Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Nov 25: Four players from Jammu and Kashmir were sold in the IPL 2025 auction, while 10 others, went unsold in IPL auction 2025 held in Saudi Arabia
According to details, a total of 14 players from Jammu and Kashmir were up for auction. Two players were purchased on the first day, and two were sold on the second day. Kulgam-born pacer Rasikh Salam was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a whopping Rs 6 crore. Rasikh, who has previously played for Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals, entered the IPL 2025 auction with a base price of Rs 30 lakh.
His inclusion in RCB’s squad is expected to strengthen their fast-bowling attack for the upcoming season. Hailing from the Bhan Ashmuji area of Kulgam district, Rasikh is set to make his fourth IPL appearance. His brother expressed confidence in Rasikh’s talent, saying he has consistently proven his skills whenever given the opportunity. “He has always done well wherever he has played, and we believe he will continue to perform at the highest level,” his brother said, adding, “Youth should focus on their goals and avoid distractions like drugs.
Hard work always pays off.” Rasikh’s journey in professional cricket began after he was selected for trials at the Mumbai Indians camp following his impressive performance in the 2019 Vijay Hazare Trophy. His ability to swing the ball both ways caught the attention of the Mumbai Indians scouts, which led to his selection in the IPL. “We are overjoyed by his selection and hope that he gets a chance to showcase his talent in the upcoming season,” said his family, who have supported him since his early days in cricket.
Rasikh has been passionate about the game since childhood, working relentlessly to realize his dream. However, Rasikh’s career has faced challenges. In 2019, he was banned by the BCCI for two years for submitting a faulty birth certificate. Despite this setback, he has continued to make a mark in domestic cricket. Abdul Samad, an all-rounder from Jammu, was bought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs 4.2 crore.
Samad, who was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for three consecutive years, has struggled to find consistent form in the IPL. However, this season, he will be looking to prove his worth. Yudhvir Singh, an all-rounder from Jammu and Kashmir, was also sold to RCB for Rs 35 lakh. Yudhvir expressed his excitement about the opportunity. “I have been passionate about cricket since childhood, though my family support was limited. In 2016, my friend Deepak encouraged me to attend the under-19 selection trials, where I was fortunate enough to be picked,” he said.
Yudhvir has since played at various levels, including the Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Ranji Trophy. “If given a chance in the IPL, I will strive to prove myself,” he added. Yudhvir made his IPL debut for Lucknow Super Giants in 2023, where he impressed with an economical spell, taking two wickets. On the other hand, the 150 km/h pace sensation, Umran Malik was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders for base price of Rs 75 lakh.
The other 10 players from Jammu and Kashmir who were available for auction but went unsold include Atif Mushtaq (Bowler), Avinash Singh (Bowler), Nasir Lone (All-rounder), Mujtaba Yousuf (Bowler), Abid Mushtaq (All-rounder), Vivrant Sharma (All-rounder), Shubham Khajuria (Batsman), Musaif Ajaz, Kunal Chibb (Bowler) and Aquib Nabi (All-rounder). Notably, previous IPL editions saw several players from Jammu and Kashmir being selected by various franchises, including Abdul Samad, Umran Malik, Parvez Rasool, Rasikh Salam, Mohammad Mudhasir, Yudhvir Singh and Manzoor Pandav. However, some of them have not had many opportunities to feature in matches—(KNO)
