3 players who will play for RR in IPL 2025 after being in MI in 2024 ft. Akash Madhwal

The mega auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 concluded recently, with almost all teams forming a new-look squad. While some teams managed to retain or buy back their old players at a newer price, some couldn’t.

Like the mega auction does every time, this time too several players switched squads and found a new home. On that note, let’s see three Rajasthan Royals players who have moved to the team after representing the Mumbai Indians in 2024-

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#3 Akash Madhwal

Akash Madhwal was with the Mumbai Indians (MI) for three seasons - from 2022 to 2024 and has played 13 matches for the franchise. MI originally roped him in 2022 as Suryakumar Yadav’s replacement, and although he didn’t play a game that season, MI retained him in 2023 and 2024.

Madhwal put up an impressive performance in the 2023 edition and played eight matches for the team, picking 14 wickets in those including registering his IPL career-best figures of 5/5. His impressive performances helped MI finish in the top four that season.

As a result, he was retained for the 2024 season as well. But the team couldn’t do well collectively and finished 10th in the points table. Madhwal was released ahead of the mega auction and brought by the Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.2 crore.

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#2 Kwena Maphaka

Kwena Maphaka grabbed the spotlight at the IPL in the 2024 season, when he walked out in the Mumbai Indians colors. He was part of South Africa’s under-19 team and put up some impressive performances there, prompting MI to get his services.

While he won the Player of the Tournament at the Men’s U-19 World Cup, he had a contrasting outing at the IPL and couldn’t replicate such performances. As a result, he was released from the squad before the auction.

While RR and RCB both bid for Maphaka, the former eventually roped him in for INR 1.5 crore as the young Protea will now don the pink jersey.

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#1 Kumar Kartikeya

After three years with the Mumbai Indians, Kumar Kartikeya found a new home as the Rajasthan Royals roped him in at his base price of INR 30 lakh. The Indian bowler found no other bidders at the Auction this year.

Kartikeya's IPL journey started with MI in 2022 and he played four matches for the franchise. picking up five wickets. He picked as many wickets in the next edition, in 2023, but this time in eight outings. After a dismal outing that year, he was benched throughout the 2024 edition as MI eventually released him.

He will now be seen in the Royals squad and would hope to represent the side throughout the upcoming 2025 season, thereby putting up some memorable performances.