Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League as he was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for 27 crore (£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 26.75 crore (£2.51m) by Punjab Kings.
Australia seamer Mitchell Starc, who held the record prior to the auction, was signed for 11.75 crore (£1m) by the Capitals, some way short of his 24.75 crore (£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 15.75 crore (£1.4m).
Liam Livingstone was signed from the second set of players, joining Royal Challengers Bangalore for 8.75 crore (£827,000), and was later joined by opener Phil Salt for 11.5 crore (£1m).
Harry Brook was re-signed by Delhi Capitals for 6.25 crore (£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.
