by The auctioneer’s voice rises above the buzz. “₹20 crore… ₹22 crore… ₹24 crore…”
Franchise owners lean forward. Calculators flash. Strategy meetings happen in seconds through frantic glances.
Someone raises the paddle again. The room gasps. The price just jumped another crore.
This is IPL auction drama at its finest. Where careers change in minutes. Where one bid can make you cricket’s richest player.
Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals locked horns for Ishan Kishan in 2022.
The bidding crossed ₹10 crore. Then ₹12 crore. Mumbai wouldn’t let him go. ₹15.25 crore. Sold.
Punjab Kings desperately needed Sam Curran in 2023. They kept raising their paddle no matter what.
Delhi challenged them. Mumbai joined. Punjab went all in. ₹18.5 crore. Done.
Lucknow Super Giants wanted Rishabh Pant in 2025. Delhi Capitals wanted him back.
Sunrisers Hyderabad joined the war. The price kept climbing. ₹20 crore… ₹23 crore… ₹25 crore… ₹27 crore. History made.
These moments define IPL auctions. The tension. The strategy. The money is flying around.
Every few years, someone breaks the record. Each time, cricket fans worldwide wonder—how much higher can it go?
The most expensive player in IPL auction history tag has changed hands multiple times. Each record-breaker tells a story about cricket’s economic evolution.
From MS Dhoni’s pioneering ₹9.5 crore in 2008 to Rishabh Pant’s astronomical ₹27 crore in 2025, the journey reveals fascinating patterns.
Some expensive signings won championships. Others flopped spectacularly.
A few justified every rupee spent. Many left franchises regretting emotional decisions.
Most Expensive Player in IPL Auction History
Let’s dive into these stories. The bidding battles. The strategic thinking. The performances that followed. The money that changed cricket forever.
Season-Wise Most Expensive Players (2008-2025)
| Year | Player | Team | Price (₹ Crore) | Role | Auction Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | MS Dhoni | CSK | 9.5 | WK-Batsman | First Auction |
| 2009 | Kevin Pietersen | RCB | 9.8 | Batsman | Regular |
| 2010 | Kieron Pollard | MI | 4.8 | All-rounder | Mini |
| 2011 | Gautam Gambhir | KKR | 14.9 | Batsman | Mega Auction |
| 2012 | Ravindra Jadeja | CSK | 12.8 | All-rounder | Mini |
| 2013 | Glenn Maxwell | MI | 6.3 | All-rounder | Regular |
| 2014 | Yuvraj Singh | RCB | 14.0 | All-rounder | Mega Auction |
| 2015 | Yuvraj Singh | DD | 16.0 | All-rounder | Mini |
| 2016 | Shane Watson | RCB | 9.5 | All-rounder | Mini |
| 2017 | Ben Stokes | RPS | 14.5 | All-rounder | Mini |
| 2018 | Ben Stokes | RR | 12.5 | All-rounder | Mega Auction |
| 2019 | Jaydev Unadkat | RR | 8.4 | Bowler | Mini |
| 2020 | Pat Cummins | KKR | 15.5 | Bowler | Mini |
| 2021 | Chris Morris | RR | 16.25 | All-rounder | Mini |
| 2022 | Ishan Kishan | MI | 15.25 | WK-Batsman | Mega Auction |
| 2023 | Sam Curran | PBKS | 18.5 | All-rounder | Mini |
| 2024 | Mitchell Starc | KKR | 24.75 | Bowler | Mini |
| 2025 | Rishabh Pant | LSG | 27.0 | WK-Batsman | Mega Auction |
Notice how mega auctions typically break records. Teams start fresh. Bigger budgets. More desperation.
Top 10 Most Expensive Player in IPL Auction History
1. Rishabh Pant – ₹27 Crore (LSG, 2025)
Auction Battle Highlights
The 2025 mega auction room went silent when Pant’s name flashed.
Base price: ₹2 crore. Everyone knew it wouldn’t stay there long.
