NEW DELHI: Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc made history at the IPL 2024 auction, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history with a record-breaking ₹24.75 crore bid from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan predicts this milestone might soon be surpassed.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pathan suggested that Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant could eclipse Starc’s record in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. “Mitchell Starc’s auction record is in danger. Rishabh Pant is ready to break it,” Pathan tweeted.
Pant, who recently returned to competitive cricket after recovering from a serious car accident, has been in scintillating form despite India’s recent 3-0 Test series loss to New Zealand. His aggressive batting and leadership qualities have drawn widespread praise.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, speaking on his YouTube channel, further fueled the hype, stating, “People might say he’s worth ₹25 crore, but in my opinion, he should go for ₹50 crore.”
IPL 2025 Mega Auction: A Highly Anticipated Event
The IPL 2025 mega auction, scheduled for November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, promises to be a landmark event. With 574 players in contention—366 Indians and 208 overseas cricketers—the auction will allocate just 204 slots, including 70 for overseas players.
For the first time since 2018, marquee players will be divided into two separate sets, allowing franchises greater strategic flexibility as they rebuild their squads.
Adding to the excitement, Mallika Sagar, who previously conducted the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, will take charge of this high-stakes event.
The cricketing world now waits to see if Rishabh Pant’s dynamic performances and star power will indeed propel him to the top of IPL’s all-time auction records.
