LSG breaks records with INR 27 crore bid for Pant while PBKS secures Shreyas for 26.75 crore

The IPL 2025 mega auction was nothing short of a spectacle, with jaw-dropping bids and intense bidding wars that left cricket fans worldwide buzzing with excitement. While every season's auction brings surprises, this year broke all previous records. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) stunned everyone by securing Rishabh Pant for a staggering INR 27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Not far behind, Punjab Kings (PBKS) acquired Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crore, marking their highest-ever spend on a player.
Rishabh Pant - Most Expensive Player in IPL History

Rishabh Pant set a new record as the most expensive player in IPL history. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) bought him for a jaw-dropping INR 27 crore (USD 3.21 million approx.). Pant’s price surpassed the earlier record held by Shreyas Iyer, who was sold to PBKS for INR 26.75 crore (USD 3.18 million approx.) just minutes earlier.

LSG and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) initially battled for Pant, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) joining the fray. After fierce bidding, Delhi Capitals (DC) declined to match LSG’s INR 27 crore offer using the RTM, making Pant the marquee addition for LSG.

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Shreyas Iyer - PBKS's Record Signing

Shreyas Iyer became PBKS’s highest-priced player in history, sold for INR 26.75 crore. PBKS, needing a new captain, outbid Delhi Capitals (DC) to secure Iyer. Ricky Ponting, PBKS’s new coach, expressed excitement about reuniting with Iyer, whom he had previously worked with at DC.

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Arshdeep Singh - The First Player Sold

Arshdeep Singh kicked off the IPL 2025 mega auction as the first player sold. Punjab Kings (PBKS) secured his services through the Right-to-Match (RTM) option, outbidding Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), with a final price of INR 18 crore. This strategic move made Arshdeep the only marquee player bought back using the RTM in this auction.

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Venkatesh Iyer - A Surprise Star

Venkatesh Iyer created a buzz with his massive auction price of INR 23.75 crore (USD 2.83 million approx.), making him one of the most sought-after players. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), his former franchise, fought off Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to bring him back.
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Jos Buttler, Mitchell Starc, and Kagiso Rabada - New Teams

Jos Buttler: Gujarat Titans (GT) won a bidding war against PBKS and LSG to secure Buttler for INR 15.75 crore (USD 1.88 million).

Mitchell Starc: Delhi Capitals (DC) bought Starc for INR 11.75 crore after battling it out with KKR and Mumbai Indians (MI).

Kagiso Rabada: Gujarat Titans (GT) added Rabada to their lineup for INR 10.75 crore.

KL Rahul - DC's Captain Contender

KL Rahul was sold to Delhi Capitals (DC) for INR 14 crore ($1.67 million approx.) after competitive bids from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), RCB, and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Rahul is expected to take on a leadership role in the franchise.

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Jofra Archer - A Big Comeback

Jofra Archer made a stunning return to the IPL, sold to Rajasthan Royals (RR) for INR 12.5 crore. Archer, who had previously played for both RR and MI, marked a significant comeback after missing much of the previous seasons.
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Yuzvendra Chahal - PBKS’s Big Buy

Yuzvendra Chahal was one of the highlights of the auction, sold to PBKS for INR 18 crore. The spinner expressed his excitement, noting it was the highest amount he had ever been paid in the IPL.
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CSK's Busy Day

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made waves later in the auction, securing players like:

Devon Conway

Rahul Tripathi

Rachin Ravindra

R Ashwin

Ashwin’s INR 9.75 crore deal marked his highest-ever IPL price.

Warner and Bairstow Go Unsold

Among the surprises of the day, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow went unsold in the first round of the auction. Both players might return to the bidding pool during the accelerated round on day two.

Conclusion

The IPL 2025 mega auction will go down in history as a game-changer. With LSG breaking records for Rishabh Pant and PBKS making a massive investment in Shreyas Iyer, the stakes have never been higher. These moves reflect the franchises' determination to win and their willingness to invest in leadership and talent.