“It is incredibly unlikely”, AB de Villiers reveals why RCB can’t sign Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 Mega Auction

Rishabh Pant has been released by DC ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction and RCB might be interested in signing him.

“It is incredibly unlikely”, AB de Villiers reveals why RCB can’t sign Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 Mega Auction

AB de Villiers, Rishabh Pant (Via X)

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction is around the corner, to be held on November 24 and 25 in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Teams have already released their official retention list, and one big surprise has been that Delhi Capitals (DC) have not retained their former captain and star wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant.

As per reports, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be one of the many teams who will be looking to go all out for the Indian wicketkeeper-batter. However, former RCB batter, AB de Villiers, feels that RCB might not be able to land Pant in the mega auction.

YouTube video

He feels that the wicketkeeper will be extremely expensive as there will be a bidding war for him. Moreover, he feels that Punjab Kings (PBKS) will spend a fortune for him, given that he is very close to their new Head Coach, Ricky Ponting, who moved from DC to PBKS ahead of the start of the next season.

I think it is incredibly unlikely that RCB will get hold of Rishabh Pant; I think he will be too expensive, and all the franchises are going to go for him in the auction. I do feel the Punjab Kings spend whatever they can to get him; that’s my personal feeling. It’s my gut feeling; I feel there is a very tight connection between him and Ricky Ponting. I think we are going to see him at Punjab Kings. We’ll see what happens; if not, it would be great if RCB can have Rishabh, but I just think he is going to be too expensive.

AB de Villiers said on his YouTube channel

RCB have retained just three players—Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. They are looking to make Kohli the captain of the team for the next season. On the other hand, PBKS have retained two uncapped players—Prabhsimran Singh and Shashank Singh. They have the biggest purse of all the franchises in the auction, worth Rs 110.50 crore.

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Rishabh Pant made his comeback to cricket through IPL 2024 after the injury break

Pant faced a near-fatal car accident in December 2022 and was out of cricket for about one and a half years. He missed IPL 2023 due to injury and made a solid comeback to cricket through IPL 2024.

AB de Villiers, Rishabh Pant-3
AB de Villiers (Via X)

He captained the side and scored 446 runs in 13 matches with a strike-rate of 155.40. Then, he was part of the triumphant Indian team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Pant has been in sensational form in red ball cricket from the time he made his comeback in the home series against Bangladesh.

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Meanwhile, RCB do have three Right-To-Match cards to use in the auction and they might use them on Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj. De Villiers feels that RCB might look to strengthen their bowling options, given that it has been their Achilles heel for all these years, and will look to get local players into the side.