IPL 2025 auction: Rishabh Pant becomes the most expensive player in the history of the tournament

Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in Indian Premier League history when he was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for 27 crore (£2.54m) in the mega auction in Saudi Arabia.

The Indian wicketkeeper, 27, was the subject of a bidding war between the Super Giants and his former side Delhi Capitals.

Pant, who returned to action in this year’s IPL after a 14-month layoff following a car accident, broke the record set earlier in the day when Shreyas Iyer was signed for Rs 26.75 crore (£2.51m) by Punjab Kings.

Australian seamer Mitchell Starc, who held the pre-auction record, was signed for 11.75 crore (£1m) by the Capitals, a cut short of his 24.75 crore (£2.3m) when he was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders last year.

Jos Buttler was the only Englishman in the initial group of players auctioned in Jeddah and the England white-ball captain and wicketkeeper was snapped up by Gujarat Titans for 15.75 crore (£1.4m).

Liam Livingstone was brought in from the second set of players, joining Royal Challengers Bangalore for 8.75 crore (£827,000).

Hundreds of players will go under the hammer at the IPL’s mega auction across Sunday and Monday as sides look to build up their squads following October holdouts.