#2 Sam Curran
Having traded Ravichandran Ashwin, the Kings XI Punjab had already vacated the slot of an Indian all-rounder. After this, they released Sam Curran, the only lone renowned all-rounder left in their squad after Ashwin's departure. This was nothing less than a surprise since he had done well in the limited chances that he got last year.
The southpaw scored 95 runs in 9 games, along with scalping 10 wickets. The runs came at a strike-rate of 172.72, which is incredible for a bowling all-rounder. Not to forget, he was the first player to bag a hat-trick in the season. Though a bit expensive at times, he chipped in with wickets whenever the team needed it.
The reason for which Curran could have been released is his high price of ₹7.2 crore, which he had earned through an impressive show during India's tour of England. The 21-year-old can be a valuable addition to any team since he can go for the kill straight away, and provide an extra left-arm angle to the bowling attack.
Kings XI Punjab might have released him hoping to get him back at a lower price, but this looks highly unlikely as many teams would like to see him donning their jerseys.
Follow IPL Auction 2025 Live Updates, News & Biddings at Sportskeeda. Get the fastest updates on Mega-Auction and cricket news