Crores and contrasts: Rishabh Pant’s patchy returns vs Shreyas Iyer’s purple patch
Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 20 Apr 2026, 02:40 PM• Read time - 11 mins
The IPL 2025 mega auction was a watershed moment. Lucknow Super Giants shattered records by splurging INR 27 crore on Rishabh Pant, making him the most expensive buy in IPL history. Punjab Kings, meanwhile, invested INR 26.75 crore in Shreyas Iyer, fresh off his title‑winning stint with KKR. Both deals were seismic, but their aftermaths couldn’t have been more contrasting.
Pant: Price tag, pressure, and patchy returns
Pant’s tenure at LSG has been marred by inconsistency.
- IPL 2025: LSG finished seventh with 12 points. Pant managed 269 runs in 14 games, averaging 24.45 at a strike rate of 133.16, with one century and one fifty.
- IPL 2026: LSG are languishing at 8th, with Pant contributing 147 runs in 6 games at 29.40 average and 136.11 strike rate, with just one fifty.
Rishabh Pant's record as a batter at LSG
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Ducks | Fours | Sixes | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 416 | 26.00 | 134.19 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 21 | 118* |
Rishabh Pant's record as captain at LSG
| Matches | Wins | Losses | Win % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 8 | 12 | 40.00 | 60.00 |
Pant’s leadership mirrors his batting: flashes of brilliance, but at times lacks sustained impact.
Iyer: Commanding the crease and steering the ship
Iyer’s journey at PBKS has been the antithesis.
- IPL 2025: PBKS topped the table with 19 points, reaching the final before a narrow defeat to RCB. Iyer amassed 604 runs in 17 games, averaging 50.33 at a blistering strike rate of 175.07, with six fifties.
- IPL 2026: PBKS remain unbeaten, perched at the top with 11 points. Iyer has already scored 208 runs in 6 games, averaging 52.00 at 182.45 strike rate, with three fifties.
Iyer’s captaincy has been authoritative, his batting imperious, and his strike rate emblematic of a player in the form of his life.
Shreyas Iyer's record as a batter at PBKS
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Ducks | Fours | Sixes | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 812 | 50.75 | 176.90 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 57 | 53 | 97* |
Shreyas Iyer's record as captain at PBKS
| Matches | Wins | Losses | No Result | Win % | Loss % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 65.21 | 26.08 |
The mega auction of 2025 scripted divergent destinies. Pant, despite the record price tag, has struggled to anchor LSG’s fortunes. Iyer, meanwhile, has justified every penny, transforming PBKS into a juggernaut with his consistency and commanding leadership.
