Top 10 Most Expensive Buys In IPL Auction History and Their Performance. The IPL has now become synonymous with auctions that break records; franchises leave no stone unturned in getting a marquee player at the auction. Let’s go through the ten most expensive buys in IPL history and see what stirred in such a huge price.
The IPL 2025 mega auction is done and dusted, and the soon-to-declare top 10 most expensive players in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will surely roar in the next season. Such players with hefty price tags come with tons of experience and talent to bring to the stockpile of their respective teams.
1. Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore, Lucknow Super Giants, 2025)
Total IPL Matches: 111; Runs: 3,284; Average: 35.41; Strike Rate: 148.93
He sold for INR 27 crore to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and that is where the batting is expected from him. Pant is the ideal asset for any team with his explosive batting and great wicketkeeping. He is among the top run-getters in all IPL history, with over 3,284 runs and an impressive strike rate of 148.93. Also, he has very good wicket-keeping skills and leadership qualities that complete his price tag.
Also Read: IPL 2025 Auction: Full List Of Sold Players With Price PDF Download
2. Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75 crore, Punjab Kings, 2025)
Total IPL Matches: 115; Runs: 3,127; Average: 31.11; Strike Rate: 127.45
Expectations are now higher for the Iyer, sold to Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 26.75 crore, who is expected to bring stability and consistency to the batting unit of the team. Iyer is a talented player, along with being a former captain of KKR. He is one of the most consistent players in IPL history with more than 3,127 runs at an average of 31.11 with a strike rate of 127.45. He led KKR to victory in 2024 and would strive to carry the legacy forward within PBKS.
3. Mitchell Starc (₹24.75 crore, Kolkata Knight Riders, 2024)
Total IPL Matches: 41; Wickets: 51; Economy: 8.30; Average: 22.3
Starc becomes the most expensive player in IPL history during the 2024 auction. He is the best T20 specialist of all time, known for being deadly with those yorkers and crunch situations. With such an investment in his talent, KKR expected to harvest him, leading their bowling attack. The season was just decent for him with 17 wickets, but he also won the match at the IPL 2024 finals, taking KKR to a victory.
4. Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore, Kolkata Knight Riders, 2025)
Total IPL Matches: 50; Runs: 1,326; Average: 31.57; Strike Rate: 137.13
He was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a whopping INR 23.75 crore and would now be an integral part of the franchise’s batting-bowling hierarchy. His price tag, however, is a surprise because it will be very difficult for anyone to justify it straight away. Iyer is an all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh, and in 2021 he made an impactful entry in IPL by scoring 370 runs and bagging 8 wickets under KKR’s banner.
5. Pat Cummins (₹20.50 crore, Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2024)
Total IPL Matches: 58; Wickets: 63; Economy: 8.74; Average: 30.5
Cummins, who has an IPL-proven track record, saw a massive increase in his value at the 2024 auction. He has always been known for being quite accurate in his deliveries with the ball, as well as an able contributor with the bat, and the high price offered for him indicates the need for SRH to have such a player for leading their bowling unit. Cummins led SRH to the final of IPL 2024, but they lost to KKR.
Also Read: Top 5 Run Scorers In The History Of ICC Champions Trophy
6. Sam Curran (₹18.50 crore, Punjab Kings, 2023)
Total IPL Matches: 59; Wickets: 58; Economy: 9.65; Average: 32.8; Runs: 883
His all-round skills made him quite simply the highest-priced player at the 2023 auction. But his contributions stretched beyond simply taking wickets at the death; he also amassed unique runs in the middle-order batting package. Curran was at the heart of the Punjab Kings, contributing to his worthiness as a T20 all-rounder and captain.
7. Arshdeep Singh (₹18 crores, Punjab Kings, 2025)
Total IPL Matches: 65; Wickets: 76; Economy: 9.02; Average: 27
Arshdeep sold for 18 crores by the RTM of Punjab Kings but would have a significant influence over the bowling lineup. He is a talented left-arm pacer from Punjab who impressed in the IPL as a bowler whose skills include taking wickets on a regular basis. He has 76 wickets in 65 matches at an economy of 9.02. In fact, currently, he is the highest-ranked fast bowler from India, taking wickets consistently.
8. Yuzvendra Chahal (₹18 crores, Punjab Kings, 2025)
Total IPL Matches: 160; Wickets: 205; Economy: 7.84; Average: 22.4
Chahal is one of the most successful spinners and the highest wicket-taker in IPL history. He was picked up by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for 18 crores. He has taken 205 wickets in 160 matches at an economy rate of 7.84. Last season he took 18 wickets in 15 matches with a 9.41 economy.
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9. Cameron Green (₹17.50 crore, Mumbai Indians, 2023)
Total IPL Matches: 29; Wickets: 16; Economy: 9.07; Average: 41.5; Runs: 707; Strike rate: 153.7
The Australian all-rounder has big-hitting and medium-pace bowling, which captured the imagination of the Mumbai Indians. Green played very vital innings into the middle order, creating clutch moments for MI and fortifying his role as a matchwinner.
10. Ben Stokes (₹16.25 crore, Chennai Super Kings, 2023)
Total IPL Matches: 45; Wickets: 28; Economy: 8.64; Average: 35.43; Runs: 936; Strike rate: 133.95
His price was also due to the fact that conditions ruled him out of Stokes for most of 2023, but when fit, he can bring unmatched energy and change games with bat, ball, or fielding. He left his team midseason and didn’t justify the money spent on him.
10. Chris Morris (₹16.25 crore, Rajasthan Royals, 2021)
Total Matches: 81; Wickets: 95; Economy: 8; Average: 24.1; Runs: 618; Strike rate: 155.3
Morris was the highest-ever bid holder in IPL history until 2023. His performances in favour of the team were a mixture of brilliance and inconsistency, with vital inputs in some matches while he failed to make the cut throughout the season.
