India’s star wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant surpassed Shreyas Iyer in a matter of minutes to become the most expensive IPL signing of all-time as Lucknow Super Giants pipped Delhi Capitals with a Rs 27 crore bid.
While his former franchise DC opted for an RTM bid at Rs 20.75 crore, LSG raised the bidding by a staggering margin to Rs 27 crore, make him the most expensive signing at the auctions history ahead of Shreyas Iyer, who received a Rs 26.75 crore bid from Punjab Kings earlier this evening.
Inevitably, Pant, justifying the pre-auction prediction, emerged as the most expensive player in the auction (at Rs 27 crore). But not after drama and suspense. At least thrice did the auctioneer nearly close the deal (once shockingly at Rs 11.75 crore), before someone raised the paddle at the last moment. Pant is an irresistible temptation. The contingent of owners and coaches were locked in intense discussions. Zaheer Khan, the LSG mentor, emptied at least a couple of water bottles.
The sums soared as frequently as the boundaries that rolled off his bat when in mood. The pre-climax twist was when Delhi Capitals decided to exercise the Right To Match option at Rs 20.75 crore, after Sunrises Hyderabad too surrendered. But the Lucknow Super Giants’s huddle had enough bargaining. LSG owner Sanjeev Goenka gestured Rs 27 crore. There was not to be another turn. The deal was sealed, in typical Pant style, with a maximum at the end
