Goa's cricket fans are looking towards Abu Dhabi with renewed hope. The upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 player auction presents a crucial opportunity for the state to secure representation in the world's premier T20 league, after having no player in the previous edition.
Goa's Trio on the Auction List
Three cricketers registered with the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) have been shortlisted for the high-profile event scheduled for Tuesday. The group includes state team captain Suyash Prabhudessai, alongside Abhinav Tejrana and Lalit Yadav. All three have switched their domestic allegiance to Goa and enter the auction on the back of strong domestic performances.
Suyash Prabhudessai, who led Goa in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, is the most experienced of the trio with prior IPL exposure. The batting all-rounder played 11 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru between 2022 and 2024. His recent form is compelling, having scored three consecutive half-centuries in the SMA T20. He remained unbeaten with 75 against Madhya Pradesh and 51 against Jammu & Kashmir, followed by a rapid 79 against Bihar.
Impressive Domestic Form a Key Factor
Abhinav Tejrana, 25, has been a run-machine in the longer format. In the elite Ranji Trophy division, he amassed 651 runs from just five matches at a staggering average of 93, including three centuries. One of those was a massive double-century (205) against Chandigarh. In T20s, he has recent scores of 75 and 55 against Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh respectively.
Lalit Yadav brings prior IPL experience from his 27 matches with Delhi Capitals. He aims to attract franchise attention with his 275 runs from seven Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 matches. His standout knocks include an unbeaten 85 against Hyderabad and an unbeaten 82 against Chandigarh.
The Auction Landscape and Goa's Chances
The auction in Abu Dhabi will see 350 cricketers go under the hammer, competing for just 77 available slots across the ten IPL franchises. Out of these slots, 31 are reserved for overseas players. The shortlist was finalized from an initial pool of 1,390 registered players, which was first reduced to 1,005.
This year's player pool is notable for its depth of fresh talent, featuring 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players. In terms of base prices, 40 cricketers have placed themselves in the highest bracket of ₹2 crore, while 227 uncapped domestic players have set their base price at ₹30 lakh, the lowest available bracket.
For Goa's passionate cricket supporters, the auction is more than just a player transfer event. It is a chance to finally have a homegrown or state-representing star to cheer for in the glittering arena of the IPL, filling a notable gap from the last season.
