Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer Break IPL Auction Records: A Historic Day of Big Bids

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, held in Jeddah on Sunday, turned into a spectacle of record-breaking bids and surprising results as franchises competed to assemble their dream teams.

With historic purchases and dramatic returns, the auction set the tone for the upcoming IPL season. Here are the key moments from Day 1 of the auction.

Total Spending Hits a New High

On the first day of the mega auction, the 10 IPL franchises collectively spent an astounding Rs 467.95 crore to secure 72 players. Notably, 12 players, including cricketing stalwart David Warner, remained unsold.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) emerged with the largest remaining budget for Day 2, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) found themselves with the smallest purse.

Record-Breaking Purchases Steal the Show

Rishabh Pant shattered records by becoming the most expensive player in IPL history, fetching an incredible Rs 27.75 crore. This achievement surpassed the previous record held by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who had been sold for Rs 24.75 crore in a previous season.

Pant’s rise to this milestone has been nothing short of inspirational, particularly as he rebounded from a near-fatal car accident in 2022.

Shreyas Iyer, who guided Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title earlier this year, was purchased by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for Rs 26.75 crore. His comeback from being dropped from the BCCI central contracts list underscored his value as a marquee player.

Another standout bid saw Venkatesh Iyer returning to KKR for Rs 23.75 crore after a fierce bidding war with RCB.

Notable Bids and Emotional Returns

Mitchell Starc, once the league’s costliest player, joined Delhi Capitals (DC) for Rs 11.75 crore—a significant drop from his earlier record-breaking valuation.

Gujarat Titans (GT) bolstered their roster by acquiring Jos Buttler for Rs 15.75 crore and South African pacer Kagiso Rabada for Rs 10.75 crore.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s return to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 9.75 crore was an emotional moment for fans and the player alike.

Meanwhile, PBKS utilized their Right to Match (RTM) card to retain pacer Arshdeep Singh at Rs 18 crore, mirroring the amount they paid for leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Despite his exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup squad, Chahal remained a high-value acquisition.

Former Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul was a strategic buy for DC at Rs 14 crore, while seasoned bowler Mohammed Shami found a new home with SRH for Rs 10 crore.

Surprising Outcomes

Some marquee names, including David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, surprisingly went unsold. Warner’s base price of Rs 2 crore failed to attract any bidders, leaving fans and analysts puzzled. Similarly, Bairstow, also listed at Rs 2 crore, remained without a team at the close of Day 1.

DC used their RTM card to reclaim Australian batter Jake Fraser-McGurk for Rs 9 crore, marking another notable acquisition.

Remaining Budgets and Day 2 Expectations

At the end of Day 1, RCB retained the largest remaining budget of Rs 30.65 crore, while SRH had only Rs 5.15 crore left. Day 2 of the IPL 2025 auction is scheduled to commence at 3:30 pm on Monday, promising more thrilling bids and strategic moves.

A Fierce Battle for Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant’s journey to becoming the costliest player in IPL history was marked by an intense bidding war. Sold to Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore, Pant broke Shreyas Iyer’s short-lived record.

The dramatic bidding saw Delhi Capitals surprisingly use their RTM card when the bid had reached Rs 20.75 crore, reigniting speculation about Pant’s relationship with the franchise.

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjeev Goenka was determined not to let Pant slip away, raising the bid to a record-breaking Rs 27 crore. Pant’s move to Lucknow signals a possible leadership role, with rumors suggesting he might replace KL Rahul as captain for IPL 2025.

Pant’s pre-auction post on X, formerly Twitter, had sparked speculation about his future.

In a cryptic message, he asked followers, “If I go to the auction, will I be sold or not and for how much?” Responding to comments, Pant clarified his departure from Delhi Capitals was not motivated by financial reasons, stating, “My retention wasn’t about the money for sure that I can say.”

Nicholas Pooran, retained by Lucknow for Rs 21 crore, was initially expected to lead the side. However, Pant’s arrival has added a new dynamic to the team’s leadership discussions.