IPL 2025 Auction: As a successful top-order wicket-keeper batter and a proven captain, which teams are likely to target Rishabh Pant in the auction?
There is already a buzz around the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction as some marquee players are up for bidding. Among them, Rishabh Pant will be the most-sought after player as most franchises will be looking to get him.
However, as there is likely to be a bidding war for Pant, only those franchises who have the highest amount of money left in the purse will go to any extent to get the keeper-batter onboard. The bidding war for Pant may break all previous records in IPL. So, which franchises are likely to target Pant? And why Pant is the prized catch in the IPL.
Rishabh Pant, a 3-course comboÂ
Firstly, Rishabh Pant is a great asset not only as a top-order batter who can destroy any bowling attack on his day, he is also a handy keeper. Hence, a keeper-batter in Pant can walk into any franchise. Besides, Pant can also lead the team as he has previously led Delhi Capitals. Hence, franchises looking for a leader will get a three-combo pack in Pant.
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Teams that will target Rishabh Pant in auction
Hence, the expected bidding war that could go above Rs 20 crore could see a few franchises not bid at all even though they would love to have Pant on board. Teams such as Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals may resist bidding for Pant as they have less than Rs 60 crore to build the entire squad. These teams have invested heavily on retaining the core and hence, need to spend money wisely to get other players to form a squad and not splurge on just one player.
Therefore, franchises such as Royal Challengers Bangalore (Rs 83 crore) and Punjab Kings (Rs 110.50 crore) which have the highest money left in the purse could lock horns to bid as high as possible to get Pant. Punjab need a captain desperately and also a top-notch batter and none better than Pant. The keeping is a bonus. Hence, the Preity Zinta-owned team will go to any extreme to get Pant as even after spending on the keeper-batter, they will have enough to build a squad.
Royal Challengers Bangalore with Rs 83 crore could give a tough competition to Punjab Kings to get Pant. RCB also need an impact keeper-batter like Pant after Dinesh Karthik hung up his boots post IPL 2023. Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans with Rs 69 crore each could also bid but may opt out of the race for Pant if the price escalates to save money for other players.
However, there is a catch. Delhi Capitals could use their Right-To-Match card to retain Pant. But considering Pant left the squad himself, DC are highly unlikely to bid for Pant and let him go to another franchise. Hence, be ready to see an engrossing bidding war for Pant.
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