Most Expensive Players In IPL History

Most Expensive Players In IPL History (AFP)

The highly entertaining T20 World Cup 2026 just concluded, with the attention now shifting to the IPL 2026. The action-packed 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on March 28, 2026, with 10 competitive teams competing for the coveted trophy. 

The IPL 2026 Mini Auction saw all the franchises form their preferred combinations for the upcoming season. Notably, the Australian all-rounder Cameron Green became the third-most-expensive player in IPL history when Kolkata Knight Riders acquired his services for Rs. 25.20 crore at the Etihad Arena. 

With this, he also became the most expensive overseas player at an auction, overtaking his teammates Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

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That being said, in this article, let’s take a glance at the top 10 most expensive players in the IPL’s 19-year-long history. 

Top 10 costliest buys in IPL auction history

10. Arshdeep Singh: ₹18.00 Cr (PBKS, IPL 2025)

Arshdeep Singh was secured by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for ₹18.00 Crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah. As the first player sold in the auction, he was bought back by the franchise using their Right to Match (RTM) card after an intense bidding war against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

9. Yuzvendra Chahal: ₹18.00 Cr (PBKS, IPL 2025)

Yuzvendra Chahal was acquired by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) for ₹18.00 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction, marking a significant 177% increase in his previous salary. The veteran leg-spinner, who is the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, was sought after by multiple teams before being secured by PBKS as their premier bowler for the season.

8. Matheesha Pathirana: ₹18.00 Cr (KKR, IPL 2026)

In the IPL 2026 mini auction, KKR splashed ₹18.00 Cr for the Sri Lankan pacer. Delhi Capitals (DC) were the first team to raise the paddle for Pathirana, before Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) entered the race, intensifying the bidding war. KKR, meanwhile, only came in at Rs 16 crore and ultimately stole the deal.

7. Sam Curran: ₹18.50 Cr (PBKS, IPL 2023)

In the 2023 auction, Sam Curran became the then-most-expensive player in IPL history, purchased by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for ₹18.50 crore. This record-breaking bid surpassed the previous high of ₹16.25 crore. The 27-year-old England all-rounder returned to his debut franchise, bringing significant value as a finisher and death-over specialist.

6. Pat Cummins: ₹20.50 Cr (SRH, IPL 2024)

Pat Cummins was signed by SRH for a whopping ₹20.50 crore during the IPL 2024 auction. Considering his credentials as the Australian cricket captain, he was appointed the captain, replacing Aiden Markram, and led the team to the final, transforming their fortunes after a last-place finish in 2023. 

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At the time, his purchase made him the second most expensive player and the most expensive foreign player in the IPL history. 

5. Venkatesh Iyer: ₹23.75 Cr (KKR, IPL 2025)

The left-handed all-rounder, Venkatesh Iyer, in a shocking turn of events, drew ₹23.75 Crore from the KKR franchise to become one of the most talked about bids in IPL auction history. 

Venkatesh's price tag made him a significant player for KKR, but he had quite a disappointing performance in the 2025 competition. 

4. Mitchell Starc: ₹24.75 Cr (KKR, IPL 2024)

The Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc broke records in the IPL 2024, becoming the most expensive player in the history of IPL Auction (till 2025) as KKR brought him for INR 24.75 Crore in an action-packed Auction Day at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai.

3. Cameron Green: ₹25.20 Cr (KKR, IPL 2026)

Cameron Green’s growing stature in world cricket and his immense value as a multi-dimensional player in the T20 format sparked a high-octane bidding war at the IPL 2026 mini auction. 

After an intense bidding battle with Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders finally landed the Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for a whopping ₹25.20 Cr at the IPL 2026 in Abu Dhabi. 

2. Shreyas Iyer: ₹26.75 Cr (PBKS, IPL 2025)

In the IPL 2025 auction, Shreyas Iyer triggered a fierce bidding war before Punjab Kings sealed the deal at ₹26.75 crore. 

Known for his calm authority and ability to anchor an innings, Iyer was seen as the missing leadership piece for PBKS. Iyer proved to be a great value for his price, taking the team to the finals in the season. 

1. Rishabh Pant: ₹27.00 Cr (LSG, IPL 2025)

The Indian wicket-keeper batter, Rishabh Pant, was one of the most notable buys in the IPL 2025 mega auction after not being retained by the Delhi Capitals. The Lucknow Super Giants secured him for INR 27 crore, making him the most expensive player of that auction.

Most expensive players in IPL history

It is worth noting that the players mentioned above have been the most expensive buys in the history of the Indian Premier League auction. Below is the list of the other highest-paid prominent players in IPL 2026, ranked by salary. 

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