IPL mega auction sees Pant emerge as the most expensive player ever

Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer made history in the IPL mega auction as record-breaking bids saw them become the two most expensive players in the league's history.

Lucknow Super Giants stunned everyone by securing Pant for an astronomical ₹27 crore, eclipsing the ₹26.75 crore Punjab Kings had spent on Iyer just 20 minutes earlier.

The IPL auction has always been a stage for fierce competition among franchises, and this year is no different. Every season sees records tumble, and the stakes only seem to rise.

Last season's mini-auction saw Sunrisers Hyderabad briefly hold the record for the most expensive player when they signed Australian captain Pat Cummins for ₹20.5 crore. However, that record lasted less than two hours as Kolkata Knight Riders secured Mitchell Starc for ₹24.75 crore.

This season, records are being broken in even shorter intervals. The day began with Shreyas Iyer's name causing a bidding war that ended with Punjab Kings setting a new record by paying ₹26.75 crore for the Indian batsman. Kolkata Knight Riders started the bidding at his base price of ₹2 crore but exited the race once it crossed ₹10 crore.

From there, the battle intensified between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, with the price climbing rapidly. By the time Delhi dropped out at ₹26.5 crore, Punjab had secured Iyer for a record-breaking fee.

However, the celebration in the Punjab camp was short-lived. Just 20 minutes later, Lucknow Super Giants shattered that record by bidding ₹27 crore for Rishabh Pant, making him the most expensive player in IPL history.

Pant's name came up as the last player in the marquee set, with a base price of ₹2 crore. Lucknow immediately showed interest, placing the opening bid, and were soon joined by Royal Challengers Bangalore. The bidding between the two franchises pushed the price past ₹10.5 crore before Bangalore exited.

Sunrisers Hyderabad then entered the fray, competing fiercely with Lucknow as the price crossed ₹20 crore. Hyderabad's final bid of ₹20.75 crore seemed unmatchable until Delhi Capitals used their RTM (Right to Match) card to match Lucknow's highest bid.

Just as it seemed Pant might return to his former team, Lucknow stunned everyone by raising their offer to ₹27 crore, leaving Delhi with no response and securing Pant's services in what has become the most talked-about moment of this year's auction.

The auction's record-breaking drama is a continuation of trends from previous seasons. In 2023, Punjab Kings set the bar high by signing England's Sam Curran for ₹18.5 crore. Before that, Chris Morris had held the top spot since 2021 when Rajasthan Royals bought him for ₹16.25 crore.

With Lucknow's and Punjab's recent splurges, the IPL's spending spree shows no signs of slowing down.

Last season also saw Sunrisers Hyderabad create history by signing Pat Cummins for ₹20.5 crore, only for it to be overshadowed hours later when Mitchell Starc joined Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹24.75 crore.

These rapid successions of record bids reflect the increasingly competitive nature of the IPL, as franchises are willing to spend unprecedented amounts to secure their desired players.

The bidding wars also underline the value placed on Indian talent. Pant and Iyer's record-breaking deals highlight their status as premier players, capable of commanding staggering sums. With the auction set to continue tomorrow, there is no certainty that Pant's record will remain intact, but for now, Lucknow Super Giants have made headlines by securing the most expensive player in IPL history.

Here is a look at the current list of the highest-paid players in IPL history:

• Rishabh Pant – Lucknow Super Giants (₹27 crore, 2025)
• Shreyas Iyer – Punjab Kings (₹26.75 crore, 2025)
• Mitchell Starc – Kolkata Knight Riders (₹24.75 crore, 2024)
• Pat Cummins – Sunrisers Hyderabad (₹20.5 crore, 2024)
• Sam Curran – Punjab Kings (₹18.5 crore, 2023)
• Cameron Green – Mumbai Indians (₹17.5 crore, 2023)
• Ben Stokes – Chennai Super Kings (₹16.25 crore, 2023)
• Chris Morris – Rajasthan Royals (₹16.25 crore, 2021)