The IPL 2025 mega auction is going to be held on 24–25 November; before that, different kinds of speculations are born by different media. Now South African legend AB de Villiers has told whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru will bid on Rishabh Pant or not. While discussing on his YouTube channel, the Ex RCB batter said that Rishabh Pant can go very expensive and many teams can bid on him.
AB de Villiers on RCB’s Chances of Buying Rishabh Pant: “Very Little Hope”
Former RCB legend AB de Villiers shared his views on the potential of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) acquiring Rishabh Pant in the upcoming IPL mega auction. De Villiers believes RCB’s chances of securing Pant are slim, noting that Pant is likely to command a high price with multiple franchises eager to bid for him.
“I believe Pant will be very expensive, and all franchises might go for him in the auction,” de Villiers commented. He speculated that Punjab Kings might be particularly interested, given their available funds. De Villiers added, “My heart says that the friendship between Pant and Ricky Ponting is strong, and I think we might see Pant playing for Punjab Kings next season.”
What Should RCB Prioritize in the Mega Auction?
While de Villiers would love to see Pant in an RCB jersey, he feels the team should prioritize strengthening its bowling attack instead. According to him, the Bangalore franchise would benefit from focusing on Indian bowlers and finding a strong, reliable spin option. “It’s crucial to have a few quality Indian players, including a primary spin bowler, for RCB,” he advised.
ABD feels that RCB has a very slim chance of getting Pant in the auction 🗣️#RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/pJERbseHBa
— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) November 9, 2024
De Villiers also suggested that RCB should pay more attention to recruiting local talent from Karnataka. “I’ve heard Anil Kumble say that RCB often overlooks local players. I think including players from Bangalore could help the team,” he remarked.
ABD feels that RCB has a very slim chance of getting Pant in the auction 🗣️#RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/pJERbseHBa
— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) November 9, 2024
Rishabh Pant’s Impressive IPL Career So Far
Rishabh Pant has built a brilliant IPL career with the Delhi Capitals, playing 111 matches and scoring 3,284 runs with an average above 35. His impressive strike rate of 148.93 is complemented by multiple fifties and centuries. In the last season, Pant scored 446 runs in 13 matches, proving to be a crucial asset for his team.
As Delhi Capitals did not retain him, so Pant is likely to be seen in the auction pool. In the IPL 2025 auction, he is expected to be a top pick, and franchises like Punjab Kings may be willing to invest heavily in him. As for RCB, they face the decision of balancing their lineup with local players and a strong bowling unit, as de Villiers suggests.