The Indian Premier League (IPL) has shown big growth in its player auction prices over the years, with franchises willing to splurge crores on securing the services of elite talent. As the tournament has grown into one of the most popular T20 leagues globally, the bidding wars have acquired game-changing players. There are a number of the most expensive players in IPL History.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) origination took place and was conceived in 2007, inspired by the success of domestic T20 leagues like the English county cricket T20 tournament and Australia’s Big Bash League. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) got the approval to start the IPL in 2008.
List of Most Expensive Players in IPL History {2008-24}-
| S.No | Player Name & Team | Year | Base Price (In INR) | Final Price (In INR) |
| 1. | Mitchell Starc | 2024 | ₹2 crore | ₹24.75 crore |
| 2. | Sam Curran (PBKS) | 2023 | ₹2 crore | ₹18.5 crore |
| 3. | Ishan Kishan (MI) | 2022 | ₹2 crore | ₹15.25 crore |
| 4. | Chris Morris (RR) | 2021 | ₹2 crore | ₹16.25 crore |
| 5. | Pat Cummins (KKR) | 2020 | ₹1.50 crore | ₹15.5 crore |
| 6. | Jaydev Unadkat (RR), Varun Chakravarthy (KXIP) | 2019 | ₹1.50 crore | ₹8.4 crore |
| 7. | Ben Stokes (RR) | 2018 | ₹1 crore | ₹12.5 crore |
| 8. | Ben Stokes (RPS) | 2017 | ₹2 crore | ₹14.5 crore |
| 9. | Shane Watson (RCB) | 2016 | ₹ 2 crore | ₹9.5 crore |
| 10. | Yuvraj Singh (DD) | 2015 | ₹1.50 crore | ₹16 crore |
| 11. | Yuvraj Singh (RCB) | 2014 | ₹2 crore | ₹14 crore |
| 12. | Glenn Maxwell (MI) | 2013 | ₹2 crore | ₹6.3 crore |
| 13. | Ravindra Jadeja (CSK) | 2012 | ₹2 crore | ₹12.8 crore |
| 14. | Gautam Gambhir (KKR) | 2011 | ₹2 crore | ₹14.9 crore |
| 15. | Shane Bond (KKR), Kieron Pollard (MI) | 2010 | ₹2 crore | ₹4.8 crore |
| 16. | Kevin Pietersen (RCB), Andrew Flintoff (CSK) | 2009 | ₹1.50 crore | ₹9.8 crore |
| 17. | MS Dhoni (CSK) | 2008 | ₹1 crore | ₹9.5 crore |
Also Read-
1. Mitchell Starc in 2024
- Team – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Base Price – ₹2 crore
- Final Price – ₹24.75 crore
The 2024 IPL auction witnessed unprecedented fireworks as a bidding war of epic proportions unfolded for Australian pace ace Mitchell Starc. The left-arm speedster eventually went under the hammer to Kolkata Knight Riders for a jaw-dropping ₹24.75 crore, shattering all past records to become the most expensive player in IPL history. Starc’s price tag surpassed countrymate Pat Cummins’ previous high of ₹15.5 crore that Delhi Capitals paid in 2020. With his searing yorkers and ability to outfox batters, the 29-year-old Starc will bolster KKR’s already lethal pace bowling arsenal.
2. Sam Curran in 2023
- Team – Punjab Kings
- Base Price –
- Final Price – ₹18.50 crore
Jaws dropped as Punjab Kings splurged a ground shaking ₹18.5 crore to secure English all-rounder Sam Curran in a blockbuster deal, making him the hottest buy in IPL history! The combative 24-year-old will bolster both departments for his new franchise. But does his talent justify such an astronomical price tag?
3. Ishan Kishan in 2022
- Team – Mumbai Indians
- Base Price – ₹2 crore
- Final Price – ₹15.25 crore
Mumbai Indians sent the auction into meltdown by snaring young gun Ishan Kishan for a mind-boggling ₹15.25 crore! The world gasped as MI invested gigantic faith in the uncapped 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman’s burgeoning potential. Kishan will now carry crushing expectations after this breathtaking deal.
4. Chris Morris in 2021
- Team – Rajasthan Royals
- Base Price – ₹2 crore
- Final Price – ₹16.25 crore
Jaws hit the floor when Rajasthan Royals submitted a winning bid of ₹16.25 crore for South Africa’s Chris Morris, making him the coveted league’s highest-paid foreign recruit ever! With his all-round brilliance, Morris will aim to single-handedly power RR to elusive glory.
5. Pat Cummins in 2020
- Team – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Base Price – ₹1.50 crore
- Final Price – ₹15.5 crore
Pat Cummins triggered an intense bidding skirmish before Kolkata Knight Riders bagged him for ₹15.5 crore, the highest for any foreign player! The No. 1 Test bowler will spearhead KKR’s pace attack with menacing firepower. But his injury-prone body remains a concern.
