Rishabh Pant Anticipated To Surpass Rs 25 Crore Mark In IPL 2025 Auction, Says Suresh Raina

Rishabh Pant's distinctive attributes are likely to ignite fierce competition at the IPL mega auction in Jeddah on Sunday. Former India cricketer Suresh Raina predicts that Pant could fetch over Rs 25 crore.

In the past, Kolkata Knight Riders set a tournament record by paying Rs 24.75 crore for Australian bowler Mitchell Starc. Raina believes this record might be surpassed with Pant's auction.

Raina suggests that Royal Challengers Bengaluru might consider Pant as a captain after releasing Faf du Plessis. He also mentioned KL Rahul or even bringing back Du Plessis as options. "Virat Kohli knows the DNA of RCB but he has declined to captain the side," Raina noted. Pant could also lead KKR, which would attract many fans.

Raina highlighted Pant's leadership and charisma, saying, "More than his batting and keeping, he's a great character to have in the team when he is a captain. Any owner or coach would not like to miss his X-factor." His energy and rapport with players make him highly valuable. Teams like Punjab, Delhi, KKR, and RCB are expected to compete vigorously for him.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have Rs 55 crore available and need to bolster their spin attack. Raina recommends targeting players like Maheesh Theekshana or Yuzvendra Chahal. CSK also requires an overseas batter, possibly Daryl Mitchell. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians (MI), with key retentions such as Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma, aim to improve their spin department too.

Mumbai may consider Yuzvendra Chahal or Ashwin for their spin lineup. The Rohit-Ashwin pairing could be strategic for them. Additionally, MI seeks a wicketkeeper and might use RTM for Ishan Kishan. Players like Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra are anticipated to draw high bids due to recent performances.

Arshdeep Singh's performance in India's T20I series win against South Africa was impressive. Despite this success, Punjab Kings did not retain him. Raina believes this could benefit Arshdeep during the auction. "He's a proven performer," said Raina, underscoring Arshdeep's potential value.

The upcoming auction promises excitement with potential record-breaking bids for players like Pant and Arshdeep. Teams are strategising to fill key positions and strengthen their squads for the next IPL season. The focus remains on acquiring players who can bring both skill and leadership to their teams.