The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction saw a seismic shift in the cricket landscape when a Rishabh Pant becoming the highest paid player in the history of the competition. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) broke records by acquiring the services of an Indian wicketkeeper for an unprecedented 27 crore.
Bidding war intense for Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 mega auction
Held in Saudi Arabia, the auction featured 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 alike, with LSG's convincing bid underlining their ambitions to dominate the season ahead.
Pant, published by Delhi Capitals (DC) earlier this year, he was the most popular player in the auction. Speculation was rife about where the dynamic batter would land, and as expected, the bidding was strong. While SRH initially challenged LSG, the real drama unfolded when DC used their Right to Match (RTM) card, ruling the contest. The bid quickly increased to INR 22 crore, and co-owner DC Parth Jindal he showed no hesitation in pushing the boundaries to contain Pant. But, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenkathe calculated strategy was decisive.
The science behind the INR 27 crore claim
In an interview with Ranveer AllahbadiaGoenka shed light on the detailed planning behind the memorial application. According to Goenka, extensive calculations were done to determine DC's financial capacity and emotional attachment to Pant.
“Science was behind 27 CR for Rishabh Pant. Delhi went at 26.5 Cr for Shreyas Iyer. So, it was when I felt, 'Parth Jindal is so crazy about Rishabh Pant, he would go up one at the IPL auction.' So, the idea was to go two up from Parth, or even three up, and that's where it would stop. For Rishabh, we had worked out three situations, and in all of them, it was very important to us,” Goenka said.
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Sanjiv Goenka shares the main thought process
Goenka also revealed that LSG had set aside a budget of INR 25-27 crore specifically for Pant, showing the franchise's commitment to getting an Indian anchor that the team could turn to.
“We knew we were going to get it, and we had kept between 25 and 27 crores for it in our planning. So, when the bid for Rishabh stalled at 21-22 Cr, DC didn't even waste a second to use RTM for him. So that means they were willing to go to the extent that we have to take Rishabh,” Added by LSG owner.
Goenka emphasized the important role that Pant would play in the establishment of LSG. Goenka acknowledged DC's commitment to retaining Pant but opined that the circumstances behind the scenes may have played a role in their inability to retain him earlier.
“However, regardless of the situation, they did not keep him, or Rishabh was not willing to keep him. It's not right for me to discuss or comment on that, but they loved it. If you look at Parth's reaction, it is more likely that the deal will be done. Looking at all this, we thought that 27 Cr was a safe claim. If Rishabh had not come to us, LSG would have lost an Indian anchor around whom the entire team is built,”
Pant's amazing comeback and recent form
Pant's journey to becoming the highest paid player in the IPL is nothing short of exciting. After a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, the cricketer had a tough year of recovery. However, his comeback in IPL 2024 was nothing short of spectacular. Leading the charge, Pant amassed 446 runs in 13 innings at an impressive strike rate of 155.40, including three fifties. His performances showcased his unmatched consistency and skill, reaffirming his status as one of the best limited-overs players in the world.
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