IPL Mega Auction 2025: Lucknow Super Giants have started shopping in the mega auction by spending from their own purse for the first time. Rishabh Pant became the first player to join Lucknow's squad in the mega auction being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This Indian wicketkeeper was bought by Lucknow Supergiants for Rs 27 crores. Rishabh Pant has become the most expensive player in IPL history. He defeated Shreyas Iyer by a margin of Rs 25 lakh. Iyer has been bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 26.75 crore.

There was a fierce fight between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Supergiants to buy Rishabh Pant. Lucknow and Delhi teams went till the bid of Rs 20.75 crore and after that Delhi Capitals put RTM. After this, Lucknow directly made Pant their own by making a bid of Rs 27 crores. The interesting thing is that Chennai did not even bid on Pant.

How much money does LSG have?

This franchise, which is only 3 seasons old in the IPL, had released Indian star KL Rahul, who was the captain of the team for these three years. There was tension between Rahul and franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka at the end of the last season. Questions were also raised on Rahul's style of playing, after which he was released this time. The franchise retained 5 players including the team's second big star Nicholas Pooran and in return spent a total of Rs 51 crore from its auction purse. In such a situation, Lucknow entered the auction with Rs 69 crore, whereas it has to buy 20 players.

LSG's 5 Retentions

Nicholas Pooran – 21 crores

Ravi Bishnoi – 11 crores

Mayank Yadav – 11 crores

Mohsin Khan – 4 crores

Ayush Badoni – 4 crores

LSG new players

Rishabh Pant- 27 crores