Arshdeep Singh on track to become the most expensive pick of the IPL 2025 mega auction?

Arshdeep Singh‘s having the time of his life. At 25, just two years after he made his debut, the left-arm pacer needs just one wicket to tie Yuzvendra Chahal as India’s most successful T20I bowler of all time. Had he played one more game, he could have not only crossed Chahal but become the first Indian bowler to take 100 T20I wickets and the world’s quickest to do so when it comes to time taken.

Arshdeep Singh, most expensive pick of IPL 2025 auction?

He was already going to be a hot commodity at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, but following his performance in South Africa, especially in the first and last match of the series, Arshdeep could become the most expensive pick of the Jeddah auction.

It’s expected that one of KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, or Shreyas Iyer would be the most expensive buy of the 2025 edition. However, getting placed in the first marquee list, which will kick off the auction, will help Arshdeep. Along with Pant, Iyer, Jos Buttler, Kagiso Rabada, and Mitchell Starc, the left-arm pacer would go on the floor when franchises have money in the bank and are willing to bid big for players. 

Most didn’t expect Starc to be the most expensive buy of 2024. But, when the bidding started, it didn’t seem to stop. Barring speed, Arshdeep does everything better than Starc. Of course, one realises that a mega auction is different and mini, but can’t a franchise go all out for a pacer who can represent them for a decade? One might even see someone bidding big for Arshdeep, and at the last moment, the Punjab Kings, his old franchise, raise a Right to Match (RTM) card for him. 

Best Indian IPL pacer after Bumrah

You mustn’t forget that left-arm pacers are rare and that too of Arshdeep quality. You can’t really find Indian fast bowlers who are great in the powerplay and the death. Jasprit Bumrah’s the first, and Arshdeep’s the second.

One might say that Arshdeep’s better in the powerplay than Bumrah, but that’s for any day to discuss or dissect. On their good days, you might expect Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to find success up front and at the back, but those days don’t come often.

Overall better than overseas stars

In fact, it’s not just Indians; even overseas pacers aren’t of the same quality as Arshdeep. In 2024, Pat Cummins, Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult were the best foreign quicks. But none of them really possess the all-phase bowling ability like Arshdeep.

Cummins used himself the most in the middle overs, relying on off-pace balls, cutters, and cross-seam deliveries. Pathirana was deadly in the death but doesn’t even bowl in the powerplay to get into the conversation. Starc came into the conversation when the Kolkata Knight Riders entered the playoffs; before that, he was even dropped because he couldn’t even control where he was pitching the ball. Meanwhile, Trent Boult fares exceptionally well in the powerplay but doesn’t bowl often or well in the backend of the innings. 

A left-arm pacer who swings the ball up front and is tough to hit in the death. This makes Arshdeep Singh one-of-a-kind.

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