Delhi Capitals raised first. Emotional bid—they’d captained him for years. ₹5 crore.
Sunrisers Hyderabad jumped in aggressively. ₹8 crore. They needed leadership desperately.
Lucknow Super Giants entered the battle. ₹11 crore. Their strategy was clear—go all in.
Delhi kept countering. ₹14 crore… ₹17 crore… ₹20 crore. The room buzzed with energy.
LSG wouldn’t back down. ₹22 crore. Sunrisers re-entered. ₹23 crore.
The bidding slowed momentarily. Then LSG rose again. ₹25 crore.
Delhi had one more attempt. ₹26 crore. But LSG sealed it. ₹27 crore. Sold.
The most expensive player in IPL 2025 was crowned. The highest bid in IPL history was set.
The entire process took eight minutes. Eight minutes that changed cricket economics forever.
Player Role + Demand
Pant offered everything franchises dream about.
An elite wicketkeeper-batsman who attacks from ball one. 3,284 IPL runs at an explosive 148.9 strike rate proved his worth.
Leadership credentials after captaining Delhi successfully. At 27, he offered 6-8 peak years ahead.
His comeback from that horrific car accident added emotional weight. The fighter who refused to quit.
Indian nationality meant no overseas slot wasted. That strategic advantage alone justified premium pricing.
What Happened That Season?
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | Ongoing season |
| Runs Scored | TBD |
| Strike Rate | TBD |
| Team Finish | TBD |
| Captain | Yes |
The season is ongoing, but early signs look promising. Pant’s aggressive captaincy has energized LSG completely.
2. Mitchell Starc – ₹24.75 Crore (KKR, 2024)
Auction Battle Highlights
Starc entered the 2024 auction red-hot after World Cup 2023 heroics.
Gujarat Titans opened bidding. ₹10 crore. They wanted left-arm pace desperately.
Punjab Kings countered. ₹13 crore. Starc’s death bowling attracted them.
Kolkata Knight Riders had just lost key bowlers. They needed elite replacement. ₹16 crore.
Gujarat pushed back. ₹18 crore. The battle intensified rapidly.
KKR raised to ₹21 crore. Serious statement of intent.
Punjab made a final attempt. ₹22 crore.
KKR sealed it with a massive ₹24.75 crore bid. The room erupted in shock.
The most expensive player in cricket history at that moment was born.
Player Role + Demand
Starc brought something rare—left-arm express pace that swings.
His World Cup 2023 performance showcased peak form. 28 wickets against the world’s best batsmen.
New-ball wickets, middle-over control, death-over yorkers—complete package.
KKR specifically needed a left-arm variety. Starc was a perfect fit strategically.
What Happened That Season?
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 14 |
| Wickets | 17 |
| Economy | 8.34 |
| Best Figures | 3/20 |
| Championship | Won |
Starc delivered a championship. His investment paid off with the ultimate prize—the IPL trophy.
3. Sam Curran – ₹18.5 Crore (PBKS, 2023)
Auction Battle Highlights
Fresh off the T20 World Cup 2022 Player of the Tournament award, Curran entered the auction as hot property.
Delhi Capitals started bidding. ₹8 crore. They needed all-around depth.
Mumbai Indians joined. ₹11 crore. Death bowling attracted them.
Punjab Kings had a massive purse remaining. They went aggressive. ₹14 crore.
Delhi pushed to ₹16 crore. But Punjab had decided—Curran was their man.
₹18.5 crore. First player to cross the ₹18 crore barrier ever. Sold to Punjab.
The room buzzed. New record set outside mega auctions.
Player Role + Demand
Curran offered rare left-arm death bowling mastery.
His World Cup performances proved he handles pressure brilliantly. Could bat anywhere 3-8, providing flexibility.
At just 24, it offered long-term investment potential.
Punjab desperately needed leadership after disappointing years. Curran represented a fresh start.
What Happened That Season?
