- Pant sold for INR 27 crore, surpasses Iyer
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana have been sold to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction.
Hasaranga, the dashing leg-spinner, has fetched a sum of Indian rupees (INR) 5.25 crore at the event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The wrist-spinner has emerged as a match-winner for the Lankans in limited-overs cricket. Meanwhile, Theekshana bagged a INR 4.40 crore deal.
Hasaranga missed IPL 2024 season
Hasaranga was ruled out of the 2024 IPL season. As mentioned, he was a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad.
He had fetched a sum of INR 1.5 crore from SRH at the 2024 IPL auction. Hasaranga was released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after the 2023 season.
Hasaranga was RCB’s highest wicket-taker in IPL 2022 as he finished with 26 wickets at 16.54.
A look at his T20 stats
Hasaranga owns 287 wickets from 200 T20 matches at an average of 16.65. The tally includes an economy rate of 6.90 (9 four-fers and 3 fifers).
He also owns 2,314 runs with the bat at a strike rate of 145.16. He has also scored nine half-centuries. The all-rounder has been a vital cog in Sri Lanka’s line-up.
Theekshana has represented CSK
Notably, Theekshana was picked before Hasaranga by the Royals. He fetched INR 4.40 crore for the deal.
The Lankan off-spinner has featured in three IPL seasons so far (2022-2024), all for Chennai Super Kings.
He has taken 25 wickets from 27 matches at over 30. His tally includes a four-fer. Theekshana and Hasaranga form a solid spin-bowling duo for RR.
Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player ever in an IPL auction during the 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday (24).
Lucknow Super Giants signed the Indian wicket-keeper batter for INR 27 crore.
Delhi Capitals had earlier used the RTM card for Pant at INR 20.75 crore. However, LSG elevated the bid to INR 27 crore, at which point DC pulled out.
Pant thus broke the record set a few minutes earlier by Shreyas Iyer, who was signed by Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crore.
Pant was released by Delhi Capitals ahead of this year’s auction. He had been part of the Capitals’ setup since 2016 and was made captain ahead of the 2021 season in place of an injured Shreyas Iyer. Pant was retained as captain for IPL 2022.
Pant made a comeback in IPL 2024 after recovering from the severe injuries he sustained in a life-threatening car accident in December 2022.
Upon his return, he was reinstated as captain of Delhi Capitals and he scored 446 runs in what turned out to be another average season for the team.
(Agencies)