Who Are The Most Expensive Players In IPL History?

Table of Contents

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has consistently captivated cricket fans around the globe with its exciting matches and star-studded rosters. The auction process is a central highlight, featuring intense bidding wars and staggering player prices.

Over the years, some players have commanded record-breaking sums, showcasing their exceptional worth in the T20 format. Let’s explore the top ten highest auction prices in IPL history and discover what makes these players so highly sought after.

List of Top 10 Most Expensive Players in IPL History

10. Nicholas Pooran – Rs. 16 Crore (2023)

Lucknow Super Giants

The Lucknow Super Giants wanted a power hitter in the 2024 IPL season, so they brought in West Indies international star Nicholas Pooran. Pooran is known for his power-hitting but is also a player who can change the whole game for his team on his day.

9. Yuvraj Singh – Rs. 16 Crore (2015)

Delhi Daredevils

Even though Yuvraj Singh was the most expensive player in the 2015 IPL auction, everyone was shocked as Delhi Daredevils put all their money on him at his final phase in cricket, when he struggled in international cricket. He failed to deliver well, and in 14 matches, he was able to score only 248 runs and took just one wicket.

8. Chris Morris – Rs. 16.25 Crore (2021)

Rajasthan Royals

It took five years to break the record of Yuvraj Singh’s bid of 16 crore, which was done by South African all-rounder Chris Morris, who was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals for Rs. 16.25 Crore in 2021. Morris’s skill set, particularly his death bowling and explosive batting. However, he also failed to deliver his top performance in 2021 and, after that, did not play any IPL games.

7. Ben Stokes – Rs. 16.25 Crore (2023)

Chennai Super Kings

Chennai always sticks to its plan regarding which player it wants to take, even if it breaks its banks. This happened in 2023 when Chennai Super Kings invested Rs. 16.25 Crore in Ben Stokes, one of the finest all-rounders in modern cricket.

Stokes’ match-winning abilities with both bat and ball are well-documented, making him a prized acquisition. However, just after two matches, he got injured and returned home. He confirmed that he would not return as he had prepared for Ashes.

6. Cameron Green – Rs. 17.50 Crore (2023)

Mumbai Indians

Cameron Green had a great debut in the IPL Auction 2023 when Mumbai Indians signed him for 17.50 crore, and he was one of the rare, expensive players who had a great season with the bat for the Mumbai Indians team.

5. Sam Curran – Rs. 18.50 Crore (2023)

Punjab Kings

After England won the T20I World Cup in 2023 and Sam Curran gave the player of the series performance, Punjab Kings signed him with a record-breaking bid in 2023. They paid 18.50 crore for the player who did not last even two seasons for them and was a total failure.

4. Pat Cummins – Rs. 20.50 Crore (2024)

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad brought in Pat Cummins for Rs. 20.50 Crore so they could make him the captain who is proven on the international stage. He also proved it right by being runner-up in the 2024 IPL, where his team, SRH, lost to KKR.

3. Mitchell Starc – Rs. 24.75 Crore (2024)

Kolkata Knight Riders

In the mini-auction, where the team has a bigger purse and has to buy only a few players, they spend a lot on some players unreasonably. Because of that, many foreign players put their names in the auction because they know they can earn more as they are in the IPL just for money.

Starc did that, too, and as Kolkata Knight Riders had the most amount left to spend in that 2024 auction, they spent it all on Starc, which did not pay off well because he did not perform well and was hammered around the park by so many domestic Indian players. Even recently, Jaiswal mocked him in the test match, saying he bowled too slow.

2. Shreyas Iyer – Rs. 26.75 Crore (2025)

Punjab Kings

At one point, Shreyas Iyer became the most expensive player, and it was quite clear before the auction that Punjab Kings would go for Iyer because they wanted a solid captain. Iyer won the IPL title with KKR. His recent record is also one of the reasons why Punjab went for a 26.75 crore bid.

1. Rishabh Pant – Rs. 27 Crore (2025)

Lucknow Super Giants

Even before the IPL Auction 2025 started, everyone knew that Rishabh Pant would surely be the most expensive player in the auction because of his value in the team and also a face for any team that can help them make more sales, including their merchandisers.

The Lucknow Super Giants made the final bid of 20.75, but then Delhi Capitals used their RTM card. Because of that, the Lucknow Super Giants had to set a final bid for him, and they set a 27 crore bid, which the Delhi side denied to match, making him the most expensive player in IPL history.

Table of Most Expensive IPL Players

#	Player	Role	Team	Auction Price	Year
1	Rishabh Pant	Wicket-Keeper	Lucknow Super Giants	Rs. 27 Crore	2025
2	Shreyas Iyer	Batter	Punjab Kings	Rs. 26.75 Crore	2025
3	Mitchell Starc	Bowler	Kolkata Knight Riders	Rs 24.75 Crore	2024
4	Pat Cummins	Bowler	Sunrisers Hyderabad	Rs 20.50 Crore	2024
5	Sam Curran	All-Rounder	Punjab Kings	Rs 18.50 Crore	2023
6	Cameron Green	All-Rounder	Mumbai Indians	Rs 17.50 Crore	2023
7	Ben Stokes	All-Rounder	Chennai Super Kings	Rs 16.25 Crore	2023
8	Chris Morris	All-Rounder	Rajasthan Royals	Rs 16.25 Crore	2021
9	Yuvraj Singh	All-Rounder	Delhi Daredevils	Rs 16 Crore	2015
10	Nicholas Pooran	Wicket-Keeper	Lucknow Super Giants	Rs 16 Crore	2023