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 14 |
| Runs | 243 |
| Wickets | 15 |
| Economy | 9.52 |
| Team Finish | 7th |
Moderate returns without matching massive expectations. Punjab’s mid-table finish questioned the investment.
4. Chris Morris – ₹16.25 Crore (RR, 2021)
Auction Battle Highlights
The 2021 mini auction saw Morris create history temporarily.
Punjab Kings opened aggressively. ₹10 crore immediately. They wanted a death-overs specialist.
Rajasthan Royals countered. ₹12 crore. Their death bowling had cost them the playoffs.
Mumbai Indians entered briefly. ₹13 crore. But withdrew quickly.
Punjab pushed to ₹14.5 crore. Serious about landing him.
Rajasthan went all in. ₹16.25 crore. The highest bid in IPL history at that moment.
Punjab couldn’t match. Morris became the most expensive player ever then.
Player Role + Demand
Morris brought genuine all-round skills—crucial death bowling plus lower-order hitting.
Scarcity drove his price. True all-rounders are extraordinarily rare.
RR specifically needed death-overs solutions. Morris addressed that weakness directly.
What Happened That Season
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 15 |
| Runs | 111 |
| Wickets | 15 |
| Economy | 9.33 |
| Team Finish | 7th |
Disappointing investment. Morris struggled with form and fitness. RR’s 7th-place finish made this one of IPL’s worst buys.
5. Yuvraj Singh – ₹16 Crore (DD, 2015)
Auction Battle Highlights
Yuvraj’s 2015 auction created an emotional bidding war.
Royal Challengers Bangalore bid first. ₹10 crore. They’d had him previously.
Delhi Daredevils jumped in. ₹12 crore. Desperate for star power.
Mumbai Indians joined briefly. ₹13 crore.
RCB pushed to ₹14 crore. But Delhi wouldn’t quit.
₹16 crore from Delhi. New record set. Yuvraj became the most expensive player ever at that point.
The most expensive player in each IPL auction tag was his.
Player Role + Demand
Legendary status drove premium pricing beyond performance metrics.
His 2014 resurgence with RCB showed remaining magic. Teams believed experience delivered championships.
Delhi needed a marquee name to revive a struggling franchise. Yuvraj’s brand justified investment.
What Happened That Season
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 14 |
| Runs | 248 |
| Strike Rate | 120.4 |
| Wickets | 7 |
| Team Finish | 8th (Last) |
Complete disaster. Worst return on investment in IPL history. Delhi finished last despite massive spending.
6. Pat Cummins – ₹15.5 Crore (KKR, 2020)
Auction Battle Highlights
COVID-19 affected the 2020 auction dramatically. Fewer overseas players are available.
Delhi Capitals started bidding for Cummins. ₹9 crore.
Royal Challengers Bangalore entered. ₹11 crore. They wanted a premium pacer.
Kolkata Knight Riders needed fast bowling desperately. ₹13 crore.
Delhi pushed once more. ₹14 crore.
KKR sealed it. ₹15.5 crore. First overseas pacer crossing ₹15 crore.
Player Role + Demand
World’s best Test bowler entering T20 prime justified premium.
Could bowl powerplay, middle overs, death—complete package. Australia’s Test captain added leadership value.
Scarcity due to COVID made elite overseas talent even more expensive.
What Happened That Season
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 14 |
| Wickets | 12 |
| Economy | 8.86 |
| Best Figures | 4/34 |
| Team Finish | 5th |
Moderate performance without dominating. KKR made the playoffs, but Cummins wasn’t the difference-maker expected.
7. Ishan Kishan – ₹15.25 Crore (MI, 2022)
Auction Battle Highlights
The 2022 mega auction saw Mumbai fighting desperately for their former player.
Sunrisers Hyderabad opened bidding. ₹7 crore.
Gujarat Titans jumped in. ₹9 crore.
Mumbai Indians entered aggressively. ₹11 crore. Emotional bid—they wanted him back.
Gujarat pushed to ₹13 crore. Battle intensified.
Mumbai sealed it. ₹15.25 crore. They wouldn’t let him escape regardless of the price.
