New Delhi: Irfan Pathan made a bold prediction ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, claiming that Mitchell Starc’s record for the most expensive purchase in IPL history will be surpassed in Jeddah on November 24 and 25. Starc was bought for a staggering Rs. 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 auction, and if the record is broken during the upcoming mega auction, it would be a historic moment for the league.
The 2025 IPL auction is expected to be the largest in over a decade, with several top stars, including Jos Buttler, Arshdeep Singh, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mitchell Starc, set to go under the hammer. However, Irfan Pathan has singled out Rishabh Pant as the player likely to surpass Starc’s record, making him the most expensive acquisition in the auction.
“Mitchell Starc’s auction record is in danger. Rishabh Pant is ready to break it!,” Pathan wrote on X.
Rishabh Pant’s decision to part ways with Delhi Capitals (DC) came as the biggest shock on IPL retention day, as the 27-year-old had been with the franchise since his debut. This marks the first time since 2016, when DC bought him for Rs. 1.9 crore, that Pant will no longer play for them. The franchise had retained him for Rs. 8 crore ahead of the 2018 mega auction and Rs. 16 crore in 2022.
As a versatile triple threat—batter, wicketkeeper, and captain—Rishabh Pant is expected to attract significant interest from IPL franchises. Teams in search of a leader, especially after his success in the 2024 T20 World Cup, are likely to vie for his services. Punjab Kings (PBKS), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have all been linked with him, while Delhi Capitals (DC) could still use the Right to Match (RTM) card to retain him.
Rishabh Pant is set to be one of the first six players sold in the upcoming IPL auction, as he will be part of the initial set of marquee players up for bidding.
