Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant Set to Reignite Their IPL Careers in 2025 Auction

As the anticipation builds for the IPL 2025 mega auction, cricket enthusiasts are abuzz with speculation about player movements and team strategies. Former Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on the potential return of Shreyas Iyer to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rishabh Pant's fate with Delhi Capitals.

Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports, highlighted that KKR, who clinched their third IPL title last season under Iyer’s leadership, might be keen on reacquiring him. Despite Iyer's impressive performance of 351 runs at a strike rate of 146.86 in 14 innings, KKR faced retention challenges due to financial constraints. The franchise decided to retain key players like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh, leaving them with a purse of INR 51 crore to finalize their squad for the 18th IPL season.

“Shreyas Iyer brought immense value to KKR, and his leadership was instrumental in their recent success. I won't be surprised if they pursue him again in the auction,” Gavaskar remarked.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals are expected to make strategic moves to secure Rishabh Pant, utilizing the Right to Match (RTM) card. Pant, who amassed an impressive 446 runs with a strike rate of 155.40 over 13 innings in IPL 2024, is seen as a crucial asset for Delhi, especially in their quest for a strong captain.

“Delhi Capitals are likely to exercise the RTM card for Pant, as they are in need of a captain who can lead from the front,” Gavaskar added.

In other developments, Gavaskar noted the interest from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in acquiring KL Rahul. The Southern franchises are in pursuit of a player of Rahul’s calibre, particularly after his release from Lucknow Super Giants, where he scored 520 runs at a strike rate of 136.1.

“KL Rahul's ability to anchor the innings makes him a coveted player for both RCB and CSK,” Gavaskar concluded.

As teams strategize for the upcoming season, the auction promises to be a spectacle of tactical decisions and high-stakes bidding wars, with players like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul at the center of attention.