The Indian Premier League (IPL) is undoubtedly the best T20 tournament in the world. Indian players and 64 overseas cricketers feature in the ten-team tournament. An auction is held yearly to pick new players for the franchises. The teams will go to any lengths to pick their favourite players, making a few of them overnight sensations.
Expensive Players in IPL History
Over the years, a few players, mainly overseas cricketers, have ignited bidding wars in the auction. Sam Curran, in the IPL 2023 auction, is the most expensive player in IPL history, while a few bunch of all-rounders, too, feature in the top five costliest IPL signings list.
The following is the list of the most expensive players in IPL history:
- Sam Curran – ₹18.5 cr (Punjab Kings)
- Cameron Green – ₹17.5 cr (Mumbai Indians)
- Ben Stokes – ₹16.25 cr (Chennai Super Kings)
- Chris Morris – ₹16.25 cr (Rajasthan Royals)
- Nicholas Pooran – ₹16 cr (Lucknow Super Giants)
Let us look at the five most IPL expensive players in detail:
- Sam Curran
Punjab Kings made Sam Curran the most expensive player in the league’s history after acquiring the Englishman for ₹18.5 crore in the IPL 2023 auction. The all-rounder, with a base price of ₹2 cr, attracted interest from Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings. However, Punjab Kings made the winning bid of ₹18.5 cr, making Curran the most expensive cricketer in IPL history. In the 2023 season, Curran scored 276 runs with a strike rate of 136. He could not impress with the ball, picking up just ten wickets at an economy of 10.22. - Cameron Green
Mumbai Indians engaged in fierce bidding with Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals to secure the services of young Australia all-rounder Cameron Green in the IPL 2023 auction. The five-time IPL champions and the Delhi-based franchise went neck-and-neck for Green’s signature, with the Capitals withdrawing from the bidding process at ₹17.5 cr. The 24-year-old lived up to its price tag by scoring 452 runs in the 2023 season. He also picked up six wickets and was exceptional in the field. A hundred against the Sunrisers was his standout performance in his maiden season. - Ben Stokes
Like Curran, Ben Stokes, too, had plenty of suitors in the IPL 2023 auction. A bidding war started between Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Sunrisers Hyderabad ended with Chennai Super Kings signing the all-rounder for ₹16.25 cr after great competition from Lucknow Super Giants. However, Stokes’ campaign in the 2023 edition was restricted to just two appearances owing to a toe injury in the five-time champions’ second match of the season. - Chris Morris
In the IPL 2021 auction, Chris Morris went from a ₹75 lakh base price to a then-record fee of ₹16.25 cr. Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore began the bidding war, with the Royals, too, entering the arena. Punjab Kings Kings, too, came into the picture. The final battle was between the Jaipur and Mohali-based franchises. The inaugural IPL champions sealed Morris’ signature for ₹16.25 crore. The South African took 15 wickets at an economy of 9.17 in 11 matches in the IPL 2021 edition. He was Rajasthan Royals’ highest wicket-taker in the season. - Nicholas Pooran
Lucknow Super Giants fought a hard fight to acquire the services of Nicolas Pooran in the IPL 2023 mini-auction. The wicketkeeper-batter, released from Sunrisers Hyderabad at the end of the IPL 2022 season, had many takers when his name was announced in the auction. Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals were in the fray for Pooran. After a neck-and-neck fight with the Captials, the Lucknow-based franchise bought the West Indian for ₹16 cr. In the IPL 2023 season, Pooran proved his worth by scoring 358 runs at a strike rate of 173. He was instrumental in taking his team over the line on multiple occasions.
Yuvraj Singh holds the record for most expensive player among domestic players in IPL thanks to Delhi Daredevils, now Delhi Capital, splashing ₹16 cr for the star all-rounder.
For More info you may also read about India’s Record in World Cup Semi-finals
Concluding Thoughts
The IPL is one of the most thrilling and watched T20 tournaments in the world. With so much money involved, talented players are rewarded with big pay cheques. It also shows that the franchises are willing to invest substantially in a player they feel can become the team’s x factor.
