After Mitchel Starc sold to KKR at 24.75 Crores, the news has become a hot burning topic of every blogger and content writer, The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen massive growth since its inception in 2008, becoming one of the biggest T20 leagues globally. The glamor, high stakes and intense competition inevitably lead to astronomical salaries for the top players at the IPL auction.
This article looks at the most expensive buys in IPL history and analyzes the reasons behind the extravagant prices. It explores both Indian and overseas players who have attracted massive bids due to their superstar status and match-winning abilities.
The IPL auction is where franchises engage in intense bidding wars for the players they want. Marquee players with proven credentials often attract the highest bids, going up to crores of rupees.
Some of the factors that determine a player’s auction price are:
- Past IPL performances and statistics
- International experience and achievements
- Superstar status and fan following
- Perceived match-winning abilities
- Leadership skills for overseas players
- Demand and supply ratio for a particular skillset
- Bidding wars between interested franchises
At times, franchises break the bank for specific players based on team requirements and the player’s potential impact. Let’s look at the biggest buys in each IPL auction year.
Highest Paid Players Year-Wise:
2008 Edition: MS Dhoni ₹9.5
The IPL’s debut edition in 2008 saw India captain MS Dhoni fetch the highest bid of $1.5 million (₹9.5 crore) from Chennai Super Kings. As the country’s superstar white-ball captain, CSK spent big on Dhoni’s tremendous leadership and finishing skills.
2009 Edition: Andrew Flintoff ₹9.8
The 2009 auction saw fierce bidding for star England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff with Chennai splurging ₹9.8 crore. Royal Challengers Bangalore spent the same amount to buy destructive South African batter Kevin Pietersen.
2010 Edition: Kieron Pollard | Shane Bond ₹4.8
West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard and New Zealand speedster Shane Bond emerged as the most valued buys for ₹4.8 crore each. Mumbai Indians acquired Pollard while Kolkata Knight Riders signed Bond.
2011 Edition: Gautam Gambhir ₹14.9
Gautam Gambhir was the top draw, with Kolkata Knight Riders buying the Indian opener for a record ₹14.9 crore. Gambhir’s domestic and international record made him a prized wicket.
2012 Edition: Ravindra Jadeja ₹12.8
Chennai Super Kings once again spent big by buying Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for ₹12.8 crore. His all-round skills and fielding abilities justified the heavy price tag.
2013 Edition: Glenn Maxwell ₹6.3
Australian big-hitter Glenn Maxwell became the million-dollar baby, fetching ₹6.3 crore from Mumbai Indians. Although a risky punt, MI banked on Maxwell’s explosive power.
2014 Edition: Yuvraj Singh ₹14
Yuvraj Singh’s popularity and match-winning abilities made Royal Challengers Bangalore splurge ₹14 crore for him. Despite past his peak, Yuvraj remained a hot property.
2015 Edition: Yuvraj Singh ₹16
Delhi Daredevils bought Yuvraj again for an even higher price of ₹16 crore. Yuvraj continued to attract bids well in excess of ₹10 crore regularly.
2016 Edition: Shane Watson ₹9.5
Australian all-rounder Shane Watson became Royal Challengers Bangalore’s priciest buy at ₹9.5 crore. His experience and skills made him one of the top draws.
2017 Edition: Ben Stokes ₹14.5
The 2017 edition saw English all-rounder Ben Stokes shatter records with a ₹14.5 crore purchase by Rising Pune Supergiant. His explosive batting, seam bowling, and fielding abilities justified the record bid.
2018 Edition: Stokes ₹12.5
Stokes attracted another massive bid with Rajasthan Royals acquiring him for ₹12.5 crore. He continued to be among the most valued players at auctions.
2019 Edition: Varun Chakravarthy | Jaydev Unadkat ₹8.4
Unheralded players Varun Chakravarthy (₹8.4 crore) and Jaydev Unadkat (₹8.4 crore) became million-dollar purchases based on their domestic performances.
2020 Edition: Pat Cummins ₹15.5
Australian pacer Pat Cummins became the costliest overseas buy ever with Kolkata Knight Riders buying him for ₹15.5 crore. His #1 Test ranking and skills made him a prized possession.
2021 Edition: Chris Morris ₹16.25
South African all-rounder Chris Morris broke all records in 2021 with Rajasthan Royals paying ₹16.25 crore for his services. Morris became the first player bought for over ₹16 crore.
2022 Edition: Ishan Kishan ₹15.25
Young Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan fetched ₹15.25 crore from Mumbai Indians. MI fended off fierce competition to secure the rising star’s services.
2023 Edition: Sam Curran ₹18.5
England’s Sam Curran became the costliest buy ever after Punjab Kings bought him for ₹18.5 crore. His all-round abilities and match-winning performances justified the record fee.
2024 Edition: Mitchell Starc ₹24.75
Mitchell Starc is sold to KKR in 2024 IPL at ₹24.75 crore making him the most expensive player in IPL History while his Australian Team mate and Captain Pat Cummins joins the party and becomes the second most expensive player in IPL History and 2nd most expensive player in IPL 2024, he is sold to SH Squad 2024.
All-Time Top 14 Most Expensive Players:
Based on the highest bids across all IPL auctions, these are the 10 most expensive buys in tournament history:
| SR# | Year | Player | Team | Price (in crore) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 2024 | Mitchell Starc | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹24.75 |
| 2. | 2024 | Pat Cummins | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹20.50 |
| 3. | 2023 | Sam Curran | Punjab Kings | ₹18.50 |
| 4. | 2021 | Chris Morris | Rajasthan Royals | ₹16.25 |
| 5. | 2015 | Yuvraj Singh | Delhi Daredevils | ₹16.00 |
| 6. | 2020 | Pat Cummins | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹15.50 |
| 7. | 2022 | Ishan Kishan | Mumbai Indians | ₹15.25 |
| 8. | 2011 | Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹14.90 |
| 9. | 2017 | Ben Stokes | Rising Pune Supergiant | ₹14.50 |
| 10. | 2014 | Yuvraj Singh | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹14.00 |
| 11. | 2024 | Daryl Mitchell | Chennai Super Kings | ₹14.00 |
| 12. | 2012 | Ravindra Jadeja | Chennai Super Kings | ₹12.80 |
| 13. | 2024 | Harshal Patel | Punjab Kings | ₹11.75 |
| 14. | 2016 | Alzarri Joseph | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹11.50 |
Top 10 Most Expensive Players in IPL 2024:
| SR# | Player | Team | Base Price | Final Price |
| 1. | Mitchell Starc (AUS🛪) | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | ₹2.00 cr. | ₹24.75 cr. |
| 2. | Pat Cummins (AUS🛪) | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | ₹2.00 cr. | ₹20.50 cr. |
| 3. | Daryl Mitchell (NZ🛪) | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | ₹1.00 cr. | ₹14.00 cr. |
| 4. | Harshal Patel (IND) | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | ₹2.00 cr. | ₹11.75 cr. |
| 5. | Alzarri Joseph (WI🛪) | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | ₹1.00 cr. | ₹11.50 cr. |
| 6. | Spencer Johnson (AUS🛪) | Gujarat Titans (GT) | ₹0.50 lac. | ₹10.00 cr. |
| 7. | Sameer Rizvi (IND) | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | ₹0.20 lac. | ₹8.40 cr. |
| 8. | Rilee Rossouw (SA🛪) | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | ₹2.00 cr. | ₹8.00 cr. |
| 9. | Shahrukh Khan (IND) | Gujarat Titans (GT) | ₹0.40 lac. | ₹7.40 cr. |
| 10. | Rovman Powell (WI🛪) | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | ₹1.00 cr. | ₹7.40 cr. |
Factors Behind the Massive Bids:
Let’s analyze what made these players warrant such exorbitant prices at auction.
Match-Winning Abilities:
One of the biggest factors behind the astronomical bids is a player’s proven match-winning abilities. The likes of Stokes, Maxwell, and Morris have won several games almost single-handedly with bat or ball.
Their track record of consistent performances and turning games prompted franchises to bid heavily for them, despite the risks.
Leadership Skills:
Outstanding leaders like Dhoni, Gambhir, and Cummins also attract substantial bids due to their ability to guide teams to titles. Their leadership skills are invaluable, especially for franchises seeking captaincy candidates.
Experience & Credentials:
Players like Yuvraj, Stokes, and Watson commanded top dollar at auctions due to their wealth of international experience and strong statistics. Their pedigree warranted premium bids from franchises.
Superstar Status:
Certain demigods of the game like Dhoni, Yuvraj, and Stokes fetch record bids consistently by virtue of their superstardom and brand value. Their mere presence can lift the entire squad’s morale and performances.
Scarce Skillsets:
Quality overseas fast bowlers and all-rounders have always been in short supply. Hence franchises break the bank for rare talents like Cummins, Stokes, and Curran due to a lower supply.
Strong Domestic Performances:
Lesser known domestic cricket stars like Chakravarthy also attract million dollar bids based on breakthrough seasons. Franchises spot their potential early.
Bidding Wars:
More often than not, the massive bids occur when at least 3-4 franchises engage in intense bidding wars for players they desperately want. This inevitably inflates the winning bid.
Auction dynamics like role availability and squad needs also influence bid prices, especially for capped Indian players. Ultimately, franchises bet big on players they believe can guide them to the coveted IPL crown.
Conclusion:
The IPL auction has seen astronomical amounts being spent on securing the services of top players over the years. Factors like match-winning abilities, leadership, experience and bidding wars result in record bids worth crores of rupees.
Franchises invest substantial capital in players who can potentially transform their fortunes and end title droughts. While the sums seem obscene, the returns in terms of trophies are invaluable for team owners.
Going forward, new bench-mark prices could be set, especially for promising uncapped Indian players. It remains to be seen who emerges as the costliest buy in the 2024 IPL auction!