We saw Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer get Rs 27 and 26.75 crore, respectively, at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. First Shreyas became the most expensive player in history, and soon after Pant took him over. Such was the demand for captains who can carry the team that franchises smashed the record of Rs 24.75 crore that Kolkata Knight Riders set by buying Mitchell Starc last year, twice.
Why Hardik Pandya would get more money than Rishabh Pant & Shreyas Iyer
Just think if such was the buzz for Pant and Shreyas, what would happen if someone like Hardik Pandya had entered the IPL 2025 auction? There was a realistic chance that this could have happened last season, but the Gujarat Titans completed a trade deal with the Mumbai Indians (MI) instead.
Not to undersell Pant or Shreyas, but they can’t compete with Hardik. I’ll elaborate on why. Shreyas is a middle-order batter and an IPL-winning captain, but that’s all he offers. Pant’s more valuable than him, a wicketkeeper, a left-handed batter who bats him the middle-order as well. Of course, not to mention someone with ample captaincy experience as well.
What makes Hardik Pandya Rs 30 crore worthy
But Hardik has one IPL title and two finals in three years as a captain. He’s the best all-rounder in the league, and we know just how rare pace-bowling all-rounders are to find, not just in India but worldwide. Hardik can win two matches with the bat or ball and is one of the best fielders.
One can’t forget the type of effect he had on the Gujarat Titans (GT). In the two seasons, he was their captain; their worst finish was a final, and their best was a title. He remains their fourth-highest scorer despite not featuring for them in IPL 2024. His bowling remains underrated with the ball. Hardik possesses the ability to swing the ball and bang it short in the middle overs when needed.
Let’s talk about his versatility while batting. He’s won matching by playing two roles. He bashed the ball with MI, and when he reached GT, he showed that he could anchor as well. He isn’t a one-trick pony and can play according to the tempo of the game and the match situation.
Hardik Pandya is two players combined into one. Had he entered the IPL 2025 mega auction, no one would be shocked had he earned himself more than Rs 30 crore.
Hardik Pandya IPL stats
| Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Batting Strike Rate | Wickets | Bowling Average | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 137 | 2525 | 28.69 | 145.61 | 64 | 33.59 | 1 |
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