Rishabh Pant Becomes All-time Highest-Paid IPL Player
Rishabh Pant set a new record in the history of IPL auctions, being acquired by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 27 crores. This surpassed the INR 26.75 crores bid by Punjab Kings to sign Shreyas Iyer in the same auction, making Pant the highest-paid IPL player ever.
LSG showed interest in Pant from the outset, staying headstrong against attempts from Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. When the bidding stagnated at INR 20.75 crores, Delhi Capitals expressed interest in utilizing their Right To Match option. In response, LSG hiked their offer to INR 27 crores, a figure beyond Delhi's valuation for their former captain.
Aside from Pant's record-breaking deal, Shreyas Iyer also made IPL auction history when he became the first Indian player to exceed the INR 20 crore auction bid, being picked up by Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crores.
Venkatesh Iyer, fresh off several standout performances in the previous season, also managed to breach the INR 20-crore mark. Kolkata Knight Riders bought him back for an impressive INR 23.75 crores despite stiff competition from RCB.
Interestingly, keeper-bats were in high demand during the auction with former Orange Cap winner Jos Buttler going to Gujarat Titans for INR 15.75 crores; KL Rahul, however, didn't share that fortune, being picked up by Delhi Capitals for INR 14 crores.
Alongside the keeper-bats, the auction day saw other players like Phil Salt (INR 11.5 crores, RCB), Jitesh Sharma (INR 11 crores, RCB), and Ishan Kishan (INR 11.25 crores, SRH) being picked up for generous sums.
The day concluded with India's World Cup-winning fast bowler Arshdeep Singh triggering a bidding war, ultimately going to Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 15.75 crores, pushing the price further to INR 18 crores after Punjab Kings expressed a desire to re-sign him.
