Top 10 most expensive buys ever in the history of IPL auction

Here we look at the most expensive buys in the IPL auction history.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) brought some new dimensions into the game with players getting paid a huge some of money for one T20 season that is played once a year for only 2-3 months. Starting with an eight-team tournament, it has now included two more teams with each team having more than INR 100 crores in their purse to build a 22-25 member squad. This league has changed the lives and time of several players who partake in the league and got a huge amount of money in their purse.

Indian Premier League’s most expensive buys list includes a few big names who got big amounts of money from the auction including a few surprising names. Ben Stokes is the only player who has gone for plenty in numbers twice in the history of IPL auctions all due to his international performances in big ICC events. Let’s have a look at the top 10 expensive players in the history of the IPL auction. 

Here are the top 10 costliest buys in the history of IPL:

10. Chris Morris – 16.25 crores :

South African all-rounder Chris Morris was the most expensive player in the league till IPL 2023 auction. In the IPL 2023 auction, teams spent heavily on several plays and Morris’ record was broken. Rajasthan Royals paid a huge amount of INR 16.25 crores to South African all-rounder who represented the Royals in 11 games. Morris picked up 15 wickets at an economy rate of 9.17. Morris was released in 2022 and also retired after that. 

9. Ben Stokes – 16.25 crores :

Ben Stokes had a terrific run in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia and played a magical knock in the finals against Pakistan. Stokes helped England win two ICC titles in three years and that made IPL teams go for a bidding war when his name came up at the auction. Chennai Super Kings were the winner with a final bid of INR 16.25 crores in IPL 2023 auction. 

8. Cameron Green – 17.50 crores :

At IPL 2023 auction, Mumbai Indians spent INR 17.50 crores to buy Australian all-rounder Cameron Green who later played a crucial innings for MI in the final league game and took his side to IPL playoffs.

7. Sam Curran – 18.5 crores :

England all-rounder Sam Curran played a pivotal role in England’s T20 World Cup 2022 win in Australia. With that, he impressed IPL franchises and got massive bids at the IPL 2023 auction. Curran was bought for a whopping amount of INR 18.5 crores by Punjab Kings.

6. Pat Cummins – 20.50 crores :

In the IPL 2024 auction, Australian skipper Pat Cummins became the most expensive buy in the history of the Indian Premier League auctions breaching the INR 20-crore mark. Sunrisers Hyderabad, in a long bidding battle with Royal Challengers Bangalore, got Cummins in their camp. SRH bought the services of Pat Cummins for INR 20.50 crores for IPL 2024.

5. Venkatesh Iyer – 23.75 crores

Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer shattered many records when he turned the bidding war at the IPL 2025 auction into a big one. He was roped in by his old franchise KKR for a whopping sum of INR 23.75 crore, making him one of the costliest buys in the history of the league.

4. Mitchell Starc – 24.75 crores :

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc fell short of just one bid to breach the INR 25-crore mark in the IPL 2024 auction. Kolkata Knight Riders, in a long bidding war against Gujarat Titans, got the Australian pacer as the most expensive buy in the history of the Indian Premier League auctions. KKR acquired Mitchell Starc for a whopping price of INR 24.75 crores in the IPL 2024 auction held in Dubai.

3. Cameron Green – 26.2 crore

In the IPL 2026 auction, Cameron Green was the star pick and he broke many records. The Australian all-rounder became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the league. KKR were interested in him right from the start and were bidding for him till the last. They were involved in a bidding war and eventually got him at INR 26.2 crore

2. Shreyas Iyer – 26.75 crore

India’s white-all superstar Shreyas Iyer became the second most expensive player in IPL history. When he entered the IPL 2025 auction, it was expected that he would go big and that is what happened exactly. The premier batter was roped in by PBKS for a sum of INR 26.75 crore and was also made captain of the team.

1. Rishabh Pant – 27 crore

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) made history when they shelled out INR 27 crore for Indian keeper-batter Rishabh Pant in the IPL 2025 auction. LSG was involved in a bidding war with SRH before DC used the RTM at 20.75 crore. It was then that LSG surprised many and raised the bid to INR 27 crore, making Pant the most expensive player in IPL history.

(All stats and numbers updated till 17th December, 2025)

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