The English test captain Ben Stokes and star batter Joe Root have opted out of the 2025 IPL mega auction, confirming their absence from the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a second consecutive season. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed their decision with the release of the player registration list, effectively ruling out Ben Stokes’ participation in the league until 2027 due to recently introduced regulations.
Under the new BCCI rules, any overseas player who does not register for the mega auction will be barred from entering the following year’s player auction. This shift in policy has a direct impact on players like Ben Stokes, who in previous years could skip mega auctions and still rejoin the IPL through mini auctions. This flexibility had allowed the players to negotiate potentially higher bids upon their return.
Ben Stokes’ career in the IPL has seen him command significant contracts, including a record-breaking Rs. 16.25 crore deal with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2023 after opting out of the 2022 mega auction. Since his IPL debut in 2017 when he was signed by Rising Pune SuperGiant for Rs. 14.25 crore, Ben Stokes has consistently been one of the most valuable overseas players of the league.
The BCCI’s new regulations appear to have been designed to curb the practice of top players strategically skipping mega auctions while aiming to re-enter later for lucrative deals. Additionally, any player who withdraws after the auction will face a two-year ban from the IPL, a move aimed at ensuring player commitment and stability within team rosters.
The absence of Ben Stokes and Joe Root underscores a shift in the IPL’s auction policies, which may influence franchise strategies and player availability for upcoming seasons. Ben Stokes will be eligible for return in 2027, provided he goes through the mini auction format under current rules. As the IPL 2025 mega auction heads to Jeddah on November 24-25, these regulatory changes mark a significant evolution in how player contracts and participation are managed within the league.
