Rishabh Pant sets IPL record as the most expensive player at ₹27 crore

In a historic moment for the Indian Premier League (IPL), Rishabh Pant became the tournament's costliest player ever, fetching a staggering ₹27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah on Sunday, November 24. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured the services of the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, eclipsing all previous records.

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Pant's record-breaking bid came shortly after Punjab Kings (PBKS) spent ₹26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer, making him the costliest player for a brief period. Iyer’s bid also shattered the previous record held by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for ₹24.75 crore in the last auction.

Notably, Delhi Capitals (DC), Pant's former franchise, chose not to use the Right to Match (RTM) card to retain him. Meanwhile, Starc, who commanded a high price last year, went to DC for ₹11.75 crore this time. England’s Jos Buttler joined Gujarat Titans for ₹15.75 crore.

Among other significant buys, Punjab Kings utilized their RTM card to reclaim left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore, following an intense bidding war initiated by Chennai Super Kings. South African pacer Kagiso Rabada found a new home with Gujarat Titans for ₹10.75 crore.

The mega auction marked the second consecutive year the event was held overseas, following the 2024 edition in Dubai. With record-breaking bids and fierce competition, the auction underscored the escalating value of top players in the IPL.