November 24, 2024: The IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah turned into a rollercoaster for Delhi Capitals (DC) fans as the franchise missed out on retaining their former captain Rishabh Pant and star batter Shreyas Iyer. However, DC redeemed themselves by securing KL Rahul at a relative bargain of ₹14 crore, prompting fans to call it a “steal deal.”
Pant and Iyer Set Records
Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history when the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) snapped him up for ₹27 crore. This broke the previous record set just minutes earlier when Punjab Kings bought Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore.
Both players had been key targets for Delhi Capitals, but the franchise chose not to use the Right to Match (RTM) card for Pant and could not match the bidding war for Iyer.
The decisions left many DC fans disappointed, as they watched their former stars set records elsewhere.
A Silver Lining: KL Rahul Joins DC
While Delhi Capitals missed out on Pant and Iyer, they went all-in for KL Rahul, securing the Indian batter for ₹14 crore. Fans took to social media to express mixed feelings, with some lamenting the loss of Pant and Iyer while others celebrated Rahul’s acquisition as a budget-friendly alternative.
Another tweet read:
One fan tweeted:
“Losing Pant hurts, but ₹14 crore for KL Rahul is a robbery in daylight! Great business by DC!”
Another quipped:
“DC played smart! No ₹27 crore madness—KL Rahul for ₹14 crore is the real deal!”
A Shift in Auction Strategy
After not retaining Pant and Iyer, DC had ₹73 crore in their auction purse and approached the auction with flexibility. Opting for KL Rahul at a moderate price gives Delhi Capitals the chance to balance their squad and invest in other key areas.
This marks the second time the IPL auction has been held outside India, following last year’s event in Dubai.
What’s Next for Delhi Capitals?
DC fans hope KL Rahul will fill the void left by Pant and provide stability at the top of the order. With the auction still underway, the team will look to further strengthen its roster and challenge for the IPL 2025 title.
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IPL 2025 Auction, KL Rahul IPL, Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant Auction Price, Shreyas Iyer, IPL Records, IPL Twitter Reactions, Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings, T20 Cricket Updates,
