Rishabh Pant becomes most expensive player in IPL history

Indian left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has created history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, becoming the most expensive player. The auction of the best-performing cricketers in the first phase of the IPL was held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Lucknow Super Giants bought the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman for 270 million Indian rupees in the auction, which is more than 88 crore Pakistani rupees.

The successful bid for Rishabh Pant also surpassed the 260 million Indian rupees paid by Punjab Kings for Shreyas Iyer a few minutes earlier.

Earlier, Delhi Capitals had offered 207.5 million Indian rupees under the Right to Match Card (RTM) to retain Rishabh Pant, but the huge offer of 270 million Indian rupees from Lucknow Supergiants forced Delhi Capitals to withdraw from the auction.

Rishabh Pant has been a part of Delhi Capitals since 2016, but after this auction, he has now joined Lucknow Supergiants. Delhi Capitals had also given him the captaincy after Shreyas Iyer was injured during the 2021 session and was also retained as captain in the 2022 IPL.

Pant made a comeback in the 2024 IPL after being seriously injured in a car accident in December 2022.

Delhi Capitals retained him as captain, and in the 2024 season, he scored 446 runs for his team.

Earlier, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc was the most expensive player in the IPL auction held on December 19, 2023. He was made a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders team for 247.5 million Indian rupees.

Prior to Mitchell Starc, Australian player Pat Cummins was the most expensive player, whom Sunrisers Hyderabad added to their fleet for 200 million Indian rupees. Similarly, preceding Cummins was England all-rounder Sam Curran, who joined the Punjab Kings for 18.50 crore and became the most expensive player.

Rishabh gave scooters to the locals who rescued him in a car accident

In 2022, Rishabh Pant's car met with an accident while going from Uttarakhand to Delhi, in which the cricketer sustained serious injuries, while two locals rescued him and shifted him to the hospital in time.

The cricketer was treated in the hospital and returned to the field after about a year and a half.

Now, Rishabh has gifted scooters to locals named Rajat Kumar and Neshu Kumar. The cricketer thanked them and said that this would remain a favour to him for the rest of his life, which he will never forget.

He said that I was not able to thank everyone individually, but I was indebted to the two heroes, Rajat Kumar and Neshu Kumar, who tried their best to save my life after the accident.