Rishabh Pant has made headlines by becoming the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being sold for a staggering ₹27 crore to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during the IPL 2025 auction. This record-breaking deal occurred on November 24, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and surpassed the previous record held by Mitchell Starc, who was bought for ₹24.75 crore in 2023.
. Bidding Dynamics – Pant’s journey to this record began when he was not retained by Delhi Capitals (DC). LSG aggressively pursued him, engaging in a bidding war that saw his initial base price of ₹2 crore escalate dramatically. DC initially exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card at ₹20.75 crore but ultimately chose not to match LSG’s final bid.
. Importance of the Deal – This auction marked a significant moment in IPL history as it was the first time a player crossed the ₹25 crore threshold. The intense competition for Pant’s services highlighted his value as a leading wicketkeeper-batsman in Indian cricket.
Impact and Future Prospects
Pant’s acquisition is seen as a strategic move for LSG as they aim to strengthen their squad for upcoming seasons. His experience and leadership qualities are expected to play a crucial role in their campaign. Also, given his valuable earnings there are funny suggestions that he could potentially fund his own cricket league for three years, underscoring the financial might of IPL players today.
