The IPL, or the widely renowned league known as the Indian Premier League, is not some other T20 cricket league. Its grandeur and success have given a huge platform for players who have gone on to achieve great heights in international cricket.
However, aside from the main part of the competition, what draws the attention of the fans and spectators lies in the awstrucking mega-auction of the IPL. Players from the Indian subcontinent as well as around the globe are bought into the sides with a huge, staggering amount, which often shakes up the cricket world.
Sometimes, the most anticipated big names alongside the most uncanny picks often acquire jaw-dropping net worths and auction bids, which only adds to the list of thrills to the IPL.
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Let’s have a look at top-notch expensive bids in IPL history (year-wise):
2008: MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
The very first season of the world’s most heavily invested T20 league, the IPL inaugural season, marked a historic bid on Indian veteran Captain Cool. MS Dhoni came from an iconic World T20 triumph in 2007, following which he was a record buy for 9.5 crore INR.
2009: Kevin Pietersen (Royal Challengers Bangalore) and Andrew Flintoff (Chennai Super Kings)
The two English giants were the much anticipated big buys in the second auction, as Kevin Pietersen made his debut in the IPL and went on to be a star for RCB. At the same time, CSK drafted in the all-rounder, though they could not produce the desired gem of a season after both were bought at a hefty price of 9.8 crore INR.
2010: Shane Bond (Kolkata Knight Riders) and Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)
Trailing back to 2010, West Indian all-rounder, then a rising talent, and New Zealand veteran pace bowler Bond were picked up for a decent INR 4.8 crore. Bond is often considered a matchwinner and was hence picked by Knight Riders.
On the other hand, Pollard has since then never parted ways with the Mumbai Indians, as he startled with his saga of big-hitting prominence and the tag of a game changer.
2011: Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Gambhir was then the costliest of players during his move from Delhi Daredevils to the Kolkata Knight Riders. This was probably Kolkata’s best buy since the player turned the fortunes of KKR, as he single-handedly batted well and led them to two IPL trophies in 2012 and 2014. He was brought in for a huge 14.9 crore INR.
2012: Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings)
The veteran Indian all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, emerged as the talk of the town since he made amazing contributions for the Rajasthan Royals in the first 2 seasons of the IPL, as he also found a way into the Indian team. Jadeja bought it for 12.8 crore INR, which was the most justified bid as he to date remains a crucial part of the franchise.
2013: Glenn Maxwell (Mumbai Indians)
Owing to his stunning race of form for Australia and in the BBL, Maxwell was a player in whom many teams had shown interest then and was finally included in the Mumbai Indians camp for a decent INR 6.3 crore.
2014: Yuvraj Singh (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
The legendary King of Sixes made a comeback to the IPL after a long struggle with cancer, which he battled during the 2011 World Cup. Owing to his greatness, RCB included him for a huge 14 crore INR.
2015: Yuvraj Singh (Delhi Daredevils)
Yuvraj Singh did many wonders for the Royal Challengers in the previous edition, as it motivated others to go even bigger as Daredevils included him for a whopping INR 16 crores.
2016: Shane Watson (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Shane Watson was the most elusive player in the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals in 2008, and since then he served the geniuses for the RR before his special antics as a batter and bowler, and after his international retirement he was included for 9.5 crores INR by the Royal Challengers.
2017: Ben Stokes (Rising Pune Supergiants)
After the retirement of the great Shane Watson, Ben Stokes emerged as the greatest of World all-rounders, and hence, for the latest franchise, Supergiants, he was bought in for a huge 14.5 crore.
2018: Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals)
After playing a wonderful role in the Steven Smith-led Supergiants side, the dissolution of the two teams brought Stokes back to the Rajasthan Royals for a humongous 12.5 crore, and he also emerged as the MVP for the Royals.
2019: Jaydev Unadkat (Rajasthan Royals) and Varun Chakravarthy (Kings XI Punjab)
The most surprising mini-auction IPL had ever witnessed, as Unadkat, the Indian uncapped pacer, and even more inexperienced uncapped spinner Varun Chakravarthy were included in the Royals and Kings lineup at a whopping INR 8.4 crore.
2020: Pat Cummins (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Pat Cummins, the Australian skipper, set a benchmark for overseas players in the IPL as he emerged as the costliest-ever player when Knight Riders spent an unforgettable 15.5 crore to include the likes of the big all-rounder.
2021: Chris Morris (Rajasthan Royals)
One of the surprising inclusions into the side was Protea all-rounder Chris Morris, who had shown much of his class for both Delhi Daredevils and the Rajasthan Royals. The Royals again acquired him after releasing him for a lump sum amount of INR 16.25 crore, a record-breaking bid.
2022: Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians)
Promising Indian wicketkeeper who played an amazing role in their immense success that they drew in the Mumbai Indians camp while starring for them previously in 2020 as well as 2021, brought him glory with a whopping INR 15.25 crore net value.
2023: Sam Curran (Punjab Kings)
After playing a major role in England’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2022, when Sam Curran was also the Player of the Tournament, he turned heads in the IPL as the Punjab Kings included him for a record 18.5 crore, a record that didn’t last long though.
2024: Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders)
The well-renowned Australian speedster was bought in as he shattered all records and emerged to amaze all when Gambhir splurged a huge sun of INR 24.75 crore on the Aussie World Cup-winning star. Starc’s contribution was vital to KKR’s title triumph in 2024.
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