6. Varun Chakravarthy and Jaydev Unadkat in 2019
Varun Chakravarthy
- Team – Kolkata Knight Riders
- Base Price – ₹1.50 crore
- Final Price – ₹8.4 crore
Jaydev Unadkat
- Team – Kings XI Punjab
- Base Price – ₹1.50 crore
- Final Price – ₹8.4 crore
The IPL 2019 auction produced a historic moment when Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab engaged in intense bidding wars for Indian talents Jaydev Unadkat and Varun Chakravarthy. In a dramatic finish, RR and KXIP snapped up the services of Unadkat and Chakravarthy respectively for the same record price of ₹8.4 crore! Unadkat, a rising pacer, had impressed with prior IPL performances and led Rajasthan to reacquire him at a mammoth price. Chakravarthy was an unknown architect who shot to prominence with his mystery spin variations. With KXIP’s conviction in his unique talents, he became Tamil Nadu’s first crorepati player in the IPL auction. Both Unadkat and Chakravarthy coming at the identical highest bid demonstrated franchises’ emphasis on scouting domestic talents beyond established names.
7. Ben Stokes in 2018
- Team – Rajasthan Royals
- Base Price – ₹1 crore
- Final Price – ₹14.5 crore
Ben Stokes fetched ₹14.5 crore from Rajasthan Royals as his all-round brilliance attracted mega attention again! The English dynamo will combine forces with skipper Steve Smith on RR’s road to redemption. But can the injury-prone match-winner stay fit?
8. Ben Stokes in 2017
- Team – Rising Pune Supergiant
- Base Price – ₹2 crore
- Final Price – ₹14.5 crore
Ben Stokes whipped up an intense bidding war before Rising Pune Supergiant signed him for a record ₹14.5 crore! Banking on Stokes’ blistering batting and clever bowling, Pune signaled their serious title ambitions. However, his impact remains dwarfed by Kohli and ABD at RCB.
9. Shane Watson in 2016
- Team – Rising Pune Supergiants
- Base Price – ₹ 2 crore
- Final Price – ₹9.5 crore
Rising Pune Supergiants raised eyebrows by recruiting veteran Shane Watson for ₹9.5 crore! Banking on the Aussie stalwart’s experience to guide their rookie outfit stuffed with captain Smith, Dhoni, Faf and more, Pune eye their first playoffs taste.
10. Yuvraj Singh in 2015
- Team – Delhi Daredevils
- Base Price – ₹1.50 crore
- Final Price – ₹16 crore
As Delhi Daredevils released Yuvraj Singh, Sunrisers Hyderabad pounced on the opportunity. They outbid Delhi in reclaiming Yuvi’s services for an identical ₹16 crore! Hyderabad will bank on their returning hero to relive his vintage best in powering them to elusive IPL glory.
11. Yuvraj Singh in 2014
- Team – Royal Challengers
- Base Price – ₹2 crore
- Final Price – ₹14 crore
Kings XI Punjab won a tense bidding duel with Royal Challengers before snaring comeback hero Yuvraj Singh for a mammoth, then-record fee of ₹14 crore! With skipper George Bailey already on board, Punjab eye their first-ever playoffs entry banking on Yuvi’s proven pedigree.
12. Glenn Maxwell in 2013
- Team – Mumbai Indians
- Base Price – ₹2 crore
- Final Price – ₹6.3 crore
Mumbai Indians clinched Australian sensation Glenn Maxwell for ₹6.3 crore after a fierce tug-of-war with Hyderabad! Banking on his explosive power hitting in the lower middle-order, MI eye their drought-breaking IPL crown powered by Maxi’s fireworks.
13. Ravindra Jadeja in 2012
- Team – Chennai Super Kings
- Base Price – ₹2 crore
- Final Price – ₹12.8 crore
Ravindra Jadeja took centerstage with Chennai Super Kings conviction in his all-round talents landing him for ₹12.8 crore! MS Dhoni’s surprise pick way back then will now transform into the cornerstone of CSK’s present and future.
14. Gautam Gambhir in 2011
- Team – Sahara Pune Warriors
- Base Price – ₹2 crore
- Final Price – ₹14.9 crore
Sahara Pune Warriors sent shockwaves by recruiting Gautam Gambhir as captain for a hitherto record sum of ₹14.9 crore! Armed with the masterful opener’s aggression and leadership, Pune signal their serious title ambitions despite teething troubles so far.
