IPL: Top 10 Most Expensive buys ever

The Indian Premier League never fails to romanticize glamor and money. Each year, franchises spend huge chunks of cash to acquire star players. Some perform to their caliber, and some don’t, and get released the very next season. 

On that note, here are the top 10 most expensive buys in the history of the Indian Premier League: 

Mitchell Starc (24.75 Crores)

Mitchell Starc's record-breaking acquisition by the Kolkata Knight Riders at Rs 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 auction marks a significant moment in IPL history. Starc, known for his lethal left-arm pace bowling, has been a force to reckon with in international cricket. His return to the IPL after an eight-year hiatus is eagerly anticipated by fans and pundits alike.

Mitchell Starc, the Australian left-arm fast bowler, has played 27 IPL matches, taking 34 wickets at an average of 20.29 and an economy rate of 7.17. He last played in the IPL in 2015 for Royal Challengers Bangalore and returns in 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Starc's ability to swing the ball at high speeds, coupled with his clever changes of pace, makes him a potent weapon in the T20 format. His presence adds depth and firepower to the KKR bowling attack, which was already bolstered by the signing of other top players in the auction.

Starc's journey back to the IPL has been marked by his commitment to prioritize international and Test cricket for Australia. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Starc will use the IPL as a platform to fine-tune his skills and prepare for the global tournament.

Pat Cummins (20.50 Crores)

Pat Cummins had a remarkable outing at the IPL 2024 auction, becoming the second most expensive player in IPL history when he was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 20.5 crore. This came after a bidding war between Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore, highlighting his value as a top-tier all-rounder.

Cummins, who previously played for Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, returns to the IPL after pulling out of the 2023 season due to a heavy workload. His performances in international cricket, including leading Australia to the World Test Championship title and the ODI World Cup, have cemented his reputation as one of the world's best all-rounders.

With 45 wickets and 359 runs in 42 IPL matches, Cummins brings a wealth of experience and skill to the Sunrisers squad. His ability to perform under pressure, as showcased by his 14-ball half-century in 2022, makes him a valuable asset in T20 cricket.

Sam Curran (Rs. 18.5 crores)

Sam Curran broke all records in the 2023 auction when he received a bid of Rs. 18.5 crores from the Punjab Kings at the 2023. A left-arm seamer and a left-handed batsman, Curran’s versatility make him a favorite buy for any franchise. Even though Punjab successfully bought him, the southpaw saw a bidding competition between Mumbai and Chennai as well; with both franchises going till the very last moment to acquire the English all-rounder. 

Curran, who made his debut in the IPL in 2019 with Punjab only, has found his way back home. However, he was released by the team the very next year when he was bought by Chennai. Curran continued with Chennai for the next two years where he featured in 23 matches for the franchise where he picked 22 wickets and scored 242 runs at an average of 21. On numerous occasions, Dhoni made Curran open the batting for Chennai wherein he scored quick runs in the powerplay for the franchise. 

Ahead of this year’s auction, Curran was released by Chennai in hopes that they would be able to get him at a lower price than what he was already costing the franchise (Rs. 5.5 crores). However, Curran had a riveting T20 World Cup, winning the trophy with his home team, and was also awarded the player of the series. This intrigued other franchises as well, resulting in a bidding war and the southpaw finally going for Rs. 18.5 crores. 

Cameron Green (Rs. 17.5 crores)

With a Rs. 17.5 crores winning bid from Mumbai at the 2023 IPL Auction, Cameron Green is the fourth most expensive player in the history of the Indian Premier League. An all-rounder from Australia, Green is a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium-pace bowler. He has appeared in just 8 T20 internationals for Australia and has scored 139 runs at a strike rate of 173.75. Not only that, but Green also has 5 scalps to his name. 

Even though his T20 career is pretty young, Green has shown the kind of potential he has. The kind of impact Green may have at this year’s IPL was evident by the fact that most of the franchises entered a bidding war for him, with RCB and DC fighting neck to neck with MI to snatch him away. 

The young lad from Australia can open the batting, as well as play in the middle order and take on the role of a finisher. However, with Mumbai’s top 3 being Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav, it is quite likely that Green will bat in the middle order for them. 

This year would be Green’s debut at the IPL and he would be looking forward to making an impact with the most successful franchise in the league. Whether or not he would be able to justify his price point would be something to watch out for.

Ben Stokes (Rs. 16.25 crores) 

This year’s IPL auction was all about creating history. After a massive bidding war with Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai finally managed to snap Ben Stokes. He was a must-win buy for the CSK after they lost on Sam Curran. 