Player Role + Demand
Young explosive Indian wicketkeeper-batsman fits T20 perfectly.
Powerplay aggression provided match-winning capability. At 23, offered a decade-long potential.
Wicketkeeper-batsmen command a premium due to dual positional value.
What Happened That Season
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 14 |
| Runs | 418 |
| Strike Rate | 120.4 |
| Average | 32.2 |
| Team Finish | 10th (Last) |
Decent personal performance, but Mumbai finished last. Investment questioned despite Kishan’s youth.
8. Gautam Gambhir – ₹14.9 Crore (KKR, 2011)
Auction Battle Highlights
The first mega auction in 2011 reset the market completely.
Royal Challengers Bangalore started bidding. ₹8 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders countered immediately. ₹10 crore. They needed leadership transformation.
RCB pushed to ₹12 crore. But KKR had decided.
₹14.9 crore. New record for an Indian player. Gambhir was sold.
Player Role + Demand
A proven captain-batsman combination made Gambhir irresistible.
Leadership record with Delhi showed championship credentials. Consistent opening provided stability.
KKR needed a complete overhaul. Gambhir offered a perfect solution.
What Happened That Season
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 16 |
| Runs | 378 |
| Championship | Won |
| Captain | Yes |
| Team Transformation | Complete |
Best investment return ever. Gambhir delivered a championship immediately in his debut season as captain.
9. Ben Stokes – ₹14.5 Crore (RPS, 2017)
Auction Battle Highlights
Rising Pune Supergiant desperately needed a marquee player after the captaincy changes.
Delhi Daredevils opened bidding. ₹8 crore.
Mumbai Indians jumped in. ₹10 crore.
RPS went aggressive. ₹12 crore. They wanted a complete all-rounder.
Mumbai pushed briefly. ₹13 crore.
RPS sealed it. ₹14.5 crore. Record for overseas all-rounder set.
Player Role + Demand
Complete package—explosive batting, penetrative bowling, brilliant fielding.
England’s rising star added marketing appeal. Triple-threat player justified the premium.
What Happened That Season
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 12 |
| Runs | 316 |
| Wickets | 12 |
| Century | 1 (103* vs Gujarat) |
| Team Finish | Runners-up |
Mixed returns with brilliant glimpses. RPS reached the finals but lost. Partial value justification.
10. Yuvraj Singh – ₹14 Crore (RCB, 2014)
Auction Battle Highlights
Post-cancer comeback story created emotional bidding.
Punjab Kings opened. ₹8 crore. They’d had him before.
Royal Challengers Bangalore jumped in. ₹10 crore. Needed an Indian all-rounder.
Delhi Daredevils entered. ₹11 crore.
RCB pushed aggressively. ₹14 crore. Emotional investment in his comeback story.
Player Role + Demand
2013 performance with Punjab showed regained form. RCB needed an Indian all-rounder desperately.
Emotional narrative drove bidding beyond rational analysis.
What Happened That Season
| Stat Category | Performance |
|---|---|
| Matches | 14 |
| Runs | 376 |
| Average | 34.2 |
| Strike Rate | 132.4 |
| Team Finish | Runners-up |
Decent performance without dominating. RCB reached the finals but lost. Moderate value delivered.
Indian vs Overseas Players: Pricing Differences Explained
Why Indian Players Command Higher Prices:
- No overseas slot consumption: Teams can field 4 overseas stars PLUS elite Indian talent. Strategic advantage is massive.
- Full availability: No international duty conflicts during IPL. Complete season guaranteed.
- Marketing multiplier: Indian stars drive jersey sales, viewership, and sponsorships exponentially higher.
- Leadership preference: Indian captains preferred for continuity and understanding of conditions.
- Long-term investment: Overseas players might skip seasons. Indians offer a decade-long commitment.
Why Overseas Players Still Get Massive Bids:
- Scarcity factor: Only 4 slots per team creates intense competition for elite overseas talent.
