From unknown entities becoming millionaires to superstars remaining unsold, the Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions can be as exciting as the league. Let us have a look at the most expensive players in each auction.
IPL 2008 | CSK pick M.S. Dhoni for USD 1.5 million (Base USD 400,000): India Cements cemented a partnership of lifetime after Chennai Super Kings spent a record USD 1.5 million to bag Dhoni. The iconic partnership has weathered every storm and continues to thrive. Over the 12 seasons, Dhoni has not only led them to four IPL and two Champions League T20 titles, but he also has scored 4,172 IPL runs at a strike rate over 137.
IPL 2009 | RCB pick Kevin Pietersen for USD 1.55 million (Base USD 1.35 million): Pietersen was also appointed captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009. He had a disappointing start with bat before an injury ruled him out and Anil Kumble took over, taking RCB to the runners-up position. Under Kumble, Pietersen did well for RCB in 2010, scoring at 59 and striking at over 150.
IPL 2009 | CSK pick Andrew Flintoff for USD 1.55 million (Base USD 950,000): Along with English teammate Pietersen, Flintoff made history as IPL’s most expensive player. However, an injury forced him out after three matches.
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IPL 2010 | KKR pick Shane Bond for USD 750,000 (Base USD 100,000): Bond played only one IPL season in an injury-plagued career. He justified his price tag by claiming nine wickets from eight matches, going at just over seven an over.
IPL 2010 | MI pick Kieron Pollard for USD 750,000 (Base USD 200,000): Pollard’s power-hitting skills were on exhibition in the CLT20 2009. MI bagged him at the next auction, where he and Bond were the most expensive players. Twelve years later, the association continues as Pollard serves as a deputy to Rohit Sharma. He has won five IPL and two CLT20 titles for the Mumbai franchise.
IPL 2011 | KKR pick Gautam Gambhir for USD 2.4 million (Base USD 200,000): Moving away from glitz and glamour, KKR focused on winning by going for a new captain. They heavily bid for Gambhir, making him, at that point, the most expensive player in the tournament history. The decision paid rich dividends as Gambhir led them to their only two title wins. He also remains their highest run-getter to date.
IPL 2012 | CSK pick Ravindra Jadeja for USD 2 million (Base USD 100,000): CSK forged another long-term relationship in the 2012 auction by bagging Jadeja for two million dollars, 20 times his base price. They must be commended for their foresight, as Jadeja had not made his Test debut yet, a format he went on to dominate. Ten years later, Jadeja remains the spine to CSK’s balance.
IPL 2013 | MI pick Glenn Maxwell for USD 1 million (Base USD 200,000): MI emptied a million dollars from their purse for Maxwell. It turned out to be a handsomely paid vacation for Maxwell, who featured in just three matches with little success. However, he was a lucky charm in the dressing room as MI won the title for the first time in 2013.
IPL 2014 | RCB pick Yuvraj Singh for INR 14 crores (Base INR 2 crores): After a heavy bidding war with KKR, RCB secured Yuvraj for a whopping INR 14 crores. Despite not being in great forms, Yuvraj ended up as RCB’s second-highest run-getter that season with 376 runs at 34, striking at over 135. He also picked five wickets that season.
IPL 2015 | DD (now DC) pick Yuvraj Singh for INR 16 crores (Base INR 2 crores): Despite not being a part of the national side, the stakes remained high for Yuvraj. Having released him after 2014, RCB hoped to get him back, but Delhi Daredevils went for him as well. After an intense bidding war, Delhi had the last laugh after winning the race and breaking the bank with a record INR 16 crore deal. The celebrations did not last: Yuvraj scored 248 runs that season at 19, striking at 118.
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IPL 2016 | RCB pick Shane Watson for INR 9.5 crores (Base INR 2 crores): With Rajasthan Royals serving a two-year ban, Watson was back in the market after eight years. He was the most expensive pick of the 2016 edition, with RCB shelling out INR 9.5 crores. He batted at an unfamiliar middle-order position and found little success in his two-season stay at the franchise.
IPL 2017 | RPS pick Ben Stokes for INR 14.5 crores (Base INR 2 crores): Once he put his name for the auction, he was expected to make huge bucks. After a fierce bidding war between Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi, the now-defunct franchise from Pune, Rising Pune Supergiant clinched the deal for INR 14.5 crores, making him the most expensive overseas player in the league.
Stokes had an excellent season and was named the Most Valuable Player in 2017. He scored at 31.6, struck at 143, and picked 12 wickets at an economy of 7.2, excelling in the death overs. RPS did feel his absence in the final, where they lost to MI.
IPL 2018 | RR pick Ben Stokes for INR 12.5 crores (Base INR 2 crores): This time RR broke the bank to get Stokes. He had disappointing seasons in 2018 and 2019 before making amends in 2020, scoring at 41 and striking at almost 143. He broke his hand after one match in 2021 and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
IPL 2019 | RR pick Jaydev Unadkat for INR 8.4 crores (Base INR 8.4 crores): Since 2018, Unadkat has made a strange habit of securing multi-million deals in the IPL auctions. He has made little impact and has had a disappointing run with RR.
IPL 2019 | KXIP (now PBKS) pick Varun Chakravarthy for INR 8.4 crores (Base INR 20 lakhs): After his success in the TNPL, the little-known Chakravarthy became the joint-highest earner at the 2019 auctions. However, he played just one match before he was released. He later found an ideal home at KKR.
IPL 2020 Auction | KKR pick Pat Cummins for INR 15.5 crore: Cummins set the record as the most expensive foreign player after KKR shelled out INR 15.5 crores in the 2020 auction. However, the record lasted only a year. Over the next two seasons, Cummins did not live up to his reputation but did produce some stellar shows with the ball and bat. KKR released him ahead of the 2022 retention.
IPL 2021 Auction | RR pick Chris Morris for INR 16.25 crores: RR made Morris the most expensive foreign player in IPL history by bagging him for INR 16.25 crores. There were little returns, as Morris scored 67 runs from 11 matches at 13.4, striking at 137. He was better with the ball, though, claiming 15 wickets at 25, going at 9.2 an over.