Former coach Tom Moody was left baffled by Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) auction strategy to acquire Shreyas Iyer at the IPL 2025 auction. PBKS broke the bank by purchasing the Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2024 title-winning captain for a whopping ₹26.75 crore, making him the most expensive buy in IPL history for a brief period. However, this record was soon broken by Rishabh Pant, who was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crores.
PBKS also used the Right to Match (RTM) option to bring back pacer Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crores. With a massive purse of ₹110.5 crore at the start of the auction, PBKS now has 65.75 crore remaining in their purse after these big purchases.
Tom Moody criticized PBKS’ auction approach, stating that it seemed unplanned and hasty. He mentioned, “It tells us that Punjab came into this auction with pockets full of crores and now they have emptied them very quickly, with two players being auctioned off.” Moody expressed surprise at the high bids for Arshdeep Singh and Shreyas Iyer, indicating that PBKS may have overpaid for these players.
Shreyas Iyer is expected to captain PBKS in the upcoming season, following his high-value acquisition. The bidding war for Iyer saw KKR, PBKS, and Delhi Capitals competing before PBKS ultimately secured his services for a record price.
Iyer has had a successful IPL career, leading Delhi Capitals to the finals in 2021 and winning the title with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024. His leadership skills and batting prowess make him a valuable asset for PBKS in the upcoming season.
Overall, PBKS’ auction strategy, particularly their bids for Iyer and Arshdeep, has raised eyebrows in the cricketing world, with many questioning the rationale behind these expensive acquisitions.
