Indian cricket team wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant has been appointed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.
In the IPL 2025 Player Auction held in November 2024, two prominent Indian cricketers, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, made headlines with their record-breaking bids.
Rishabh Pant’s Record-Breaking Bid
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was acquired by the Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore, setting a new record for the most expensive player in IPL history.
He is now the costliest player to be sold in the history of IPL auctions following a bidding war between LSG and DC. While DC used their Right To Match (RTM), LSG clinched the deal with a record bid.
After making the playoffs in the IPL 2022 and 2023 seasons, LSG missed the playoffs for the first time in 2024, as they finished seventh on the points table with a poor net run rate.
Pant had been DC’s captain from 2021 to 2024 editions of the IPL, barring the 2023 season, which he missed due to recovery from various injuries sustained in a car accident in December 2022. But ahead of the IPL 2025 retention deadline, he was released by DC, with the leadership role being the main reason behind his nine-year association with the franchise ending on October 31.
This will be the second IPL team Pant will be captaining after leading Delhi Capitals (DC). He will now be LSG’s fourth captain in their history of playing in the IPL after KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran and Krunal Pandya.
“Rishabh Pant will not only be the most valuable player of IPL but the best player,” LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka said on Monday.
Shreyas Iyer’s Move to Punjab Kings
Shreyas Iyer, former captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, was acquired by the Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore, making him the second most expensive player in IPL history.
The Punjab Kings entered with the highest-ever purse in IPL history, amounting to ₹112 crore. This financial flexibility allowed them to secure top-tier talent, including Shreyas Iyer.
Iyer’s impressive recent form in domestic cricket and his history of strong performances in the IPL contributed to his high valuation.
Venkatesh Iyer: The all-rounder was retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹23.75 crore, making him an another costliest all-rounder in IPL history.
Overall, the IPL 2025 Auction set new records and showcased the dynamic nature of team compositions, with franchises aiming to build competitive squads for the upcoming season.
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