the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 The auction witnessed a seismic shift in the cricket landscape when Rishabh Pant He became the highest-paid player in the history of the tournament. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) He broke records by acquiring the services of the Indian wicket-keeper-batsman for an unprecedented sum of Rs 27 crore.
Intense bidding war for Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 mega auction
The auction, held in Saudi Arabia, witnessed intense drama, with Pant at the center of a fierce bidding war between LSG and… Sunrise, Hyderabad (SRH). The deal left cricket fans and analysts stunned, with LSG's emphatic display underscoring their ambitions to dominate next season.
Pant, issued by Delhi Capitals (DC) Earlier this year, he was the most sought-after player at auction. Speculation has been rife about where the dynamic mix will land, and as expected, bidding has been fierce. While SRH initially challenged LSG, the real drama unfolded when DC exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card, reigniting the rivalry. Bidding quickly escalated to INR 22 crore, and co-owner D.C Parth Jindal He showed no hesitation in pushing the boundaries to retain Pant. but, LSG owner Sanjeev GoenkaThe calculated strategy proved decisive.
The science behind the INR 27 crore offer
In an interview with Ranveer AllahabadiaGoenka highlighted the meticulous planning behind the mega show. According to Goenka, extensive calculations were done to determine DC's financial capacity and emotional attachment to Pant.
“There was science behind going at 27 cr for Rishabh Pant. Delhi went at 26.5 cr for Shreyas Iyer. So, my feeling was, 'Parth Jindal is so crazy about Rishabh Pant, he will go to the IPL auction.'” So, the idea was to go up two notches from Parth, or even three, and this is where it will stop. For Rishabh, we have calculated three scenarios, and in all of them, he has been very important for us. Goenka said.
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Sanjeev Goenka shares the basic thought process
Goenka also revealed that LSG has allocated a budget of INR 25-27 crore specifically for Pant, reflecting the franchise's commitment to have an Indian anchor around whom the team can revolve.
“We knew we would get him and had reserved Rs 25-27 cr for him in all our plans. So, when the bidding for Rishabh stopped at 21-22 cr, DC did not waste even a second to use RTM for him. This means they were ready To go to the maximum we have to take Rishabh. LSG owner added.
Goenka emphasized the crucial role Pant will play in the LSG setup. Goenka acknowledged DC's enthusiasm to retain Pant but speculated that circumstances behind the scenes may have influenced their inability to retain him earlier.
“However, whatever the circumstances, they did not keep him, or Rishabh was not willing to keep him. It is not my right to talk about it or comment on it, but they made sure. If you look at Parth’s reaction, it is more like a deal was completed. Given All that being said, we thought 27 Cr was a safe offer. Had Rishabh not come to us, LSG would have been missing out on an Indian anchor around whom the entire team was built.
Pant's great comeback and recent form
Pant's journey to becoming the highest-paid player in the Indian Premier League is nothing short of inspiring. After suffering a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, the cricketer faced a grueling year of recovery. However, his comeback in IPL 2024 has been nothing short of amazing. Pant led the Capitals, amassing 446 runs in 13 innings at an impressive strike rate of 155.40, including three half-centuries. His performance demonstrated his unparalleled resilience and skill, reaffirming his status as one of the best limited-overs players in the world.
