While several players deservedly fetched high prices, others raised eyebrows with hefty contracts that didn't align with their recent performances or consistency. This year's auction saw franchises spend aggressively, with a few deals labelled as potential overpays by fans and analysts alike. For instance, Kolkata Knight Riders paid a hefty sum of Rs. 23.75 crores for Venkatesh Iyer, making it the third most expensive buy of this auction. Similarly, Punjab Kings spent a massive Rs. 26.75 crores on Shreyas Iyer, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history. Although Iyer had an impressive IPL 2024 campaign as a captain and batter, it is still debatable whether such a massive price tag is justified or not. IPL Auction 2025: Five Most Overpriced Buys In Mega Auction Venkatesh Iyer (Rs. 23.75 crores): The right-handed batter joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2021, and since then, he has been a regular starter for the Knights. In IPL 2024, Iyer's performance was crucial for KKR, but the underlying issue of inconsistency that critics find concerning. Despite his impressive streak of four consecutive 50+ scores in the playoffs, Iyer's overall season tally of 370 runs, though respectable, pales in comparison to other elite IPL batters. Yuzvendra Chahal (Rs. 18 crores): Despite being the only bowler in IPL history to bag more than 200 wickets, he is way past his peak form. In the last mega auction, Chahal was bought by RR for Rs. 6.50 crores. Though his wicket-taking spree continued also in the last IPL, his economy rate is rising. Hence, it is quite debatable if the right-arm spinner is still worthy to fetch such a high price. Jitesh Sharma (Rs. 11 crores): The 31-year-old wicket-keeper was bought by RCB for Rs. 11 crores in the recent mega auction. Despite having decent performances in domestic cricket, in IPL Sharma's performance always remained average. In IPL 2024, he scored only 187 runs in 14 matches, including three consecutive ducks. It is quite strange that the player sold for such a high price. Jofra Archer (Rs. 12.50 crores): The English all-rounder joined RR in the recent IPL mega auction. Jofra Archer's recent performances have been inconsistent, largely due to his persistent battle with injuries. After a long rehabilitation process, Archer made sporadic returns to cricket but struggled with consistency. His brief stint with the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023 yielded just two wickets in five games. Despite having the ability to deliver explosive spells his ongoing elbow and back issues have significantly limited his availability and impact. Shreyas Iyer (Rs. 26.75 crores): The former captain of the defending champion was released by KKR ahead of the IPL mega auction. Though his performance was decent over the years, in recent times he merely delivered any game-changing performances. Also, he is not a regular in the Indian national team anymore. Hence, it is quite shocking that only being the skipper of the current champion team could fetch the second-highest bid ever in IPL history. Such spending highlights the high-stakes nature of IPL auctions, where franchises sometimes prioritize name and reputation over potential or performance. This makes the IPL auction not only a cricketing event but also a fascinating study of strategy and risk-taking.