Most expensive Indian Premier League player

Lucknow Super Giants recruited wicket-keeper/batter Rishabh Pant (India) for 27 crore Indian rupees ($3.21 m; £2.56 m) at the Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 24 November 2024. The 27-year-old, who has scored 5,022 T20 runs in 191 innings in domestic and franchise cricket (and another 1,209 runs in 66 innings in T20 Internationals), was the subject of a bidding war between Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals (whom he had previously captained) and the Giants, who got their man with their final offer.

On the same day, Shreyas Iyer (India) was snapped up by Punjab Kings for 26.75 crore Indian rupees ($3.18 m; £2.53 m), which also shattered the previous record of 24.75 crore Indian rupees (£2.35 m; $2.97 m), splashed by Kolkata Knight Riders on 19 December 2023 for the services of Australian paceman Mitchell Starc.

The IPL is the world’s most lucrative franchise cricket league. The first edition was staged in 2008, and the 17th in 2024. With five titles apiece, Mumbai Indians (2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019–20) and Chennai Super Kings (2010–11, 2018, 2021 and 2023) are the most successful franchises.

Between 2016 and 2024, Rishabh Pant hit 3,284 runs in 110 innings for Delhi Capitals (runners-up in 2020), averaging 35.31 runs per innings with a strike rate of 148.93 runs per 100 balls faced, among the best strike rates in the IPL.