15. Kieron Pollard and Shans Bond in 2010
Kieron Pollard
- Team – Mumbai Indians
- Base Price – ₹1.50 crore
- Final Price – ₹4.8 crore
Shane Bond
- Team – Kolkata Knight Riders
- Base Price – ₹1.50 crore
- Final Price – ₹4.8 crore
The IPL 2010 auction saw a dramatic finale when Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians engaged in a tense tug-of-war for New Zealand pacer Shane Bond and West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard. After an intense bidding duel between the franchises, KKR and MI snapped up the services of Bond and Pollard for an identical sum of ₹4.8 crore each! Both players had attracted major interest for their match-winning abilities. Bond had bamboozled batters worldwide with his sheer pace and accuracy, while Pollard was coveted for his brute power-hitting and clever medium pace. With these shrewd purchases, KKR bolstered their bowling arsenal while MI added much-needed firepower in the middle-order. That the two fearsome performers came at the same record price of ₹4.8 crore exemplified their worth as game-changers in the IPL’s early years.
16. Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in 2009
Kevin Pietersen
- Team – Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Base Price – ₹1.50 crore
- Final Price – ₹9.8 crore
Andres Flintoff
- Team – Chennai Super Kings
- Base Price – ₹1 crore
- Final Price – ₹9.8 crore
The IPL 2009 auction witnessed a historic moment when Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings engaged in an intense tug-of-war for English superstars Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. In a dramatic finish, RCB and CSK acquired the services of these two giants of the game for the identical record sum of ₹9.8 crore each! This marked the first instance of two marquee players going under the hammer for the same mammoth amount at the IPL auctions. The extraordinary deals for Pietersen and Flintoff signaled franchises’ eagerness to land the best overseas talent in the league’s early years. RCB banked on KP’s flamboyant batting fireworks while CSK eyed Flintoff’s fiery fast bowling and hard-hitting lower down the order. The sight of both English icons joining forces with the likes of Dravid, Kallis, Dhoni and Hayden demonstrated the truly global appeal of the fledgling IPL.
17. MS Dhoni in 2008
- Team – Chennai Super Kings
- Base Price – ₹1 crore
- Final Price – ₹9.5 crore
History was scripted when Chennai Super Kings acquired Indian captain MS Dhoni’s inspirational leadership for a ground-breaking ₹9.5 crore in the inaugural IPL player auction! With the nation’s white-ball captain at the helm, CSK eyed championship glory right from the league’s advent.
The Rise of the Indian Premier League into a Global Cricket Phenomenon
The first IPL season kicked off in April 2008 with 8 franchises representing major Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata among others. By bringing together top Indian talent with marquee international players, colorful and competitive cricket, glitz, entertainment, and big business, the IPL soon became one of the most popular T20 leagues globally. Viewership and sponsorship deals soared.
After initial years of 8 teams, two new franchises joined from IPL 2011 – Pune Warriors India ( later replaced by Rising Pune Supergiant) and Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Gujrat Titan and Lucknow Super Giants were the latest additions in 2022 making it a 10-team competition and out of these some players are the most expensive player in IPL history.
Conclusion
As we traverse the IPL auction’s hall-of-fame for record buys, a thrilling reality hits – the bar keeps getting raised to stratospheric levels every season!
This auction extravaganza has evolved into a riveting rollercoaster ride where franchises engage in intense bidding jousts before some lucky superstar walks away with the jackpot cheque that beats previous records.
With media rights and team valuations scaling new highs, expect the next generation of cricketing rockstars to shatter today’s records sooner rather than later!
Will we see a first-ever ₹30 crore signing in 2025? Can someone justify matching these astronomical price tags that sometimes eclipse the salary cap for entire teams? All eyes on the next mega auction for the next jaw-dropping deal as franchises leave no stone unturned in chasing elusive glory!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which team created the biggest buzz in the IPL 2023 auction?
Ans: Punjab Kings sparked a bidding frenzy before roping in English all-rounder Sam Curran for a record ₹18.5 crore, making him the hottest buy ever in IPL auction history.
Q2: Who were the top picks among overseas players in this auction?
Ans: Sam Curran (Punjab Kings), Cameron Green (Mumbai Indians), Ben Stokes (Chennai Super Kings), and Harry Brook (Sunrisers Hyderabad) were the most expensive foreign recruits in this IPL 2023 auction.
Q3: Which uncapped Indian player attracted massive bids from franchises?
Ans: All-rounder Shivam Mavi triggered an intense bidding war between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings before being acquired by MI for ₹7.25 crore, the most ever for an uncapped Indian at an IPL auction.
Here is a Full List of Highest Paid Players in Each IPL Season:-
6. Varun Chakravarthy and Jaydev Unadkat in 2019
15. Kieron Pollard and Shans Bond in 2010
16.Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in 2009
17. MS Dhoni in 2008