The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most popular and lucrative cricket leagues in the world, attracting the best players from around the globe. Every year, the IPL auction 2024 is a thrilling event where the franchises bid for the players they want to add to their squads. Some players have fetched record-breaking prices in the auction, making them the highest-paid cricketers in the world.
In this article, we will look at the list of the highest auction players in IPL history, from the inaugural season in 2008 to the latest season in 2024. We will also analyze how these players performed for their respective teams and whether they justified their hefty price tags.
IPL 2008: MS Dhoni – 9.5 Crore
The first-ever IPL auction saw Chennai Super Kings (CSK) make a bold move by acquiring the services of India’s captain and wicket-keeper, MS Dhoni, for a whopping 9.5 crore. Dhoni was the most expensive player of the 2008 auction and he proved to be worth every penny for CSK. He led the team to the final in the inaugural season and went on to win four IPL titles, three Champions League T20 titles, and numerous individual awards with the franchise. Dhoni is still playing for CSK and is regarded as one of the greatest captains and finishers in the history of the game.
IPL 2009: Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff – 9.8 Crore each
The second edition of the IPL saw two England stars, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, become the joint-highest auction players with a price of 9.8 crore each. Pietersen was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) while Flintoff was snapped up by CSK. However, both players failed to live up to the expectations and had disappointing seasons. Pietersen played only six matches for RCB, scoring 93 runs and taking four wickets, before leaving for national duty. Flintoff played only three matches for CSK, scoring 62 runs and taking two wickets, before suffering an injury that ended his IPL career.
IPL 2010: Shane Bond and Kieron Pollard – 4.8 Crore each
The third season of the IPL saw a change in the auction rules, with a maximum bid limit of 4.8 crore for any player. Two players reached this limit and were decided by a secret tie-breaker. Shane Bond, the New Zealand fast bowler, was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) while Kieron Pollard, the West Indies all-rounder, was bought by Mumbai Indians (MI). Bond played only eight matches for KKR, taking nine wickets, before retiring from all forms of cricket. Pollard, on the other hand, became one of the most valuable players for MI, playing a key role in their five IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles. Pollard is still playing for MI and is one of the most destructive batsmen and reliable bowlers in the league.
IPL 2011: Gautam Gambhir – 11.04 Crore
The fourth season of the IPL saw the introduction of two new franchises, Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala, and a fresh auction for all the players. Gautam Gambhir, the India opener, became the highest auction player of the season with a bid of 11.04 crore from KKR. Gambhir was appointed as the captain of KKR and he transformed the team from a bottom-three side to a two-time champion. He scored 3035 runs in 108 matches for KKR, with 27 fifties and a century. He also led the team to the Champions League T20 final in 2014. Gambhir played his last IPL season in 2018, finishing his career with 4217 runs in 154 matches.
IPL 2012: Ravindra Jadeja – 12.8 Crore
The fifth season of the IPL saw CSK make a comeback in the auction by buying Ravindra Jadeja, the India all-rounder, for a record price of 12.8 crore. Jadeja was one of the most sought-after players in the auction, with three teams – CSK, Deccan Chargers, and MI – bidding for him. Jadeja proved to be a vital addition to CSK, contributing with both bat and ball in their successful campaigns. He has scored 2296 runs and taken 122 wickets in 194 matches for CSK, winning three IPL titles and two Champions League T20 titles with the franchise. Jadeja is still playing for CSK and is one of the best all-rounders in the world.
IPL 2013: Glenn Maxwell – 6.3 Crore
The sixth season of the IPL saw MI make a surprise move by buying Glenn Maxwell, the Australia batsman, for 6.3 crore. Maxwell was relatively unknown in the IPL, having played only two matches for Delhi Daredevils in the previous season. However, MI saw his potential and made him the highest auction player of the season. Maxwell, however, did not get many opportunities to showcase his talent, playing only three matches for MI, scoring 36 runs and taking one wicket. He was later traded to KKR, where he played only one match, scoring 10 runs. Maxwell’s IPL career took off in the next season, when he was bought by Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) for 6 crore. He scored 552 runs in 16 matches, with four fifties, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the season. Maxwell has played for four different franchises in the IPL, scoring 1808 runs and taking 21 wickets in 91 matches.
IPL 2014: Yuvraj Singh – 14 Crore
The seventh season of the IPL saw RCB make a big splash in the auction by buying Yuvraj Singh, the India all-rounder, for a staggering 14 crore. Yuvraj was the highest auction player of the season and the second-highest in IPL history. Yuvraj had a decent season for RCB, scoring 376 runs and taking five wickets in 14 matches, with three fifties. However, he could not help the team qualify for the playoffs and was released by the franchise after the season. Yuvraj went on to play for three more teams in the IPL, scoring 1055 runs and taking 23 wickets in 50 matches.
IPL 2015: Yuvraj Singh – 16 Crore
The eighth season of the IPL saw Yuvraj Singh break his own record and become the highest auction player in IPL history with a bid of 16 crore from Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). Yuvraj was expected to revive the fortunes of the struggling franchise, but he had a disappointing season, scoring only 248 runs and taking one wicket in 14 matches, with two fifties. He was released by the franchise after the season and never played for them again. Yuvraj’s IPL career ended in 2019, when he played his last match for MI, scoring 98 runs and taking one wicket in four matches.
IPL 2016: Shane Watson – 9.5 Crore
The ninth season of the IPL saw RCB make another expensive purchase by buying Shane Watson, the Australia all-rounder, for 9.5 crore. Watson was the highest auction player of the season and the joint-highest in IPL history. Watson had a mixed season for RCB, scoring 179 runs and taking 20 wickets in 16 matches, with one fifty. He played a crucial role in taking the team to the final, where they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Watson played for RCB for two seasons, scoring 305 runs and taking 23 wickets in 24 matches. He then moved to CSK, where he played for three seasons, scoring 1252 runs and taking 14 wickets in 43 matches, with two centuries. He was part of the CSK team that won the IPL title in 2018 and 2020. Watson retired from all forms of cricket in 2020, ending his IPL career with 3874 runs and 92 wickets in 145 matches.
IPL 2017: Ben Stokes – 14.5 Crore
The tenth season of the IPL saw Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), the new franchise that replaced CSK for two seasons, make a bold move by buying Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder, for 14.5 crore. Stokes was the highest auction player of the season and the second-highest in IPL history. Stokes had a phenomenal season for RPS, scoring 316 runs and taking 12 wickets in 12 matches, with one century and one five-wicket haul. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the season and helped the team reach the final, where they lost to MI by one run. Stokes played for RPS for only one season, as the franchise was dissolved after the season. He then played for Rajasthan Royals (RR) for four seasons, scoring 920 runs and taking 28 wickets in 34 matches, with one century and one five-wicket haul.
IPL 2018: Ben Stokes – 12.5 Crore
The eleventh season of the IPL saw RR make a comeback in the auction by buying Ben Stokes, the England all-rounder, for 12.5 crore. Stokes was the highest auction player of of the season and the second-highest in IPL history. He was bought by Rajasthan Royals for 12.5 crore. However, he had a disappointing season, scoring only 248 runs and taking one wicket in 14 matches, with two fifties. He was released by the franchise after the season and never played for them again.
IPL 2019: Varun Chakravarthy and Jaydev Unadkat – 8.4 Crore each
The twelfth season of the IPL saw two uncapped players, Varun Chakravarthy and Jaydev Unadkat, become the joint-highest auction players with a price of 8.4 crore each. Chakravarthy, a mystery spinner, was bought by KKR while Unadkat, a left-arm seamer, was bought by RR. However, both players had a forgettable season, as they played only one and 11 matches respectively, taking one and 10 wickets respectively. Chakravarthy was released by KKR after the season and was bought by Punjab Kings for 6.75 crore in the next auction. Unadkat was also released by RR after the season and was bought back by the same franchise for 3 crore in the next auction.
IPL 2020: Pat Cummins – 15.5 Crore
The thirteenth season of the IPL saw KKR make a record-breaking move by buying Pat Cummins, the Australia fast bowler, for 15.5 crore. Cummins was the highest auction player of the season and the second-highest in IPL history. Cummins had a decent season for KKR, taking 12 wickets in 14 matches, with a best of 4/34. He also scored 146 runs, with a strike rate of 128.07. He helped the team finish fifth in the points table, just missing out on the playoffs. Cummins is still playing for KKR and is one of the best fast bowlers in the world.
IPL 2021: Chris Morris – 16.25 Crore
The fourteenth season of the IPL saw RR make a surprising move by buying Chris Morris, the South Africa all-rounder, for 16.25 crore. Morris was the highest auction player of the season and the highest in IPL history. Morris had a mixed season for RR, taking 14 wickets in nine matches, with a best of 4/23. He also scored 48 runs, with a strike rate of 157.89. He played some crucial cameos with the bat and delivered some economical spells with the ball. However, he could not prevent the team from finishing last in the points table, as the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Morris is still playing for RR and is one of the most versatile all-rounders in the league.
IPL 2022: Ishan Kishan – 15.25 Crore
The fifteenth season of the IPL saw MI make a historic move by buying Ishan Kishan, the India wicket-keeper batsman, for 15.25 crore. Kishan was the highest auction player of the season and the third-highest in IPL history. Kishan had a brilliant season for MI, scoring 516 runs in 14 matches, with four fifties and a century. He also took 12 catches and four stumpings behind the stumps. He was the second-highest run-scorer for MI and the fourth-highest in the league. He played a vital role in taking the team to the final, where they lost to CSK by 27 runs. Kishan is still playing for MI and is one of the most explosive batsmen and reliable keepers in the league.
IPL 2023: Sam Curran – 18.5 Crore
The sixteenth season of the IPL saw Punjab Kings make a stunning move by buying Sam Curran, the England all-rounder, for 18.5 crore. Curran was the highest auction player of the season and the highest in IPL history. Curran had an outstanding season for Punjab Kings, scoring 398 runs and taking 22 wickets in 14 matches, with three fifties and one five-wicket haul. He was the leading wicket-taker for Punjab Kings and the third-highest in the league. He also scored the fastest fifty in IPL history, off just 13 balls, against KKR. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the season and helped the team qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Curran is still playing for Punjab Kings and is one of the best all-rounders in the world.
IPL 2024: Mitchell Starc – 24.5 Crore
The Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player in the history of IPL, as he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping ₹24,75,00,000. Starc, who had missed the last two editions of IPL due to injuries and personal reasons, was in high demand among the franchises, as he is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. Starc will join forces with Pat Cummins, another Australian speedster, to form a lethal bowling attack for KKR.