After being a part of the Rajasthan camp for 4 long seasons, Stokes was up for grabs at the auction this year. However, this isn’t the first time Dhoni and Stokes will play for the same team. Before this, the two players were a part of the Rising Pune Supergiants franchise in the 2017 edition. Stokes was the most expensive buy that season with Rs. 14.5 crores. 

However, after the franchise dissolved, Dhoni went on to play for CSK, and Stokes was bought by RR. This year is expected to be Dhoni’s last season and it is anticipated that CSK may go for Stokes as his replacement as the captain of the team. 

Chris Morris (Rs. 16.25 crores) 

Chris Morris got his name recorded in the history books after the South African all-rounder was bought by the Rajasthan Royals for a humongous amount of Rs. 16.25 crores in 2021, making him not only the most expensive buy of the season but also the most expensive buy ever back then. 

When a player goes that big at the auction, it is quite natural for franchises to expect them to deliver. However, Chris Morris had a terrible season and was not able to justify the price point at which he was bought. In 11 matches, Morris picked up 15 wickets at a hemorrhaging economy rate of 9.17.  He couldn’t perform with the bat either, scoring just 36 runs at an average of 13.4. 

As a result, he was released by the Royals after the league. He was expected to return for the 2022 auction, but the 35-year-old decided to call it quits from all forms of cricket.

Nicholas Pooran (Rs. 16 crores)

Nicholas Pooran, the swashbuckling Trinidadian wicketkeeper-batter, has been a sought-after player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) ever since he made his debut in the tournament a few years ago. While he is yet to set the IPL stage on fire with his batting, Pooran's potential has not gone unnoticed by the franchises. 

In this year's IPL auction, Pooran once again found himself in the spotlight as he was picked up by the Lucknow Super Giants for a whopping Rs 16 crore, making him the fourth-highest buy of the auction. Despite entering the auction with a base price of just Rs 2 crore, Pooran's impressive performances in international cricket and his reputation as a big-hitting batsman attracted the attention of several franchises.

Lucknow had an amazing IPL season and finished the league stage at the third spot. However, the only thing that stood between them and the trophy was the absence of a hard hitter in the middle order. With Pooran’s inclusion, Lucknow would expect to fill that gap and fight harder this season. 

The last season Pooran was bought at the IPL auction by Hyderabad for Rs 10.75 crore, but he was released by the franchise last season after an underwhelming performance. However, his recent form in international cricket and his potential as a match-winner in the IPL made him a hot commodity once again.

Honorary Mention: Yuvraj Singh (Rs. 16 crores) 

Back in 2015, when Yuvraj Singh was still playing cricket, he rewrote history by being the most expensive buy ever (till then) when he was bought by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) for an insane amount of Rs. 16 crores. 

However, as has been with most of the expensive buys, Yuvraj too could not live up to the overwhelming amount of expectations. In 14 games, the southpaw could only score 248 runs at an average of 19.07 and a strike rate of 118. Yuvraj had a better reputation as a cricketer and these numbers were not justifiable with his potential. 

Nonetheless, Yuvraj is still one of the best players to have ever played the game and will always be a fan favorite.  

Pat Cummins (15.5 Crores)

In the IPL 2020 auction, Australian pacer Pat Cummins emerged as the most expensive overseas player ever, fetching a staggering Rs 15.5 crore bid from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This made him the second most expensive buy in IPL history, behind Yuvraj Singh's Rs 16 crore deal in 2014.

Cummins' auction price reflected his status as one of the premier fast bowlers in world cricket. His ability to consistently clock high speeds and deliver crucial breakthroughs made him a highly sought-after player in the IPL auction.

KKR's decision to acquire Cummins at such a high price was a strategic move to bolster their bowling attack. Cummins' inclusion added depth and firepower to KKR's pace department, making them a formidable team in the IPL 2020 season.

Ishan Kishan (15.25 Crores)

Ishan Kishan, the talented wicket-keeper batter, created a buzz in the IPL 2022 mega auction as he was picked up by the Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 15.25 crore. The left-hander, known for his aggressive batting style and exceptional wicket-keeping skills, garnered interest from multiple franchises, including Punjab Kings, Gujarat Titans, and SunRisers Hyderabad. However, Mumbai Indians secured his services after a fierce bidding war.

Kishan's ability to score quick runs and his agility behind the stumps make him a valuable addition to any team. His presence in the Mumbai Indians squad is expected to bolster their batting lineup and add depth to their wicket-keeping options.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram