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The 2025 IPL auction made headlines with a jaw-dropping bid, as Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player ever sold in the history of the tournament.

In an electrifying bidding war, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) outbid other franchises, securing the explosive wicketkeeper-batter for a record ₹27 crore, surpassing the previous records set by Shreyas Iyer and Mitchell Starc.

Rishabh Pant IPL Auction Price History

It was an unforgettable moment in Jeddah as the last player in the marquee set, none other than Rishabh Pant, sent the auction hall into a frenzy. The battle started early with LSG making the first move, but Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) quickly joined the fray. The bidding escalated rapidly, zooming past ₹5 crore, and before long, the stakes shot up to ₹10 crore. Both LSG and RCB were keen on Pant, a captain and dynamic player, whose reputation as a destructive batter and game-changing keeper was undeniable.

As the bid climbed, Pant's value soared further. SRH, seeing an opportunity to add firepower to their squad, entered the contest, pushing the price up to ₹17 crore. LSG responded with a quick counter-offer, and before long, the figure reached ₹20 crore. With both teams locked in fierce competition, it was anyone's game. But in a dramatic final act, LSG outbid SRH, securing Pant for ₹20.75 crore.

However, there was a twist. Delhi Capitals (DC), Pant’s former team, exercised their Right to Match (RTM) option, raising the bid once more. But LSG were not to be outdone, bidding ₹27 crore, forcing DC to back out. The crowd erupted as Pant was officially sold to LSG, breaking the record previously set by Shreyas Iyer, whose bid had reached ₹26.75 crore earlier in the day, and Mitchell Starc's ₹27 crore bid in past auctions.

With his remarkable return to cricket following a near-fatal car accident, Pant’s performance in IPL 2024 had been solid, contributing 446 runs as Delhi finished sixth. Now, as LSG’s newest star and potential captain, Pant is poised to lead his new team into the IPL 2025 season with a record-breaking price tag that reflects his immense value in the world of T20 cricket.