Rishabh Pant made history at the IPL mega auction in Jeddah, as Lucknow Super Giants secured him for a whopping ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. This record-breaking deal came shortly after Shreyas Iyer fetched a hefty ₹26.75 crore from Punjab Kings, surpassing the previous record held by Mitchell Starc.
Pant’s former franchise, Delhi Capitals, chose not to use the Right to Match card to retain him, leading to his move to Lucknow Super Giants. Meanwhile, Starc saw a significant decrease in his price this time around, being sold to Delhi Capitals for ₹11.75 crore. England’s Jos Buttler also landed a lucrative deal with Gujarat Titans for ₹15.75 crore.
Among other notable transactions, Arshdeep Singh received a massive bid of ₹18 crore from Punjab Kings, while Kagiso Rabada was bought by Gujarat Titans for ₹10.75 crore. Iyer, the former Kolkata Knight Riders captain, started with a base price of ₹2 crore, eventually being acquired by Punjab Kings after intense bidding.
The auction saw Chennai Super Kings initially bidding for Arshdeep, who was eventually matched by Punjab Kings to secure his services. This auction marked the second time the IPL event was held outside India, following last year’s event in Dubai.
The staggering sums spent on players reflect the fierce competition among franchises to secure top talent for the upcoming IPL season. With Pant and Iyer commanding such high prices, it is evident that teams are willing to invest heavily in players they believe can make a significant impact on the field.
