NEW DELHI: Australian pacer Mitchell Starc stunned the cricketing world in the IPL 2024 auction when he was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for an unprecedented INR 24.75 crore, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history.
However, according to former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, Starc’s record might be short-lived. Pathan took to X (formerly Twitter) to predict, “Mitchell Starc’s auction record is in danger. Rishabh Pant is ready to break it.”
Rishabh Pant, who recently returned to competitive cricket following a car accident, has been in sensational form.
Despite the 3-0 whitewash in the Test series against New Zealand, his recent performances have drawn widespread acclaim.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali remarked on his YouTube channel, “People might say he’s worth ₹25 crore, but in my opinion, he should go for ₹50 crore.”
Pant’s aggressive batting, leadership potential, and the ability to turn games single-handedly make him a prime candidate for a record-breaking bid in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
The much-anticipated mega auction is set to take place on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It will feature 574 players, including 366 Indians and 208 overseas cricketers. Among them are 318 uncapped Indian players and 12 from overseas, vying for one of the 204 available slots, including 70 for overseas players.
The auction will also see significant procedural updates, with the marquee players divided into two sets for the first time since 2018. This promises a strategic edge to franchises as they rebuild their squads.
Mallika Sagar, who previously conducted the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, will helm the IPL 2025 mega auction.
