IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Rishabh Pant VS KL Rahul Vs Shreyas Iyer; Who Will Become Most Expensive Buy?

Will Rishabh Pant become the first Indian player to surpass the ₹25 crore mark at the IPL auction? Or will that honour fall to Arshdeep Singh or Shreyas Iyer?

Pant, Arshdeep, and the in-form Iyer-who smashed a blistering century (130 not out off just 57 balls) for Mumbai against Goa in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in Hyderabad on Saturday-are poised to cash in big when the two-day IPL mega auction commences in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.

Photo Credit: PTI

Adding to the excitement is KL Rahul, currently impressing in the ongoing Perth Test, setting the stage for an enthralling spectacle, reported the Times of India.

Thanks to his exceptional stroke play and leadership credentials, Pant is widely tipped to emerge as the highest-paid player among the 577 individuals going under the hammer. However, Arshdeep Singh, India's 2024 T20 World Cup hero and joint highest wicket-taker (17 wickets), could spring a surprise with his price tag. Arshdeep's ability to swing the new ball and deliver at the death has turned him into a coveted player.

The 10 franchises collectively hold a ₹641.5 crore purse to fill up to 204 slots. Punjab Kings (PBKS), with ₹110.5 crore in their budget, are expected to make a determined bid for Pant. Having previously failed to retain him, they might also exercise their Right-to-Match (RTM) option to secure Arshdeep.

Additionally, PBKS could target Shreyas Iyer, potentially reuniting him with Ricky Ponting, their new head coach, who previously worked with Pant and Iyer during their time at the Delhi Capitals in the 2020 IPL season.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), with ₹83 crore available, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are also seen as strong contenders for Pant, potentially triggering a three-way bidding war. Reports suggest RCB are eager to appoint Pant as their captain.

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals (DC) are unlikely to use the RTM card for Pant but may instead focus on acquiring Shreyas Iyer, who recently led Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title.

With limited funds remaining, the IPL's powerhouses, Mumbai Indians (just ₹45 crore left) and Chennai Super Kings, are unlikely to enter the fray for Pant, Iyer, or Arshdeep.

KL Rahul, despite not being a part of India's current T20 setup, remains a highly attractive option due to his captaincy and wicketkeeping abilities. Franchises such as RCB, KKR, CSK, GT, and PBKS have reportedly expressed interest in him.

Washington Sundar is another player expected to command a high price. Teams like MI, GT, CSK, RCB, PBKS, and SRH are eyeing him, with SRH likely to use their RTM card for the all-rounder.

Fast bowlers will also be in high demand, especially with the new rule allowing two bouncers per over in IPL 2024. Prominent Indian pacers, including Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, are expected to attract significant bids.