Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in Indian Premier League history when he was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore (₹2.54 million) at the mega auction in Saudi Arabia.
The 27-year-old Indian wicketkeeper was the subject of a bidding war between the Super Giants and his former team, the Delhi Capitals.
Pant, who returned to the game in this year's IPL After a 14-month layoff due to a car accident, he surpassed the previously set record when Shreyas Iyer was signed by the Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore (₹2.51 million).
Australian seamer Mitchell Starc, who held the pre-auction record, was signed by the Capitals for ₹11.75 crore (₹1 million), slightly less than his price of ₹24.75 crore (₹2.3 million). ), when he was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders last year.
Jos Buttler was the only Englishman in the first group of players auctioned in Jeddah and the England white-ball captain and wicketkeeper was snapped up by the Gujarat Titans for 15.75 crore (£1.4 million).
Liam Livingstone was signed from the second group of players and moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore for 8.75 crore (£827,000).
Hundreds of players will go under the hammer at the IPL's mega auction on Sunday and Monday and teams will be looking to build their squads afterward Withholdings in October.
