Discover the top 3 players who left after the mega auction and their impact on the league. The 2025 IPL mega-auction saw many players go back to their old teams. Just like Gautam Gambhir, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya did in the past, several players returned to familiar franchises. It was a special reunion auction. Here are the three players who are returning to their previous teams before the new season.
3. Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell is back with Punjab Kings. The Australian started his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and then played for Mumbai Indians for one season before joining Punjab in 2014. In his first season with Punjab, he played amazingly, scoring 552 runs in 16 matches and helping the team reach the final, where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Maxwell was part of the team again in 2015, 2016, and 2017, but his poor form led to Punjab releasing him before the 2018 auction. He joined Delhi Capitals that year before returning to Punjab. That season, he scored 108 runs in 13 matches and was released again.
Maxwell then played for Royal Challengers Bangalore for the next four years. He did well at first but struggled in 2024, scoring only 52 runs in 10 matches. As a result, RCB released him, and Punjab Kings brought him back for Rs 4.20 crore, despite interest from Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings.
2.Trent Boult
There were reports that Trent Boult would rejoin Mumbai Indians before the IPL auction. He took 28 wickets in 29 matches during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In 2020, he played a big role in Mumbai’s championship win by taking 25 wickets. It was expected that the 35-year-old would be kept for the next season, but Mumbai didn’t keep him.
Later, Boult joined Rajasthan Royals, where he played three seasons and took 45 wickets in 42 matches. He was excellent with the new ball, which is one of the main reasons Mumbai wanted to sign him in the mega-auction. Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan started bidding for him, and then Mumbai joined the race, eventually signing him for Rs 12.50 crore.
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Boult will join the bowling attack with Jasprit Bumrah and Deepak Chahar. This trio could be very dangerous in IPL 2025. Boult and Chahar can be deadly with the new ball, and Bumrah can take over in the death overs. Overall, Mumbai has built a strong fast bowling unit that could help them win their sixth championship.
1. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin will play for Chennai Super Kings again after eight years. He joined the team in 2009 and played 97 matches before moving to Rising Pune Super Giants in 2016. During his time with Chennai, he took 90 wickets and became one of their top match winners. He was part of the team’s title wins in 2010 and 2011.
Chennai bought Ashwin for Rs 9.75 crore at the auction. The five-time champions were eager to bring him back, and CSK was the first team to bid for him. Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals were also interested, but Chennai won the race to sign him.
The 38-year-old is excited to return to Chennai, where his IPL journey began, and where he later became part of Team India. He will reunite with the legendary MS Dhoni and is looking forward to playing under Ruturaj Gaikwad and aiming for their sixth IPL title.
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