Six weeks later, the left-handed batting maverick had the answer. Yes, to LSG for a record price of ₹27 crore.
All the drama on an action-filled Day 1 of the two-day 2025 IPL mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia played out early. Within a span of minutes, the highest-priced IPL player record was bettered twice. Shreyas Iyer was the third name up for sale, after pacers Arshdeep Singh (₹18 cr) and South Africa's Kagiso Rabada (₹10.75 cr).
Bidding for Shreyas, captain of current champions KKR, zoomed past the record of ₹24.75 cr paid for Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc by KKR at last year's auction. PBKS eventually bought Shreyas for ₹26.75 cr.
Soon after LSG, searching for a skipper like PBKS and three other teams, went even better by surpassing the bid for Shreyas in acquiring Pant, tipped as the hottest draw after he entered the auction.
The five most expensive contracts in Sunday's proceedings went to Indian players, typical of mega auctions where there are more attractive home players available compared to mini auctions. These five - Arshdeep and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (₹18 cr) being fourth and fifth and Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 cr) third in the list - cost teams a total of ₹113.5 cr.
This story is from the November 25, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 25, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Zelensky condemns Russian ‘inhumane' Christmas assault
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on Wednesday, denounced an \"inhumane\" attack from Russia, which launched over 170 missiles and drones on his war-torn country's power grid on Christmas Day, killing an energy worker.
Highway fire toll climbs to 18 with 3 more deaths
The toll in the LPG tanker-truck collision, which took place on the Jaipur-Ajmer highway on December 20, rose to 18 as three more people succumbed to injuries at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur on Wednesday, police officers aware of the matter said.
Punjabi Bagh flyover set to open Friday
Chief minister Atishi is likely to inaugurate on Friday the six-lane Club Road flyover in Punjabi Bagh, officials from Public Works Department (PWD) said.
CELEBRATING 26 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE: MERAKI 2024 BY IWP ACADEMY SHINES BRIGHT
Meraki 2024, the flagship annual event by IWP Academy (under KLGR Educational Society), served as a premier talent showcase, providing students with a dynamic platform to exhibit their skills and build confidence
'Pakistan airstrikes killed at least 46 in Afghanistan'
Pakistan's airstrikes on eastern Afghanistan killed 46 people, mostly women and children, a Taliban government official said, on Wednesday, raising fears of further straining the relations between the two neighbours.
Like father, like daughter: IAF recruit to train as pilot at airbase once commanded by her dad
The daughter of one of the country's top fighter pilots has joined the Indian Air Force's fighter stream, and will soon head for further training at a premier airbase in the eastern sector that was earlier commanded by her father, a serving air commodore - a rare occurrence in the air force that opened the fighter stream to women only eight years ago, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.
GOVT STARTS TALKS WITH RBI TO EASE PF WITHDRAWALS
The Union labour ministry has begun discussions with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other banks on rolling out new services for subscribers of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), such as direct access to savings deposits through ATMs and e-wallets linked to bank accounts, an official said, requesting anonymity.
Dozens survive as plane with 67 on board crashes
An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane crashed on Wednesday in western Kazakhstan, killing at least 38 of the 67 people on board, officials said, adding that the 29 survivors were receiving treatment at a medical facility.
Agencies planning to arrest Atishi in a false case: Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that central investigation agencies were planning to arrest Delhi chief minister Atishi \"in the next few days in a false case related to transport department\" at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Modi kicks off ambitious Ken-Betwa river project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of the interstate Ken-Betwa river linking project to channel excess water from the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh into the Betwa, saying the long-awaited linkage will open new doors of prosperity in the Bundelkhand region.
