Every year IPL franchises retain and release players and spend a significant amount on buying players in the auction. In total, Rs 5,51,70,00,000 (Approximately 5.52 billion) is spent by franchises to buy players. The IPL mega auction 2022 sold 204 players, 67 of whom were foreigners and the rest Indians. This article will discuss the most pricey players of IPL 2024.
All Times Expensive Players of IPL
Let’s tour the list of the most costly players in the Indian Premier League ever.
1. Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2024): ₹24.75 crore
Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc became the highest-paid player in the 2024 IPL auction, acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹24.75 crore. Starc’s exceptional international and T20 performances made him a coveted addition to KKR’s fast-bowling lineup.
2. Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2024): ₹20.50 crore
Pat Cummins, an Australian fast bowler and all-rounder, briefly held the 2024 IPL auction’s highest bid record. Sunrisers Hyderabad secured him for ₹20.50 crore, valuing his world-class skill and proven IPL track record as a significant team asset.
3. Sam Curran (England)
Sam Curran, the left-arm all-rounder, clinched the title of the costliest IPL player in 2023, bagging a hefty INR 18.50 crore with Punjab Kings. Known for his dynamic bowling and fielding, Curran promises impactful performances with the bat too.
4. Cameron Green (Australia)
Mumbai Indians secured Cameron Green for INR 17.50 crore in the 2023 IPL auction. This Australian all-rounder boasts impressive batting and bowling skills, making him the second most expensive player in IPL history.
5. Ben Stokes (England)
Chennai Super Kings acquired the services of Ben Stokes for INR 16.25 crore in the 2023 IPL auction. This world-class all-rounder excels with both bat and ball, showcasing leadership qualities on the field.
6. Chris Morris (South Africa)
Rajasthan Royals signed Chris Morris for INR 16.25 crore in the 2021 IPL auction. A formidable all-rounder, Morris is renowned for his powerful batting, quick bowling, and exceptional fielding skills.
7. Ishan Kishan (India)
Mumbai Indians invested INR 15.25 crore in Ishan Kishan during the 2022 IPL auction, making him the most expensive Indian player. This wicketkeeper-batsman is recognized for his batting prowess and agile fielding.
Other Expensive Buys from IPL
Deepak Chahar – INR 14 crores:
Deepak Chahar joined Chennai Super Kings in 2018. He played 58 matches for CSK and got 58 wickets for an economy rate of 7.70. He has proved himself a crucial bowler in the power plays with his swing ball delivery in CSK, making him Dhoni’s favorite player. Chahar has played 12 matches in IPL 2018, picking ten wickets and becoming one of the key players in the IPL 2018 winning team. In IPL 2019, Chahar got 22 wickets in 17 matches.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals were interested in buying Deepak Chahar’s services. Delhi Capitals left the competition when the price tag increased to 13 crores. RR was the only one in competition with CSK until the prices rose to 14 crores.
Shreyas Iyer – INR 12.25 crores:
Shreyas Iyer joined the IPL in 2015 and was sold for 2.5 crores. He set 439 runs on board in 14 matches, with a strike rate of 128.36 and an average of 33.76, making Iyer one of the most consistent Emerging Players of the IPL 2015. Delhi Daredevils retained him in IPL 2018 and replaced Gautam Gambhir as team captain. He became the fourth youngest captain in IPL history.
On his captaincy debut, he set a total of 93 runs on 40 deliveries with the help of 10 sixes and won the Man of the Match award. He played seven years for Delhi Capitals and became the 3rd most runs scorer in Delhi Capitals, while Virender Sehwag and Rishabh Pant secured the first two positions. KKR purchased Shreyas Iyer for 12.25 crores.
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Liam Livingstone – INR 11.50 crores:
Rajasthan Royals bought Liam Livingstone for IPL 2019 and released him in IPL 2020 auction. Last year he scored 348 runs with a strike rate of 178.46 and became the player of the tournament in Birmingham Phoenix. Punjab Kings bought England’s all-rounder Liam Livingstone for 11.50, becoming the most expensive foreign player of IPL 2024.
KKR and CSK also show interest in buying Liam Livingstone. He played nine games for RR in 2019 and 2021 but couldn’t perform well in most of his games.
Shardul Thakur, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Nicholas Pooran – INR 10.75 crores:
Shardul Thakur, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Harshal Patel are always good performers in the IPL and one of the most pricey players of the IPL. Delhi Capitals bought Shardul Thakur, RCB bought Wanindu Hasaranga and Harshal Patel, and Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Nicholas Pooran for the same price of 10.75 crores.
Unsold Suresh Raina and Steve Smith:
Shocking! Suresh Raina and Steve Smith are gone unsold in the IPL auction. The absence of these two players is shocking because they are the most successful batters of the IPL. Steve Smith was not selected because he couldn’t perform well for Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals. While Suresh Raina was absent in IPL 2021 and 2022, his scandal may be a reason for him to go unsold.
Final Words
IPL is one of the most expensive cricket leagues in the world. Different teams retained many players, but new players have managed to put on the show with a tremendous amount of auction money. Players like Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, and Ishan Kishan could be the big names in the IPL 2024 Auction.
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