Most Expensive Players in the Auction History of the Indian Premier League

Aside from the thrilling cricket action, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is known for money, fame, and glamor. The IPL, often considered as the entertainment of the cricket world, was the first franchise-based domestic cricket event. Before we get into the most expensive players in the league’s auction history, let’s talk about how the IPL has evolved over time.

Financial Pillow of the Tournament

The engagement of some of the major businesspeople and celebrities from the Indian film fraternity was a planned move by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to guarantee that the league got off to a strong start in 2008. And it paid off well, with league fans becoming engrossed in the auction room from the start, as stars like as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ricky Ponting, Shoaib Akhtar, Shaun Pollock, and numerous more game legends were auctioned off. After all, every second cricket fan made an IPL bet at a real money casino Android app when closely following an auction.

Even yet, cricketers may benefit the most — a player like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Kylian Mbappe spends 90 minutes sprinting around a football field, but bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins bowl just four overs in a 20-over game. If we break down Starc’s massive INR 24.75 crore pay (which made him the highest-paid IPL player of all time), it comes down to INR 13,000 per ball if he bowls his four-over quota in all 14 league stage matches. That sounds impressive, do you agree? So who are the most expensive players ever in IPL auctions?

#1 — Mitchell Starc

• Auction price: INR 24.75 crore

Nearly INR 25 crore – the amount alone tells a lot about the level of professionalism of this player. Exactly a month after winning the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 in Ahmedabad, Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player in IPL auction history ahead of the 2024 season, landing in Kolkata. The highest wicket-taker from the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups last appeared in the Indian franchise-based competition in 2015, with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Interestingly, the Kolkata Knight Riders purchased him at the IPL 2018 auction. However, Starc withdrew from the event a few days before it began; thus, he never wore the famous purple-and-gold shirt. This time, the teams were certain of the Australian fast bowler’s participation in the competition. 

#2 — Pat Cummins

• Auction price: INR 20.5 crore

In the early hours of the IPL 2024 auction, the 2023 ODI World Cup-winning skipper became the first player in tournament history to earn more than INR 20 crore. And he is one of the top players featured for online betting IPL. After a protracted battle between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the latter won the right to name Pat Cummins one of their own. However, his record lasted just a few hours, when his Australian teammate Mitchell Starc surpassed him to become the most expensive player ever in the IPL auction.

Regardless of how glorious it seems, the Hyderabad-based company’s purchase of Cummins is not without its hurdles. Even if the Australian fast is a world-class bowler, they already have a star pacer in Marco Jansen. And the rule of playing a maximum of four overseas players will limit their options to either Cummins or Jansen in the playing XI, as they need to make room for batters Aiden Markram (who is also the captain of the side) and Heinrich Klaasen, as well as a quality spinner like Wanindu Hasaranga. 

#3 — Ben Stokes

• Auction price: INR 16.25 crore

Ben Stokes, perhaps one of the best white-ball cricketers of his age, if not the sport’s history, is no stranger to the Indian Premier League. The Englishman made a remarkable debut in the 2017 edition, scoring his first Twenty-20 (T20) century off 63 deliveries against the Gujarat Lions and finishing the season as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Stokes spent the following three years with the Rajasthan Royals, where he became a prominent performer.

Before the 2023 season, the Chennai Super Kings signed him for more than INR 16 crore. However, one of the most expensive players in IPL history had virtually little role in the team’s 2023 campaign, and despite the Super Kings winning the championship, Stokes had a terrible season.

These Are Just Some of the Names

As you have understood, the IPL is associated not only with brilliant and skillful players but also with lots of money. After all, the Indian Premier League boasts huge popularity and a great following not only in India but around the globe. And the above three athletes are some of the most expensive IPL players. There are way more other cricket players whose auction rate is sky-high.