- Specialized skills: Certain skills (left-arm pace, mystery spin) are more available overseas.
- Match-winning reputation: Players like Starc, Cummins bring proven championship pedigree.
- Global appeal: Overseas stars add international flavor, attracting diverse viewership.
IPL Auction Money Growth Chart (2008-2025)
| Year | Highest Price | Player | Growth from 2008 | Annual Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | ₹9.5 Cr | MS Dhoni | Baseline | – |
| 2011 | ₹14.9 Cr | Gautam Gambhir | +57% | +15.7% |
| 2014 | ₹14 Cr | Yuvraj Singh | +47% | +4.0% |
| 2015 | ₹16 Cr | Yuvraj Singh | +68% | +11.5% |
| 2017 | ₹14.5 Cr | Ben Stokes | +53% | +4.4% |
| 2020 | ₹15.5 Cr | Pat Cummins | +63% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | ₹16.25 Cr | Chris Morris | +71% | +6.3% |
| 2022 | ₹15.25 Cr | Ishan Kishan | +61% | +4.8% |
| 2023 | ₹18.5 Cr | Sam Curran | +95% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | ₹24.75 Cr | Mitchell Starc | +161% | +11.2% |
| 2025 | ₹27 Cr | Rishabh Pant | +184% | +12.1% |
The acceleration is dramatic. From 2008-2020: gradual growth. From 2023-2025: explosive jump.
Why the 2025 Auction Broke All Records?
- Massive broadcasting deal impact: ₹48,390 crore rights deal (2023-2027) flooded franchises with money.
- Mega auction dynamics: Complete squad reset meant franchises had full purses available for aggressive bidding.
- Rishabh Pant’s unique profile: A Combination of youth, leadership, wicketkeeping, and explosive batting rarely available.
- Multiple franchise desperation: LSG, Delhi, Hyderabad all desperately needed a captain-wicketkeeper combination.
- Indian premium amplified: Teams realized Indian stars provide better long-term value without overseas slot consumption.
- Emotional post-accident narrative: Pant’s comeback story added inspirational value beyond statistics.
- Championship pressure: Franchises increasingly desperate for titles justified massive investments in perceived match-winners.
- Inflation normalization: Cricket’s economics evolved, accepting ₹25+ crore as reasonable for elite talent.
What About Virat Kohli?
The most expensive player in IPL 2025 Virat Kohli search reveals an interesting absence.
Kohli never entered the open auction. RCB retained him every mega auction strategically.
His retention values: ₹21 crore (2025), ₹17 crore (2022), ₹15 crore (2018).
The highest paid player in IPL 2025 list includes him through retention, not auction.
Had Kohli entered open bidding, experts estimate ₹32-35 crore easily. His brand transcends cricket performance.
The top 10 highest paid IPL player 2025 list includes retained players, showing a complete compensation picture.
Future Outlook: The Highest Bid in IPL 2026
The highest bid in IPL 2026 could touch ₹30-33 crore realistically.
If Jasprit Bumrah enters auction: ₹30+ crore guaranteed. An elite Indian pacer commanding a premium is unprecedented.
If Hardik Pandya available: ₹28-31 crore range. Complete all-rounder with captaincy experience.
Franchise purses will increase 15-20% minimum. More money means higher bids inevitably.
The ₹30 crore barrier will break within two auctions maximum. Market dynamics guarantee it.
By 2030, expect ₹45-50 crore top prices. Cricket’s economics continue an explosive growth trajectory.
Conclusion:
The most expensive player in IPL auction history journey tells cricket’s economic transformation story beautifully.
From ₹9.5 crore to ₹27 crore in eighteen years. From conservative bidding to billion-rupee spectacles.
Some expensive buys won championships. Others flopped badly. Money doesn’t guarantee success, but it attracts the best talent.
Records will keep breaking. Prices will keep rising. Cricket’s richest league continues growing exponentially.
The auction drama continues. Next record-breaker waits around the corner. Cricket fans worldwide watch eagerly.
Also Check:
