Pacer M. Mohammed (INR 18.4 lakh), all-rounder Vijay Shankar (INR 18 lakh), and top-order batters U. Mukilesh (INR 17.6 lakh) and J. Suresh Kumar (INR 16.1 lakh) were the top buys of the 2025 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) auction held in Chennai on Saturday.
Mohammed went to SKM Salem Spartans, Vijay Shankar to Chepauk Super Gillies, and Mukilesh and Suresh to Trichy Grand Cholas.
Former UAE leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan, who became the first UAE bowler to take a hat-trick during the 2022 T20 World Cup, was bought by Siechem Madurai Panthers for INR 9.2 lakh. Karthik, who has the experience of playing in the ILT20 and the Global T20 Canada, has now moved to his birthplace Chennai.
Star Tamil Nadu and India players like Varun Chakaravarthy (Dindigul Dragons), Shahrukh Khan, Sai Sudharsan (both Lyca Kovai Kings), and R. Sai Kishore (iDream Tiruppur Tamizhans) were retained by their respective franchises before the auction. Former India off-spinner R. Ashwin was also retained by the Dragons.
Swapnil Singh, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) left-arm spinner, was snapped up by Chepauk Super Gillies for INR 10.8 lakh.
The 18-year-old Andre Siddarth, who went to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for his base price of INR 30 lakh in the latest IPL auction, was bought by Kovai Kings for INR 8.4 lakh.
Trichy Grand Cholas spent INR 6 lakh to secure India all-rounder Washington Sundar’s services.