The first set of matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is done and dusted, with all teams having played their opening games across various venues in India. Some teams outperformed expectations, with a few inching closer to the 300-run mark, while others engaged in thrilling encounters. Meanwhile, some high-profile players failed to live up to their hefty price tags！all within the five games played so far.
So, it would not be surprising if fans started comparing the two most expensive players of IPL 2025！Rishabh Pant, who was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for ?27 crores, and Shreyas Iyer, who was bought by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for ?26.75 crores！both of whom were also appointed as their respective teams' captains.?
Despite fetching such a high bid, Pant struggled to justify his price tag, registering a six-ball duck against his former team, Delhi Capitals (DC), and missing a crucial stumping chance that could have secured his team a victory. His captaincy decisions were also questioned by some fans.?
On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer-led PBKS got off to a winning start against Gujarat Titans (GT). Making his debut as Punjab Kings' captain, Iyer delivered a sensational performance, remaining unbeaten on 97 off just 42 balls, smashing five fours and nine sixes.?
It didn't take long for fans to draw comparisons between the tournament's most expensive buys. Some praised Iyer for carrying his stellar form from the domestic circuit to the Champions Trophy and now into the IPL, while others labeled Pant as "overhyped" and a "fraud."?
Many even questioned how Pant retained his BCCI contract while Iyer was removed despite his outstanding performances. Social media was abuzz with reactions, with many taking to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their opinions.?
One fan wrote: "After the auction, people said Shreyas Iyer was overrated and overpriced, while Rishabh Pant was worth the money. But now, performances have shown who truly deserved the price tag."
Another post compared their performances: "Shreyas Iyer - ?26.75 crSelfless, led from the front, secured a win & won POTM. vs.Rishabh Pant - ?27 crA duck, missed stumping & run-out, poor captaincy！Shardul was given only two overs."? ??
One fan highlighted the stark contrast: "Shreyas Iyer (97 off 42) won the first match for PBKS and was picked for ?26.75 crores.Rishabh Pant (0 off 6) lost LSG¨s first match due to poor wicketkeeping！dropped a catch, missed a crucial last-over stumping, and wasted six balls."
Another user remarked: "Even ?30 crores wouldn¨t be enough for Shreyas Iyer, but unfortunately, he doesn¨t have a PR agency like Pant."
A fan even claimed: "If Shreyas Iyer had received as many chances in limited-overs cricket as Rishabh Pant, his name would have been among the biggest in world cricket today."
Punjab Kings Squad: Josh Inglis(w), Prabhsimran Singh, Shreyas Iyer(c), Glenn Maxwell, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Azmatullah Omarzai, Kuldeep Sen, Priyansh Arya, Suryansh Shedge, Harnoor Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyla Avinash
Lucknow Super Giants Squad: Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, RS Hangargekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph, Akash Deep, Shahbaz Ahmed, Manimaran Siddharth, Akash Maharaj Singh, Aiden Markram, Avesh Khan, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Aryan Juyal, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi?
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