Pant becomes most expensive player in IPL history

Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League as he was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for Indian Rupees (INR) 270 million (£2.54m) at the mega auction in Saudi Arabia.

The India wicketkeeper, 27, was the subject of a bidding war between the Super Giants and his former side, Delhi Capitals.

Pant, who returned to the game in this year's IPL after an 14-month lay-off following a car accident, beat the record set earlier in the day when Shreyas Iyer was signed for INR 267.5 million (£2.51m) by Punjab Kings.

Australia seamer Mitchell Starc, who held the record prior to the auction, was signed for INR 117.5 million (£1m) by the Capitals, some way short of his INR 247.5 million (£2.3m) cost when he was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders last year.

Jos Buttler was the only Englishman in the initial batch of players auctioned in Jeddah, and the England white-ball captain and wicketkeeper was picked up by Gujarat Titans for INR 157.5 million (£1.4m).

Seamer Jofra Archer, who was initially left off the auction list but was reinstated, will return to Rajasthan Royals, where he won player of the tournament in 2020-21, for INR 125 million (£1.18m).

Liam Livingstone was signed from the second set of players, joining Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 87.5 million (£796,000), and was later joined by opener Phil Salt for INR 115 million (£1m).

Harry Brook was re-signed by Delhi Capitals for INR 62.5 million (£590,000).

Brook had been picked by the Capitals in last December's mini auction but withdrew from the 2024 IPL following the death of his grandmother.

The Capitals also snapped up Australia batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, who hit four half-centuries for them last season, for INR 90 million (£850,000).

Punjab Kings, who are coached by Ricky Ponting, signed Aussie all-rounders Glenn Maxwell for INR 42 million (£390,000) and Marcus Stoinis for INR 110 million (£1.03m).

Elsewhere, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned to Chennai Super Kings for INR 97.5 million (£927,000) where he previously played from 2008 to 2015.

CSK, who are coached by former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming, signed Black Caps duo Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra for INR 62.5 million (£590,000) and INR 40 (£378,000) million respectively.

Among the other big-name Indian players to get deals were KL Rahul, who joined Delhi Capitals for INR 140 million (£1.35m), and Mohammad Siraj to Gujarat Titans for INR 122.5 million (£1.15m).

Venkatesh Iyer was the big earner though, taking home INR 237.5 million (£2.1m).

England's Jonny Bairstow and former Australia opener David Warner are among the players to go unsold so far, but could still be signed.

A total of 72 players were picked up by the 10 franchises on Sunday, with up to 132 slots still available.

The second half of the auction will take place on Monday, and will be accelerated with teams submitting lists of players they are interested in overnight.

The likes of James Anderson, Ben Duckett, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali, Will Jacks and Gus Atkinson are among the England players still hoping to earn deals.