New Delhi: Rishabh Pant made history as the most expensive player in IPL history, with Lucknow Super Giants securing the explosive India wicketkeeper-batter for a staggering Rs 27 crore at the mega auction in Jeddah on Sunday. This move shattered the previous record held by Shreyas Iyer, who had been bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 26.75 crore just moments earlier.
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Snippets of how that Historic bidding process panned out for Rishabh Pant #TATAIPLAuction | #TATAIPL | @RishabhPant17 | @LucknowIPL | #LSG pic.twitter.com/grfmkuCWLD
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 24, 2024
Pant, the final player in the marquee set, caused a stir as his name was announced, drawing loud cheers from the auction hall. LSG made the first bid, quickly drawing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) into the fray. What followed was a fierce bidding war between LSG and RCB, with both teams continuously raising their paddles. The price surged past Rs 5 crore, and before long, the bids reached Rs 10 crore, with LSG pushing the offer to Rs 10.25 crore. RCB quickly countered with Rs 10.50 crore, keeping the battle heated.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) soon joined in, intensifying the fight for Pant. The price shot up to Rs 17 crore, with LSG matching every bid. The bidding continued at a rapid pace, hitting Rs 20 crore, with SRH leading at one point. As the competition grew fiercer, LSG ultimately secured Pant at Rs 20.75 crore, but Delhi Capitals (DC) considered using their Right to Match (RTM). However, LSG raised the bid once more to Rs 27 crore, forcing DC to bow out. The moment Pant was officially sold, LSG’s owner Sanjiv Goenka celebrated in triumph, marking a historic acquisition for his team.
