IPL 2025: Top 10 Highest-Paid Players in IPL Auction History

With the IPL mega auction looming large, franchises prepare for an all-out bidding war as they will be presented with plenty of exciting talents to choose from in this auction. The mega auction is expected to be held from November 24 to November 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Several marquee players have made headlines over the years by claiming ground-breaking bids and this year’s mega auction promises to be yet another defining moment in the history of IPL.

Following the finalization of the retention lists for all 10 franchises, the records set for the highest bids last year could well be in danger.  As the countdown to the much anticipated mega auction draws closer, we look at the top 10 players who were successful enough to bag the most expensive deals in the history of IPL auction. 

1. Mitchell Starc (Rs 24.75 Crore – KKR, IP Auction 2024)

The 34-year-old left arm pacer from Australia secured the most expensive deal in the history of IPL. Records were smashed left, right, and center when he was bought by KKR for a whopping Rs 24.75 cr. His ability to swing the ball at pace coupled with the ability to fire razor-sharp yorkers drove his bid to a colossal figure. Despite being quite expensive with the ball last season, Starc had an impactful stint with the franchise claiming 17 wickets at a formidable average of 26 which included his best figures of 4-33.

2. Pat Cummins (Rs 20.5 cr – SRH, IPL Auction 2024)

Like Mitch Starc, another Aussie legend managed to shatter the record books last year becoming the second-most expensive player in the IPL after Starc. He was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a staggering amount of Rs 20.5cr. His all-round abilities with the bat and the ball and his astute leadership skills, especially after the ODI World Cup triumph made him a hot marquee player for the franchises to bid on. Cummins was in stellar form last season and dragged his SRH side all the way to the final before bowing down to Iyer-led KRR in the 2024 IPL final. 

3. Sam Curran (Rs 18.5 cr – PBKS, IPL Auction 2023)

The English all-rounder was quick to garner the attention of the PBKS team management following a dream run in the 2022 T20 World Cup tournament where he was adjudged the Player of the tournament. His efficiency while bowling with the new ball followed by his reliability as a genuine middle-order batsman made him a highly useful player to watch out for in the 2022 mega auction. But contrary to his exploits in the T20 World Cup, Curran struggled to live up to his expectations and failed to play a significant role with the ball and with the bat for his franchise in the 2023 IPL season. 

4. Cameron Green (Rs 17.5 cr – MI, IPL Auction 2023)

In the same year, Mumbai Indians went into an all-out offensive to acquire the services of the explosive Australian batting all-rounder Cam Green. The Mumbai-based outfit broke the banks and acquired him for Rs 17.5 cr ahead of the 2023 IPL season. Known for his aggressive pinch-hitting abilities and crafty seam-bowling capabilities, Green added a new dimension to MI’s team setup. However, he could not last long and later switched allegiance to RCB in the next IPl season.

5. Ben Stokes (Rs. 16.25 cr – Chennai Super Kings, 2016)

English all-rounder Ben Stokes emerged as the third-most expensive player from the 2023 IPL season. Stokes’ invaluable experience as a batter, bowler, and a specialist captain across all three formats made him a highly valuable player leading into the 2022 mega auction.  Being highly regarded as a genuine match-winner, Stokes brought immense value to the CSK side with his aggressive batting and reliable bowling under pressure circumstances. He was acquired by CSK for a lucrative amount of Rs 16.25 cr and was also at one point seen as a potential successor of long-standing CSK captain MS Dhoni. 

6. Yuvraj Singh (Rs 16 cr – Delhi Daredevils, 2015)

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. 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.

7. Gautam Gambhir (Rs 14.9 cr – Kolkata Knight Riders, 2011)

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. He finished his IPL career amassing 3375 runs becoming the all-time leading run-getter for KKL across several seasons. 

8. Ravindra Jadeja (Rs 12.8 cr – Chennai Super Kings, 2012)

The left arm orthodox spinner and handy lower-order batter was in his formative days when he was picked up for the CSK franchise for an impressive amount of Rs 12.8 cr. Over the years, Jadeja’s consistent performances with both bat and ball justified CSK’s hefty investment as he played a pivotal role in shaping CSK’s legacy. 

9. Kevin Pietersen & Freddie Flintoff (Rs 9.8 cr each for RCB & CSK – 2009)

This was a time when IPL was in its infancy stages and a storm broke out when in the 2009 auction when world became witness to a breathtaking 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.

10. MS Dhoni (Rs 9.5 cr – Chennai Super Kings, 2008)

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. The former Indian skipper went on to script famous title victories (five of them) for his franchise and dazzled the crowd with his destructive batting. CSK has been a second home for the ‘Captain Cool’ and over the course of the past 16 years, Dhoni became an indispensable asset for the franchise.

Top 10 Highest Paid Players in IPL Auction

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