PANT, SHREYAS MOST EXPENSIVE IN IPL HISTORY

2025 auction saw record breaking bids with Pant pocketing ₹27 crore

- Haridev Pushparaj

In a plot twist that would make even Spiderman jealous, the IPL 2025 Auction saw Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) break the bank for wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who fetched a record-breaking Rs 27 crore, making the previous record of Rs 24.75 crore for Mitchell Starc seem like pocket change. If the IPL were a comic book, Pant would be the superhero—his form in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia had everyone guessing: Could anyone catch him?

Spoiler alert: No. Not even Shreyas Iyer, who was picked up by Punjab Kings for a respectable Rs 26.75 crore. Iyer, fresh off his victorious stint as captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, will now bring his T20 bravado to Punjab. His departure marked the start of what can only be called the Iyer Dynasty, as even Venkatesh Iyer was snapped up by KKR for Rs 23.75 crore.

Of course, the bowlers were no slouches either. Arshdeep Singh, Punjab Kings' swing specialist, was retained for Rs 18 crore, thanks to their "Right to Match" option. Not one to be outdone, leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal found his new home with the Punjab Kings for the same sum, bidding farewell to Rajasthan Royals where he had made his name.