCB and at the same time earned the big bucks, getting a lucrative contract of INR 12.5 crores. He was last bought by the Bengaluru-based outfit during the IPL 2022 mega auction.
Hazlewood can be effective in providing a much-needed stability in the powerplay overs, a critical area where RCB struggled in the past. His ability to bowl with precision and control makes him a strong contender to lead their bowling unit and tackle their previous issues with pace bowling.
Mitchell Starc, who was the most expensive player at last year’s auction for INR 24.75 crore, saw a drop in his stocks. Nevertheless, the Aussie still finds himself amongst the top 5 highest-paid overseas stars in the IPL 205 auction after DC bought him for INR 11.75 crores.
DC needs a leader in the bowling department and this is where they saw Starc as an ideal candidate, given his vast international experience.
For more updates, follow Cricxtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram and YouTube.
