The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction witnessed a seismic shift in the cricketing landscape when Rishabh Pant became the highest-paid player in the tournament’s history. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) shattered records by acquiring the services of the Indian wicketkeeper-batter for an unprecedented 27 crore.
Intense bidding war for Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 mega auction
Held in Saudi Arabia, the auction showcased intense drama, with Pant at the center of a fierce bidding war between LSG and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The deal left cricket enthusiasts and analysts astounded, with LSG’s decisive bid underlining their ambitions to dominate the upcoming season.
Pant, released by Delhi Capitals (DC) earlier this year, was the most sought-after player in the auction. Speculation was rife about where the dynamic batter would land, and as expected, the bidding was fierce. While SRH initially challenged LSG, the real drama unfolded when DC exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card, reigniting the contest. The bidding quickly escalated to INR 22 crore, and DC’s co-owner Parth Jindal showed no hesitation in pushing the limits to retain Pant. However, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka’s calculated strategy proved decisive.
The science behind the INR 27 crore bid
In an interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, Goenka shed light on the meticulous planning behind the monumental bid. According to Goenka, extensive calculations were made to determine DC’s financial capacity and emotional attachment to Pant.
“There was science behind going at 27 Cr for Rishabh Pant. Delhi went at 26.5 Cr for Shreyas Iyer. So, then my feeling was, ‘Parth Jindal is so crazy for Rishabh Pant, he would go one up at the IPL Auction.’ So, the idea was to go two up from Parth, or even three up, and that is where he would stop. For Rishabh, we had calculated three scenarios, and in all of them, he was very important to us,” Goenka said.
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Sanjiv Goenka shares the key thought process
Goenka further revealed that LSG had set aside a budget of INR 25–27 crore specifically for Pant, reflecting the franchise’s commitment to acquiring an Indian anchor around whom the team could revolve.
“We knew we were going to get him, and we had kept between 25 and 27 crores for him in all our planning. So, when the bidding stopped for Rishabh at 21-22 Cr, DC did not waste even a second to use RTM for him. So that means they were willing to go to the full extent that we have to take Rishabh,” LSG owner added.
Goenka emphasized the critical role Pant would play in the LSG setup. Goenka acknowledged DC’s enthusiasm to retain Pant but speculated that circumstances behind the scenes might have influenced their inability to retain him earlier.
“However, whatever the circumstances were, they did not retain him, or Rishabh was not willing to be retained. It is not right for me to discuss that or comment on it, but they were keen. If you look at Parth’s reaction, it is more like the deal is done. Looking at all this, we thought 27 Cr was a safe bid. Had Rishabh not come to us, LSG would have missed an Indian anchor around whom the entire team is built,”
Pant’s remarkable comeback and recent form
Pant’s journey to becoming the IPL’s highest-paid player is nothing short of inspirational. Following a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, the cricketer faced a grueling year of recovery. However, his return in IPL 2024 was nothing short of spectacular. Leading the Capitals, Pant amassed 446 runs in 13 innings at a staggering strike rate of 155.40, including three half-centuries. His performances demonstrated his resilience and unmatched skill, reaffirming his status as one of the finest limited-overs players in the world.
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