"If Hughes were still alive, he would have been commanding high prices" - Justin Langer after Rishabh Pant breaks record in IPL 2025 auction
Former Australian head coach Justin Langer believes Phillip Hughes could have been as much in demand as Rishabh Pant in the IPL auction had he survived a sickening bouncer on the field. Langer's claim comes after Pant became the most expensive player in the IPL auction, fetching ₹27 crore from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
The 27-year-old was one of the marquee players in the auction and entered the auction at a base price of ₹2 crore. With the Delhi Capitals (DC) releasing him from their setup, multiple franchises went after the wicketkeeper-batter and the Super Giants sealed the deal at a record-breaking amount.
Writing in his column for The West Australian, Langer stated that he rues Hughes not being able to experience the IPL.
"On Sunday, Pant broke the IPL record for the highest amount ever bid on a player. My franchise, the Lucknow Super Giants, paid $5 million for his services. Not bad for just over eight weeks’ work. If Hughes were still alive, he would have been commanding high prices, not just for his dynamic batting but also for the energy he would have brought the group. Sadly, he would never find out."
The 54-year-old opined that Pant seems a good mix of everything and lauded how well he impacted the 2020-21 series Down Under in Team India's favor.
"When selecting a squad, talent and temperament plays a part, as does character and personality. The last time India travelled to Australia, Pant was a massive part of their success against us. His talent and temperament under pressure were on display for the world to see. At times he single-handedly tore the game from the palms of our hands. It wouldn’t surprise me if he didn’t have a similar impact this summer."
The left-hander struck a swashbuckling 97 in the fourth innings in Sydney in 2021 when India were chasing 407 for victory. However, the most impressive of the lot was the following Test in Brisbane when Pant scored an unbeaten 89 to help the tourists chase down 329 successfully.
"Since the last time he was on our shores, Pant has faced a life challenge that would break others" - Justin Langer
Langer further suggested that he was devastated at the extent of injuries Pant suffered following the accident in late 2022. The 105-Test veteran elaborated:
"Since the last time he was on our shores, Pant has faced a life challenge that would break others. A sliding door moment that would change anyone’s life. His luxury car collided with a road divider and caught fire after hitting the barrier."
"The fire destroyed the vehicle. Severe injuries resulted, and immediate and extensive medical intervention was required. The extent of those injuries was potentially life-changing. He sustained multiple ligament tears in his knee, fractured bones in his hands, and significant injuries to his head and back," he added.
Nevertheless, Langer agrees with Ricky Ponting about how remarkable it is to see the keeper-batter stand on his feet and play like he used to.
"When it was apparent he would survive, the next questions focused on the potential long-term impact on his cricket career and overall mobility. Most believed he may never walk again, let alone play the game he loves," Langer added.
"Ricky Ponting, a good friend of Pant and his coach in his comeback series with the Delhi Capitals in last year’s IPL said: “If you can even see his leg now and listen to the stories he tells about what he had confronted during his car accident … not just the mental scarring that comes with that, but the physical side and the rehab he went through. It’s a remarkable comeback," he concluded.
Rishabh Pant will be in action when India face Australia in a pink-ball Test in Adelaide, beginning on December 6.