The stage is set for the IPL 2025 season, with the mega auction becoming a high-stakes battlefield where franchises have splurged unprecedented amounts to secure their dream teams. The auction’s first day, held in Jeddah, witnessed historic deals, marquee player signings, and strategic acquisitions. With teams spending a staggering ₹467 crore on 72 players, anticipation is soaring for the second day of the event.

Day One Highlights: Record Deals and Surprises

The auction opened with a frenzy of bidding wars, particularly for marquee Indian players, leading to some jaw-dropping signings.

• Rishabh Pant Makes History: The standout moment was Rishabh Pant, who shattered all previous records to become the costliest player in IPL history, fetching ₹27 crore. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, beating intense competition. This acquisition underscores Pant’s status as a game-changer, despite his relatively mixed performance in white-ball cricket. Pant’s move to LSG was not merely about money. His departure from Delhi Capitals was reportedly influenced by a lack of assurance regarding his captaincy, signaling deeper dynamics at play.
• Shreyas Iyer and Venkatesh Iyer Steal the Show: Shreyas Iyer commanded ₹26.75 crore, closely trailing Pant, while Venkatesh Iyer became the surprise of the auction. Returning to his former franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), for ₹23.75 crore, Venkatesh demonstrated the franchise’s faith in his abilities.
• 72 Players Sold on Day One:
  A total of 84 players went under the hammer, with 12 going unsold. The auction saw significant investments in both Indian and overseas talents, showcasing the diverse strategies of the franchises.

Anticipation for Day Two: Big Names in the Spotlight

As the franchises reconvene on Monday, attention shifts to the remaining slots, with marquee names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Faf du Plessis, Washington Sundar, Marco Jansen, Deepak Chahar, and Krunal Pandya expected to draw intense bidding wars.

• Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Washington Sundar:
  Known for their all-round abilities, these players are likely to attract high bids, with franchises eyeing depth in bowling and versatility in batting.
• Faf du Plessis:
  The seasoned South African brings leadership qualities and reliable batting to the table, making him a hot pick for teams in need of experience.
• Marco Jansen and Deepak Chahar:
  Both players offer exceptional bowling prowess and the ability to deliver in high-pressure situations, crucial for any team’s success.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Strategic Move: The Rishabh Pant Factor

The acquisition of Rishabh Pant by Lucknow Super Giants has been the talk of the auction. While Pant’s T20 statistics may not yet rival his Test exploits, his X-factor, explosive batting, and impeccable wicketkeeping make him an invaluable asset.

• Captaincy Potential:
  Pant’s leadership qualities are well-recognized, and LSG is likely to consider him a captaincy candidate for the upcoming season.
• Franchise Vision:
  LSG’s record-breaking ₹27 crore investment reflects their long-term strategy to build a formidable team around Pant’s skills and charisma.

Summary of IPL 2025 Mega Auction

Category	Details
Why in News	The IPL 2025 mega auction’s first day in Jeddah witnessed record-breaking deals, with ₹467 crore spent on 72 players.
Historic Moment	Rishabh Pant became the costliest player in IPL history, bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore.
Top Buys	– Rishabh Pant: ₹27 crore (Lucknow Super Giants). – Shreyas Iyer: ₹26.75 crore. – Venkatesh Iyer: ₹23.75 crore (KKR).
Total Players Sold	72 players sold, 12 remained unsold.
Other Highlights	– Teams invested heavily in marquee Indian players. – Focus on balancing squads with all-rounders and experienced captains.
Anticipation for Day 2	Remaining slots to be filled, with big names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Faf du Plessis, Washington Sundar, and others up for grabs.
Franchise Strategy	– Focus on acquiring X-factor players for leadership and brand value. – Lucknow Super Giants’ ₹27 crore for Rishabh Pant aligns with their captaincy and vision goals.
IPL 2025 Season	Expected to begin in March 2025, with teams shaping their squads for success.

November 25 is observed annually as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The day calls upon governments, international organizations, and civil society to raise awareness and promote actions to combat violence against women and girls worldwide. In 2024, the observance marks 25 years since the UN’s official designation of the day, coupled with a UN Women-led campaign to launch a new report and highlight best practices for eliminating violence against women and girls.

Significance of the Day

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women serves as a global call to action to address gender-based violence. Despite strides in policymaking and awareness campaigns, violence against women remains one of the most widespread and persistent human rights violations. This observance seeks to:

• Highlight the scale of the problem: Around one in three women globally experiences physical or sexual violence.
• Encourage legal reforms: Advocate for universal laws protecting women against domestic violence and rape.
• Promote public engagement: Mobilize support for initiatives like the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

Historical Background

Origins in Activism:

• The day has been observed since 1981 by women’s rights activists.
• The date commemorates the brutal murder of the Mirabal sisters—political activists from the Dominican Republic—on November 25, 1960, by the regime of Rafael Trujillo.

Key Resolutions:

• In 1993, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Resolution 48/104).
• On February 7, 2000, the UN officially designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women through Resolution 54/134.

Forms of Violence Against Women

The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women defines violence as any act of gender-based violence causing physical, sexual, or psychological harm. It includes:

Intimate Partner Violence:

Battering, marital rape, psychological abuse, femicide.

Sexual Violence and Harassment:

Rape, forced sexual acts, child abuse, unwanted advances, cyber-harassment.

Human Trafficking:

Sexual exploitation and slavery.

Harmful Practices:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Child Marriage.

Women and girls in vulnerable communities, including migrants, Indigenous groups, and people with disabilities, face disproportionate risks.

Current Global Status

Incomplete Legal Protections:

• 37 countries exempt rapists from prosecution if they marry their victims.
• 49 countries have no laws protecting women from domestic violence.

Impact of Violence:

• 140 women and girls are killed daily by family members.
• Over 51,100 women were victims of femicide in 2023, with intimate partners being the most common perpetrators.
• Policy Gaps: Only two-thirds of countries worldwide have criminalized domestic violence.

UN Initiatives

UNiTE Campaign:

• Launched in 2008 to increase awareness and resources to combat violence against women and girls.
• Encourages activism beyond November 25, designating the 25th of each month as Orange Day.

16 Days of Activism:

• Runs annually from November 25 to December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
• Focuses on implementing policies inspired by the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

ACT Campaign:

• Aims to end violence through advocacy, coalition building, and transformative feminist action.

Crime Against Women in India

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB):

• In 2022, 4,45,256 cases of crimes against women were registered—a 4% increase from 2021.

Major crimes included:

• Cruelty by Husband or Relatives: 31.4%
• Kidnapping & Abduction: 19.2%
• Assault with Intent to Outrage Modesty: 18.7%
• Rape: 7.1%

Global Observance Facts

Aspect	Details
Designated Day	November 25
Initiated By	Women’s rights activists in 1981
UN Resolution	54/134, adopted in 2000
2024 Milestone	25th anniversary of UN designation
Key Campaigns	UNiTE, ACT, 16 Days of Activism
Global Statistics	1 in 3 women face physical/sexual violence; 140 women killed daily.
India Statistics (2022)	4.45 lakh cases of crimes against women reported.