Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is expected to become the player to be sold for the biggest amount in the upcoming IPL mega auction and a mock auction conducted by Star Sports and JioCinema showed that many cricket experts also believe the same.
Pant was bought for a huge fee of INR 33 crore by the Punjab Kings (PBKS), represented by Eoin Morgan. KL Rahul also was bought for a massive sum of 29.5 crore by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) represented by their former head coach Mike Hesson.
Pant parted ways with Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL mega auction, and has even clarified on social media that money wasn’t the factor behind his decision. On the other hand, KL Rahul decided to enter the auction instead of staying with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and cited team atmosphere as the reason why he didn’t want to continue with the franchise.
“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. Rishabh is not just a top-order left-handed batsman but also one of the most explosive players in modern cricket. Coupled with his captaincy credentials and the potential to serve for years to come, he’s akin to securing a young MS Dhoni. This is a strategic long-term investment, focused on building a robust foundation for the future. In my view, players like Pant are simply invaluable,” Morgan said after acquiring Pant.
“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. At 32, Rahul brings experience and the ability to anchor the innings post-Virat’s era. As a local talent, he also fills the critical wicket-keeping slot left vacant by DK’s exit. While RCB would likely bid aggressively for him, the final price would hinge on the dynamics and unpredictability of the auction,” Hesson said after acquiring Rahul.
Other big buys from the mock auction include –
Shreyas Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders (21 crore)
Mitchell Starc – Mumbai Indians (18 crore)
Arshdeep Singh – Punjab Kings (16.5 crore)
Ishan Kishan – Delhi Capitals (15.5 crore)
Yuzvendra Chahal – Sunrisers Hyderabad (15 crore)
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