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Raina, an IPL legend in his own right, stated that he believes Pant shall attract more eyes than ever this upcoming auction and shall outdo the Aussie.
Rishabh Pant. (Picture Credit: AFP)
When it comes crunch time, there is no better man to fall back on than Rishabh Pant. It’s this very same edge and ‘X-factor’ that the wicketkeeper-batter possesses that shall net him over Rs 25 crore to make him the IPL’s most expensive buy ever this upcoming auction, stated former Indian international Suresh Raina.
Kolkata Knight Riders splurged Rs 24.75 crore to sign Australian pacer Mitchell Starc ahead of IPL 2024, the highest bid ever made in the tournament’s history.
But, Raina, an IPL legend in his own right, stated that he believes Pant shall attract more eyes than ever this upcoming auction and shall outdo the Aussie.
“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,” Raina, IPL Expert, JioStar, stated in an interview with PTI.
“Punjab, Delhi, KKR, and RCB have the money. So, when he comes to the auction, expect him to go 4-5 crores higher than Rs 25 crore,” said Raina, four-time IPL winner with Chennai Super Kings.
It’s not just his brilliance with the bat and gloves, but his intangibles that make Pant stand apart as a delectable option for any team, believes Raina.
“He has that strength, the bonding he has with players, and everyone wants to play under him, which makes him special.”
“No one will leave him. This is a three-year auction. If you’re getting Rishabh Pant for three years. CSK don’t have that budget, but I definitely see him going to RCB or maybe as the captain of KKR. He will bring a lot of fans if he goes to KKR,” the former India left-hander added.
DC retained only four players – Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Tristan Stubbs, and the uncapped Indian batter Abhishek Porel — and opted to let go of skipper Rishabh Pant for whose services, along with his ability to lead, ensure that a bidding war can be expected in the upcoming IPL Mega Auction.
“Virat Kohli knows the DNA of RCB but he has declined to captain the side. As for captaincy, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant could be one of the options,” the 37-year-old said.
