Rishabh Pant Becomes IPL’s Most Expensive Player
Rishabh Pant smashed all IPL records to become the most expensive player in the tournament’s history. The star wicketkeeper-batter was snapped up by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a jaw-dropping INR 27 crore (around $3.21 million) during the first day of the mega auction in Jeddah. This bid surpassed the earlier high of INR 26.75 crore made by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for Shreyas Iyer.
Both LSG and PBKS entered the auction with an eye on leadership, and it’s likely that Pant and Shreyas will captain their respective franchises this season. Their bids also broke the previous record of INR 24.75 crore, set by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Mitchell Starc in the IPL 2024 auction.
The Battle for Rishabh Pant
The bidding war for Pant saw fierce competition between LSG and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) joining in briefly. After SRH dropped out at INR 20.75 crore, LSG emerged as the winner. The Delhi Capitals (DC) were given an opportunity to match the bid using the new RTM (Right-to-Match) rule but declined after LSG raised their offer to INR 27 crore.
Shashwat Goenka, the owner of LSG, said, “We had a clear plan to secure Pant. The INR 27 crore bid wasn’t just a number—it was our way of ensuring we got the player we wanted.”
Shreyas Iyer: A Big Win for PBKS
Shreyas Iyer became the second-most expensive player of the day when PBKS secured him for INR 26.75 crore (approximately $3.18 million). PBKS coach Ricky Ponting expressed his excitement at working with Shreyas again, having coached him at DC earlier. “Shreyas is a proven IPL captain, and I’m looking forward to another successful run with him,” Ponting said.
Other Big Moves: KL Rahul and Venkatesh Iyer
- KL Rahul: Delhi Capitals acquired KL Rahul for INR 14 crore (around $1.67 million). While his former team, LSG, opted not to use the RTM option, Rahul is a likely captaincy candidate for DC.
- Venkatesh Iyer: In a surprise move, KKR bought back Venkatesh Iyer for INR 23.75 crore (around $2.83 million). This makes him one of the most expensive players of the auction, following a bidding war with RCB.
New Homes for Star Players
- Jos Buttler: Gujarat Titans (GT) secured Jos Buttler for INR 15.75 crore (around $1.88 million), beating out PBKS and LSG.
- Mitchell Starc: Delhi Capitals landed Mitchell Starc for INR 11.75 crore (around $1.4 million), a significant pay cut from his previous record bid.
- Kagiso Rabada: GT also picked up Rabada for INR 10.75 crore (around $1.28 million), staving off competition from RCB and MI.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s Massive Payday
Yuzvendra Chahal was sold to PBKS for INR 18 crore (around $2.14 million), a huge leap from his previous auction price. Chahal expressed his joy, saying, “This amount is more than my earnings from the last three seasons combined. I’m thrilled and ready to give my best for PBKS.”
Quiet Start for MI and RR
Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) were relatively quiet in the marquee sets, with both teams failing to buy any players initially. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made waves later in the auction, securing players like Rachin Ravindra and R Ashwin.
Surprising Unsold Players
Veteran batters David Warner and Jonny Bairstow were among the biggest surprises of day one, going unsold in the first round. They might still find teams during the accelerated round on day two.
Key Highlights from Day One
- Record-Breaking Buys: Pant (INR 27 crore) and Shreyas (INR 26.75 crore) top the charts.
- High Demand for Allrounders: Venkatesh Iyer and Chahal fetched massive bids.
- Strategic Moves: GT and DC made impactful buys, bolstering their squads with world-class talent.