Predicting the top 3 most expensive buys in Set 1 of capped all-rounders at IPL 2025 auction ft.  Harshal Patel

Capped all-rounders have always been in great demand during the Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions. With the IPL 2025 mega auction just a day away, all eyes will be on Set 1 of capped all-rounders when 10 teams meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia..

That said set comprises seven all-rounders viz. Ravichandran Ashwin, Venkatesh Iyer, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Harshal Patel, Rachin Ravindra, and Marcus Stoinis.

On that note, here is a prediction on the top three most expensive buys in Set 1 of capped all-rounders at IPL 2025 auction.

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#1 Harshal Patel

In the last four IPL seasons, Harshal Patel has won the coveted Purple Cap twice. In 2022, he picked up 32 wickets, the joint-highest for any player in any edition of the IPL.

He again won the Purple Cap in 2024, picking up 24 wickets. Despite his heroics with the ball last season, Patel has not been retained by the Punjab Kings.

Patel is an experienced player and has bagged 135 IPL wickets in 106 matches. He is known for his exceptional bowling skills, especially in the death overs. He is a handy batter lower down the order and has a strike rate of 122.66 in 42 IPL innings. He can score quick runs at the death and can also hold one end up with the bat if needed.

Considering his all-round skills, Patel could end up having the highest bid in this set of all-rounders. It remains to be seen if the Punjab Kings acquire him by using the RTM card.

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#2 Venkatesh Iyer

Iyer was an integral part of the KKR team that won the IPL 2024 trophy. He made his IPL debut in 2021 and since then has grown and matured as a cricketer.

In 49 innings with the bat in 50 IPL matches, Iyer has scored 1326 runs at a strike rate of 137.13 and averages almost 32. He can bat in the top order for any of the franchises and has the ability to take the game away from the opposition single-handedly, especially in the powerplay..

Though Iyer has not bowled much in the IPL, he is a also handy medium-pace bowler who can bowl a couple of overs as and when needed by his skipper.

Indian players have always been in demand during the IPL auction and Iyer could be one of the most expensive buys in Set 1 of capped all-rounders.

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#3 Rachin Ravindra

Ravindra made his debut in IPL 2024 and had a decent season for the CSK. He scored 222 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 160.87.

Ravindra's stocks are rising with every match he played and he could be one of the most sought players in the IPL 2025 auction.

Apart from his attacking batting skills, Ravindra is a left-arm orthodox spinner and a live wire in the field. He was one of the architects in New Zealand's 3-0 Test win over India last month.

Ravindra has a good batting record in India across all formats and is one of the players to watch out for in the auction. He is only 25 years of age and could be an integral part of any franchise for the next decade or so.