Rishabh Pant is set to fetch a massive price in the IPL 2025 auction. A mock auction conducted by Star Sports and JioCinema reveals that experts share this view. Pant was purchased for INR 33 crore by Punjab Kings (PBKS), represented by Eoin Morgan. Meanwhile, KL Rahul also saw an impressive bid of INR 29.5 crore, being bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), represented by Mike Hesson.
Pant’s High Value
Pant left Delhi Capitals (DC) before the auction, stating that money wasn’t the reason behind his decision. Still, his value remains incredibly high. PBKS, with the largest purse of INR 110.5 crore, is expected to target Pant aggressively. Morgan commented, “I anticipated his price to soar between Rs 26 and Rs 29 crore, but his eventual price was a record-shattering Rs 33 crore—deservedly so.”
PBKS Focuses on Pant
PBKS is well-equipped to pursue Pant, with their substantial budget. The team sees him as a long-term investment. With Ricky Ponting, former DC coach, now at PBKS, Pant could play a key role in their future plans. Morgan further explained, “Rishabh is not just a top-order left-handed batsman but also one of the most explosive players in modern cricket.”
KL Rahul’s Impressive Stock
KL Rahul’s stock has also risen, especially after his strong performance in the ongoing India-Australia Test series. Rahul decided to enter the auction pool, opting not to stay with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Hesson shared, “RCB would ideally prioritize Rishabh Pant to ensure continuity after Virat Kohli, especially for long-term stability. I personally bid up to ₹32.5 crore for Pant but wouldn’t have stretched as much for KL Rahul.”
KKR Re-Signs Shreyas Iyer
Reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) also made a strong move, buying back captain Shreyas Iyer for INR 21 crore. Sanjay Bangar, representing KKR in the mock auction, highlighted the importance of leadership. “Shreyas is a proven winning captain, and in a dynamic format like T20, such leadership is invaluable,” he explained.
Other Notable Purchases
The mock auction also saw several other significant purchases:
- Mitchell Starc: INR 18 crore – Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Arshdeep Singh: INR 16.5 crore – Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Yuzvendra Chahal: INR 15 crore – Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Ishan Kishan: INR 15.5 crore – Delhi Capitals (DC)
Acknowledging Inflated Prices
Aakash Chopra, who represented DC in the mock auction, admitted that the prices were slightly inflated. He stated, “We’ll all agree that the prices discussed here are a little inflated, but the names I’m taking will fit the team’s strategy.”
The IPL 2025 auction is shaping up to be highly competitive. With top players like Pant and Rahul likely to bring in substantial bids, the results will influence each team’s strategy for the upcoming season.