Rishabh Pant Becomes IPL's Most Expensive Player in Historic Auction

The IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah saw record-breaking deals as teams competed fiercely for top talent. Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant stole the show, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history with a $3.2 million bid from the Lucknow Super Giants, breaking Mitchell Starc's previous record from 2023. A total of 577 players were up for grabs during the two-day event.

Major Highlights

• Rishabh Pant's Historic Deal: Lucknow's owner Shashwat Goenka praised Pant's unparalleled skills and leadership potential. The 27-year-old made a remarkable comeback to cricket after a car accident in 2022.
• Shreyas Iyer’s Return to Punjab: Former Kolkata captain Shreyas Iyer was snapped up by Punjab Kings for $3.17 million, making him the second-most expensive player at the auction. New Punjab coach Ricky Ponting hinted that Iyer might lead the team.
• Venkatesh Iyer to Kolkata: Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer fetched $2.81 million, returning to the Knight Riders after being released earlier this year.
• Arshdeep Singh’s Payday: The left-arm pacer ignited a bidding war before Punjab secured him for $2.13 million.

Other Key Deals

• Jos Buttler: England's white-ball captain went to Gujarat Titans for $1.87 million.
• Trent Boult: The New Zealand pacer returned to Mumbai Indians for $1.48 million.
• Jofra Archer: Rajasthan Royals secured the England fast bowler for $1.48 million.
• Noor Ahmad: The Afghan spinner joined Chennai Super Kings for $1.18 million.
• Mohammed Shami: The Indian pacer went to Sunrisers Hyderabad for $1.18 million.

Auction Table

Why the Auction Matters

This year’s auction underscores the IPL’s status as cricket’s premier T20 league. It not only brought global attention to the sport but also expanded the tournament's reach by hosting the auction in Jeddah.