IPL Auction 2025: India’s star wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant surpassed Shreyas Iyer in a matter of minutes to become the most expensive IPL signing of all-time as Lucknow Super Giants pipped Delhi Capitals with a Rs 27 crore bid.
While his former franchise DC opted for an RTM bid at Rs 20.75 crore, LSG raised the bidding by a staggering margin to Rs 27 crore, make him the most expensive signing at the auctions history ahead of Shreyas Iyer, who received a Rs 26.75 crore bid from Punjab Kings earlier this evening.
The bidding drama
Inevitably, Pant, justifying the pre-auction prediction, emerged as the most expensive player in the auction (at Rs 27 crore). But not after drama and suspense. At least thrice did the auctioneer nearly close the deal (once shockingly at Rs 11.75 crore), before someone raised the paddle at the last moment. Pant is an irresistible temptation. The contingent of owners and coaches were locked in intense discussions. Zaheer Khan, the LSG mentor, emptied at least a couple of water bottles.
𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱-𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗵 🔝
Snippets of how that Historic bidding process panned out for Rishabh Pant 🎥 🔽 #TATAIPLAuction | #TATAIPL | @RishabhPant17 | @LucknowIPL | #LSG pic.twitter.com/grfmkuCWLD
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 24, 2024
The sums soared as frequently as the boundaries that rolled off his bat when in mood. The pre-climax twist was when Delhi Capitals decided to exercise the Right To Match option at Rs 20.75 crore, after Sunrises Hyderabad too surrendered. But the Lucknow Super Giants’s huddle had enough bargaining. LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka gestured Rs 27 crore. There was not to be another turn. The deal was sealed, in typical Pant style, with a maximum at the end
Contrasting IPL, T20I careers
He made his IPL debut in 2016 for Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), and has been part of the team since, before being elevated as captain in 2021. Even as the raised the paddle on Sunday, the Capitals surprisingly did not retain him ahead of the auction.
Pant’s IPL record has been one to look at, as the destructive wicket keeper batsman has amassed 3284 runs in 111 matches, with an astonishing strike rate of 148.93. In his 66 T20I innings for India, he has scored 1209 runs, at a strike rate of 127.26.
His exploits in the format have not been up to the mark at the international level, and Pant would be looking to make a redemption for himself by showing his potential in Lucknow colous in the upcoming season.
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