The Indian T20 League is not just about cricket; it's a grand spectacle where players are auctioned like prized possessions, fetching staggering amounts of money. Over the years, the Indian T20 Cricket League auctions have witnessed jaw-dropping bids for top-notch cricketers. Let's take a look at the cream of the crop—the most expensive players in the IPL from 2008 to 2023.
1. 2008: MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) – Rs 9.5 Crore
The inaugural Indian T20 League auction saw MS Dhoni, the 'Captain Cool,' fetching a massive Rs 9.5 crore bid from Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This marked the beginning of Dhoni's iconic journey with the franchise, shaping CSK's legacy in the tournament.
2. 2009: Kevin Pietersen (Royal Challengers Bangalore) & Andrew Flintoff (Chennai Super Kings) – Rs 9.8 Crore
The 2009 auction witnessed a bidding war between franchises for English stars Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff. Royal Challengers Bangalore secured Pietersen's services, while Flintoff went to Chennai Super Kings, both fetching a hefty Rs 9.8 crore bid.
3. 2010: Shane Bond (Kolkata Knight Riders) & Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians) - Rs. 4.8 Crore
In the 2010 Indian T20 League auction, Shane Bond and Kieron Pollard were the most expensive players, both fetching Rs. 4.8 crore. Shane Bond, a fast bowler from New Zealand, was highly sought after due to his ability to deliver match-winning performances. Kolkata Knight Riders won the bidding war for him, seeing him as a key addition to their pace attack.
On the other hand, Kieron Pollard, an explosive all-rounder from the West Indies, attracted significant attention for his big-hitting abilities and versatility. Mumbai Indians eventually secured him after intense bidding, knowing he could be a game-changer for their squad. Both players were seen as valuable assets for their respective teams.
4. 2011: Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders) – Rs 14.9 Crore
Gautam Gambhir emerged as the most expensive player in the 2011 auction, fetching a mammoth Rs 14.9 crore bid from Kolkata Knight Riders. This investment proved fruitful as Gambhir led KKR to multiple T20 League Titles, becoming one of the most successful captains in the Indian T20 League history.
5. 2012: Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings) – Rs 12.8 Crore
In 2012, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja became the talk of the town as Chennai Super Kings splurged Rs 12.8 crore to secure his services. Jadeja's consistent performances with both bat and ball justified CSK's hefty investment.
6. 2013: Glenn Maxwell (Mumbai Indians) - 6.3 Crore
Glenn Maxwell became the most expensive player in the 2013 Indian T20 League, with Mumbai Indians buying him for Rs. 6.3 crore. Several teams showed interest, but Mumbai Indians outbid them, hoping that Maxwell's aggressive style would strengthen their batting lineup and give them an edge in the tournament.
7. 2014: Yuvraj Singh (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – Rs 14 Crore
Yuvraj Singh, the 'King of Sixes,' was the most sought-after player in both the 2014 and 2015 auctions. Royal Challengers Bangalore spent Rs 14 crore to acquire his services.
8. 2015: Yuvraj Singh (Delhi Daredevils) – Rs 16 Crore
The southpaw’s exploits for RCB in 2014 motivated others to go even bigger in the 2015 season, with Delhi Daredevils breaking the bank for the World Cup winner. Yuvraj, however, could not emulate the form of RCB in 2015.
9. 2016: Shane Watson (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – Rs 9.5 Crore
Shane Watson, the Australian all-rounder, fetched a hefty Rs 9.5 crore bid from Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2016 auction. Watson's explosive batting and handy bowling made him a valuable asset for the franchise.
10. 2017: Ben Stokes (Rising Pune Supergiant) – Rs 14.5 Crore
English all-rounder Ben Stokes set the Indian T20 League auctions on fire in both 2017 and 2018. Rising Pune Supergiant splurged Rs 14.5, making Stokes one of the highest-paid players in the Indian T20 League history.
11. 2018: Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals) – Rs 12.5 Crore
Stokes scored 316 runs and took 12 wickets in the 2017 season, which propelled Rajasthan Royals to go for his services in 2018. They paid a mammoth Rs 12.5 Crores for the Englishman’s services. Unfortunately for RR, Stokes could not carry forward his form from the preview season.
12. 2019: Jaydev Unadkat (Rajasthan Royals) & Varun Chakravarthy (Kings XI Punjab) – Rs 8.4 Crore
The 2019 auction witnessed a surprise as Indian pacer Jaydev Unadkat and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy became the joint-most expensive players, fetching bids of Rs 8.4 crore each from Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) respectively.
13. 2020: Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders) – Rs 15.5 Crore
Australian pacer Pat Cummins set a new benchmark in the Indian T20 League auction history in 2020. Kolkata Knight Riders splurged a whopping Rs 15.5 crore to secure Cummins, making him the most expensive overseas player ever in the Indian T20 League
14. 2021: Chris Morris (Rajasthan Royals) – Rs 16.25 Crore
South African all-rounder Chris Morris stole the limelight in the 2021 auction. Rajasthan Royals broke all records by splurging Rs 16.25 crore to acquire Morris, making him the most expensive player in the Indian T20 League history at that time.
15. 2022: Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians) – Rs 15.25 Crore
Young Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan turned heads in the 2022 auction. Mumbai Indians secured his services for a whopping Rs 15.25 crore, reflecting the franchise's faith in his potential.
16. 2023: Sam Curran (Punjab Kings) – Rs 18.5 Crore
In the 2023 auction, all-rounder Sam Curran became the most expensive player, fetching a staggering bid of Rs 18.5 crore from Punjab Kings. Curran's all-round abilities made him a prized asset for the franchise.
17. 2024: Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders) – Rs 24.75 Crore
In 2024, Australian speedster Mitchell Starc shattered all previous records and became the most expensive player in the Indian T20 League History. Kolkata Knight Riders splurged a jaw-dropping Rs 24.75 crore to secure Starc's services, making headlines across the cricketing world.
The Indian T20 League auctions have consistently been a platform where players' worth transcends boundaries, with astronomical bids redefining the league's financial landscape year after year. These expensive signings not only reflect the players' talent but also the fierce competition among franchises to assemble the most formidable squads in pursuit of the Indian T20 League glory.
For the 2024 Indian T20 League,
Dream11 players have a constant eye on the players' value as they try to form a winning team. Additionally, it would be interesting to see who’s going to be the next expensive player in the 2025 Indian T20 League.
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