In a historic and record-breaking moment, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant for an unprecedented ₹27 crore during the 2025 IPL mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The drama unfolded early on Day 1 of the two-day event, which saw the record for the highest-priced IPL player shattered twice within minutes. Shreyas Iyer, captain of reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), became the third player under the hammer after pacers Arshdeep Singh (₹18 crore) and Kagiso Rabada (₹10.75 crore). Bidding for Shreyas soared past the previous record of ₹24.75 crore, paid for Australian pacer Mitchell Starc by KKR in the previous auction. Eventually, Punjab Kings (PBKS) claimed Shreyas for ₹26.75 crore.
However, the fireworks didn’t stop there. LSG, in pursuit of a new captain alongside PBKS and three other franchises, went all out and broke the record once more by signing Rishabh Pant, one of the most sought-after players in the auction.
Indian Stars Shine Bright
The top five most expensive purchases of the day were all Indian players, a trend typical of mega auctions that offer a larger pool of attractive homegrown talent. These players—Pant, Shreyas, Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore), Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal (₹18 crore each)—commanded a combined ₹113.5 crore, reflecting the premium placed on Indian stars.
The Battle for Pant
The bidding war for Pant was intense, with four franchises, including his former team Delhi Capitals (DC), showing strong interest. Despite DC exercising their Right to Match (RTM) card after losing out on Shreyas to PBKS, LSG refused to back down. LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka made a decisive bid of ₹27 crore, leaving DC with no choice but to bow out. With that, Lucknow not only secured Pant but also likely found their new captain. DC later acknowledged his departure with a heartfelt “Shukriya, Rishabh” video on social media.
The Indian Captaincy Factor
The high bids for both Pant and Shreyas underscore the importance of Indian captains in the IPL. While some critics might argue that there are players with better T20 records than Shreyas (IPL strike rate of 127.48) and even Pant (strike rate of 148.93), auctions often prioritize filling specific team needs. The introduction of the Impact Player Rule has further influenced team strategies in building versatile squads.
For LSG, Pant’s leadership potential was evident as they decided to move past retaining KL Rahul. PBKS’ new head coach Ricky Ponting praised LSG’s acquisition, stating, “Everyone knows Rishabh’s value. He is dynamic, a winner. They’ve done well to get him.” Ponting, who had earlier worked with Shreyas as DC’s coach, had hoped to reunite with him at PBKS.
Shreyas and KKR’s Gamble
KKR’s decision not to retain Shreyas raised eyebrows, especially since he led them to an IPL title. Instead, they focused on retaining T20 specialists and experienced players, a move that backfired as they later spent ₹23.75 crore to buy back Venkatesh Iyer, another potential captaincy candidate.
Meanwhile, Shreyas expressed his happiness at joining PBKS, whose aggressive spending—₹110.5 crore in total—helped them secure the middle-order batter. For Shreyas, this marked a significant turnaround after a challenging year where he lost his India contract and wasn’t retained by KKR.
Other Highlights
Among other notable signings, KL Rahul joined Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore, a relatively modest price given his track record, while R Ashwin returned to his roots with Chennai Super Kings for ₹9.75 crore.
The 2025 IPL mega auction proved once again that the dynamics of team strategy, leadership potential, and market forces can lead to dramatic moments, with Rishabh Pant’s record-smashing bid standing out as the headline story of the day.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
