RIYADH: Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history yesterday when he sold for a record $3.2 million, as teams splashed out on world-class cricketers for the lucrative Twenty20 tournament.

A total of 577 players are up for grabs at the two-day auction in Jeddah, with Pant, England veteran James Anderson and New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra among the top names. The 2023 record of 247.5 million rupees Kolkata paid to Australian Mitchell Starc was first breached by Punjab Kings, who the IPL said snapped up Shreyas Iyer for a “handsome” 267.5 million rupees ($3.17 million). Iyer, 29, captained Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL crown this year.

New Punjab coach Ricky Ponting, who left Delhi Capitals after this season, said they will make Shreyas captain if he agrees. “I have worked with him three or four years at Delhi and obviously he is a championship winning captain from last season,” Ponting said. “We have got someone there that can do the job if that’s the way we decide to go, so I am delighted to have him back.” Shreyas’ record rapidly tumbled. The IPL reported Lucknow Super Giants paid a “gigantic” 270 million rupees for 27-year-old star keeper Pant. “Rishabh’s history in the IPL and in the sport of cricket is unparallelled in terms of his skill, what he brings to the table,”

Lucknow owner Shashwat Goenka, said of the record buy. “I think he came at what we had anticipated for him. We are very excited to have him as part of the squad.” Pant made an impressive return to competitive cricket in this year’s IPL after a serious car crash in December 2022. He came in as captain of Delhi Capitals but he and the team parted ways. Later on day one Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer hit the jackpot when he went to Kolkata for a whopping $2.81 million after a fierce bidding war with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Venkatesh, a left-hand batter and right-arm medium pace bowler who was released by Kolkata only to be bought back, became the third-highest buy of the day.