By admin 
Every IPL auction will be a spectacle, with franchises competing for the best cricketers in the world. The intense bidding wars have led to some astronomical figures being targeted for top talent.
The IPL 2025 auction will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. This is the second time that the IPL auction will be held outside India, after the 2024 event in Dubai.
Before the big event, Rediff.com delves into the 10 most expensive players in IPL history and examines their impact on the game and the factors that made them so valuable.
Mitchell Starc (Australia)
Total wickets in IPL: 51
Performances in IPL: 105 performances
Auction price: Rs 24.75 crore/Rs 247.5 million (IPL 2024 mega auction)
Mitchell Starc, the most expensive player in IPL history, was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2025 mega auction.
Starc made headlines in 2024 when KKR secured his services for an eye-watering Rs 24.75 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. The left-arm quick brought his trademark pace, deadly yorkers and wicket-taking skill to the KKR line-up, eventually ending the IPL 2024 season with 17 wickets from 14 matches.
Initially, Starc struggled to justify its price tag, facing challenges in its economy and failing to make a significant impact. However, he found his rhythm at a crucial point in the tournament, peaking in the latter stages where his standout performance in the first qualifier against Sunrisers Hyderabad saw him take 3 wickets for 34 runs, pushing KKR into the final.
This was not Starc’s first association with KKR; the franchise had acquired him in 2018, but he withdrew from the tournament before it started. His return in 2024 after a World Cup-winning campaign sparked fierce competition between franchises, with KKR emerging as the highest bidder after a fierce auction war.
Despite his release, Starc remains one of the most formidable bowlers in world cricket. His experience, combined with his ability to swing the ball at high speed, makes him a valued asset for any team, especially for the powerplay and death overs.
Pat Cummins (Australia)
Total wickets in IPL: 63
Performances in IPL: 515 performances
Auction Price: Rs 20.05 crore/Rs 200.5 million (IPL 2024 mega auction)
The second most expensive player in IPL history continues to play a crucial role for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who have retained him.
Securing Cummins at the 2024 auction marked a historic moment as he became the first player to cross the Rs 20 crore (Rs 200 million) mark – only to be temporarily overtaken by his Australian teammate Starc moments later at the same auction. Known for his consistent pace and all-round ability, Cummins adds immense value to SRH, both with the ball and as a lower-order bat.
Under the leadership of Cummins, SRH enjoyed a revived season and reached the IPL final for the first time in five years. His experience of captaining Australia to victories in both the ICC World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup reflects his proven ability to perform in high-stakes tournaments.
Cummins’ lethal bowling, combined with his composure in pressure situations, makes him indispensable. His retention is a testament to SRH’s confidence in his ability to lead from the front, providing the team with both skill and stability as they aim for a title in the coming season.
Sam Curran (England)
Total wickets in IPL: 58
Performances in IPL: 883 performances
Auction Price: Rs 18.5 crore/Rs 185 million (IPL 2023 auction)
The England all-rounder made headlines when Punjab Kings secured him a record sum of Rs 18.5 crore at the 2023 auction.
Known for his explosive batting and sharp bowling, Curran’s versatility, both as a left-arm pacer and as a dynamic lower-order power hitter, made him an important asset to the team. His ability to turn games around with both bat and ball, including a memorable hat-trick against Delhi Capitals early in his IPL career, marks him out as one of the league’s impactful players.
Having previously played for Kings On his return in 2023, Punjab, who had released him earlier, picked him up. and his high price tag underlined his status as one of the premier all-rounders in the IPL.
Cameron Green (Australia)
Total wickets in IPL: 16
Performances in IPL: 707 performances
Auction Price: Rs 17.5 crore/Rs 175 million (IPL 2023 auction)
The Australian all-rounder signed a staggering Rs 17.5 crore deal with the usually frugal Mumbai Indians in 2023.
Green was brought in to fill the void left by Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard and lived up to expectations, scoring 452 runs at an average of 50.22 and claiming six wickets in his debut IPL season. His impact was undeniable, with a top score of 100* and a powerful presence in both batting and bowling.
However, ahead of the IPL 2024 season, Royal Challengers acquired Bengaluru Green from Mumbai Indians in a high-stakes trade deal. Although Green played a crucial role for RCB, scoring 255 runs at a strike rate of 143.26 and taking 10 wickets, the franchise was forced to release him due to an unexpected setback. A serious back injury, requiring surgery, has ruled Green out of the 2025 IPL season, changing RCB’s long-term plans.
RCB Director of Cricket Mo Babat stressed that Green’s presence was crucial but the franchise ultimately had to adapt given the all-rounder’s health.
