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The 2025 IPL mega-auction witnessed a lot of old faces going back to their former franchises. This is the kind of reunion that has excited the players and fans alike. Among the most notable of these comebacks are three key figures in the season ahead.
3 players who returned back to their former franchises in IPL 2025
1. Ravichandran Ashwin
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Ravichandran Ashwin will return to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after an eight-year gap. Ashwin joined CSK in 2009 and played 97 matches, becoming a cost-effective asset for the team. He took 90 wickets during his tenure, leading the way for Chennai in their IPL victories by winning titles in 2010 and 2011.
After leaving CSK for Rising Pune Super Giants in 2016, Ashwin’s return to his former team, CSK, will surely have a resounding welcome at the stadium. CSK won the off-spinner in the auction for Rs 9.75 crore, going past other teams that expressed interest in the player like Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals.
The 38-year-old is thrilled to go back to the franchise he started his IPL career with, looking forward to playing under Ruturaj Gaikwad while chasing a sixth IPL title with his old team.
2. Trent Boult
Off-spinner Trent Boult, known for his key contributions in performances with the new ball, will return to his former franchise Mumbai Indians. A crucial member of the bowling attack for MI in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he took 28 wickets in 29 matches and played a vital role in winning the title for MI in 2020 by picking 25 wickets.
Even though he was expected to be retained for IPL 2025, Mumbai did not retain him, and he moved on to Rajasthan Royals, where he continued to shine and took 45 wickets from 42 matches in three seasons. However, with the need for a strong pace attack in Mumbai, the franchise made a successful bid for him in IPL 2025 with Rs 12.50 crore in the auction.
Boult will play with the talented fast-bowling contingent with Jasprit Bumrah and Deepak Chahar as comrades in arms that could be really the difference-maker for Mumbai towards their sixth IPL title.
3. Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell has played for several franchises in his IPL journey but his reunion with the Punjab Kings has been the most talking. Maxwell started his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), then spent time with Mumbai Indians before joining Punjab Kings in 2014.
His first season with PBKS was a revelation, scoring 552 runs in 16 matches, and leading the team to the final, where they narrowly lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite a couple of seasons being inconsistent, Maxwell returned to PBKS in 2021 and went on to play for them till his release in 2017.
A brief period with Royal Challengers Bangalore proved to be another promising stint; however, it was unsuccessful in 2024, and he managed just 52 runs in 10 matches. This time too, RCB dropped him. Punjab franchise saw an opportunity to bring back their star all-rounder and locked him for Rs 4.20 cr. Other franchises were also in the race, but in this case, PBKS proved lucky enough to reacquire “The Big Show.
These three high-profile returns point out that all are excited about the IPL 2025, where familiar faces rejoin their former teams, which will promise a thrilling season ahead.
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