Ben Stokes (England)
Total wickets in IPL: 28
Performances in IPL: 920 performances
Auction Price: Rs 16.25 crore/Rs 162.5 million (IPL 2023 auction)
One of the best all-rounders of this century received a significant fee when Chennai Super Kings acquired him ahead of the 2023 season.
Known for his aggressive batting, reliable bowling and inspiring leadership, the England Test captain was expected to be a game-changer for CSK. Despite his impressive reputation, Stokes had a disappointing season and made minimal contribution as CSK won the IPL 2023 title.
Stokes made a powerful IPL debut in 2017 with the Rising Pune Supergiants where he scored his maiden T20 century against the Gujarat Lions and finished as the tournament’s MVP. His impactful performances continued with the Rajasthan Royals, where he formed a memorable partnership with Jos Buttler, cementing their position as one of the most formidable English duos in the IPL.
Ahead of the 2025 mega auction, both Stokes and fellow England star Joe Root have opted out, marking his absence from the IPL for the second consecutive season.
Chris Morris (South Africa)
Total wickets in IPL: 95
Performances in IPL: 618 performances
Auction Price: Rs 16.25 crore (IPL 2021 auction)
The South African all-rounder became the talk of the 2021 IPL auction when Rajasthan Royals acquired him for a record-breaking Rs 16.25 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history at the time.
Morris had previously built his IPL reputation through stints with multiple franchises including the Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and Royal Challengers Bangalore. With RCB in 2020, despite missing the early matches, he impressed by claiming 11 wickets in just 9 matches, proving his worth as a reliable bowler and a useful finisher.
Despite the significant investment, Morris’ 2021 season with the Royals was disappointing and fell short of expectations. His performance was inconsistent, raising questions about the high price tag. Ultimately, Morris’ IPL journey was short-lived as he retired from all forms of cricket in January 2022, leaving the Royals without the long-term impact they expected.
Yuvraj Singh (India)
Total wickets in IPL: 36
Performances in IPL: 2,750 performances
Auction Price: Rs 16 crore/Rs 160 million (IPL 2021 auction)
A legendary figure in Indian cricket, Yuvraj created history at the 2015 IPL auction when the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) shelled out a record-breaking Rs 16 crore to secure his services.
This significant investment reflected the franchise’s belief in Yuvraj’s ability to strengthen their squad with his explosive batting and wealth of experience.
However, Yuvraj’s performance that season was disappointing, scoring 248 runs in 14 matches as the franchise failed to live up to expectations.
Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)
Performances in IPL: 1,769 performances
Auction Price: Rs 16 crore (IPL 2023 auction)
The West Indian power hitter became one of the highest-paid players in IPL 2023 when the Lucknow Super Giants acquired him for Rs 16 crore.
Pooran quickly established himself as a crucial asset in Lucknow’s middle order, bringing stability and firepower with his aggressive playing style. He made an immediate impact that season, scoring 358 runs in 15 matches, including two impressive half-centuries.
LSG retained Pooran ahead of the IPL 2025 season and made a major statement by offering him a record contract of Rs 21 crore (Rs 210 million). The move rewards Pooran’s impressive performance in the previous season where he scored 499 runs in 14 matches at an astonishing strike rate of 178.21.
Ishan Kishan (India)
Performances in IPL: 2,644 performances
Auction Price: Rs 15.25 crore/Rs 152.5 million (IPL 2022 auction)
The second most expensive Indian player in IPL history after Yuvraj Singh.
Kishan had shown his match-winning potential, especially during his breakthrough 2020 season where he scored 516 runs and hit the most sixes in the tournament, helping MI claim their fifth IPL title.
With MI opting not to keep him, Kishan is set to spark a bidding war at this week’s auction.
Known for his fearless top-class batting and wicket-keeping skills, Kishan has the power to anchor or pace an innings when required – qualities that will attract keen interest from franchises keen to strengthen their line-up with a game changer.
Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
Total wickets in IPL: 37
Performances in IPL: 2,771 performances
Auction Price: Rs 14.25 crore/Rs 142.5 million (IPL 2021 auction)
The explosive Australian all-rounder joined RCB in 2021 for a hefty price tag of Rs 14.25 crore.
After a slow start, he quickly silenced critics with a string of match-winning performances, cementing his place in the RCB’s mid-table.
Over the past four seasons, Maxwell has been a vital cog in RCB’s wheel and has contributed significantly to their play-off performances. However, ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, RCB took the tough decision to release him. Despite this, Maxwell remains optimistic about a possible reunion with the franchise.