IPL Auction Players List

IPL Auction Players List – Most Expensive Buys and Records

The IPL auction has changed dramatically since the league’s first season in 2008. Early record purchases such as MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir were soon overtaken by Yuvraj Singh, Ben Stokes and Chris Morris before prices entered another level with Sam Curran, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. The 2025 mega auction created two new all-time records when Lucknow Super Giants paid ₹27 crore for Rishabh Pant and Punjab Kings spent ₹26.75 crore on Shreyas Iyer. The 2026 auction then produced another huge deal, with Kolkata Knight Riders buying Cameron Green for ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history.

Most Expensive Buys in IPL Auction History

The rankings below cover auction purchases rather than player retentions or trades.

Rishabh Pant remains the most expensive player ever bought at an IPL auction. Cameron Green’s ₹25.20 crore deal in the 2026 auction moved him above Mitchell Starc as the most expensive overseas auction purchase.

Rishabh Pant – ₹27 Crore

Rishabh Pant created a new IPL auction record during the 2025 mega auction.

Lucknow Super Giants bought the Indian wicketkeeper-batter for ₹27 crore after an intense bidding battle. The deal moved him above Shreyas Iyer, who had established a new record only minutes earlier when Punjab Kings bought him for ₹26.75 crore.

Pant brought several qualities that made him especially valuable. He was an established Indian batter, wicketkeeper and captaincy candidate, meaning LSG could fill several important roles with one player.

His ₹27 crore price remains the highest auction purchase in IPL history through the 2026 auction.

Shreyas Iyer – ₹26.75 Crore

Shreyas Iyer briefly became the most expensive player in IPL history when Punjab Kings bought him for ₹26.75 crore in the 2025 mega auction.

His record did not last long because Pant later reached ₹27 crore, but Iyer remained the second-most expensive IPL auction purchase.

The demand for Iyer reflected more than his batting. He entered the auction with significant leadership experience and had captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 championship.

Punjab therefore paid a premium for an Indian top-order batter who could also lead the team.

Cameron Green – ₹25.20 Crore

The 2026 IPL auction created another major record when Kolkata Knight Riders bought Cameron Green for ₹25.20 crore.

Green became the most expensive overseas player ever purchased at an IPL auction, moving above Mitchell Starc’s ₹24.75 crore deal from 2024.

KKR needed a powerful overseas all-rounder, and Green offered top-order batting, pace bowling and fielding.

He was easily the biggest purchase of the 2026 auction. Matheesha Pathirana, also bought by KKR, was second at ₹18 crore.

Mitchell Starc – ₹24.75 Crore

Mitchell Starc completely changed the IPL auction record in 2024.

Kolkata Knight Riders paid ₹24.75 crore for the Australian left-arm fast bowler, making him the most expensive player in league history at that point.

Only a short time earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad had bought Pat Cummins for ₹20.50 crore and established a new auction record. Starc then exceeded it by more than ₹4 crore.

The investment eventually became particularly significant because Starc produced major performances during KKR’s title-winning campaign, including strong spells in the playoff stage.

His record stood until the 2025 mega auction, when both Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant moved past him.

Pat Cummins – ₹20.50 Crore

Pat Cummins became the first player in IPL auction history to cross ₹20 crore when Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for ₹20.50 crore ahead of IPL 2024.

Cummins had previously been an expensive IPL purchase as well. Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for ₹15.50 crore in the 2020 auction.

The 2024 deal reflected his value as a fast bowler, lower-order hitter and leader.

Sunrisers named Cummins captain, and he led them to the IPL final in his first season with the franchise.

Although Starc overtook his price during the same auction, Cummins’ ₹20.50 crore bid represented a major change in the IPL market.

Sam Curran – ₹18.50 Crore

Sam Curran became the most expensive player in IPL auction history when Punjab Kings bought him for ₹18.50 crore ahead of the 2023 season.

At the time, Curran surpassed Chris Morris, who had held the record at ₹16.25 crore.

Curran’s price rose because of his all-round value. He could bowl in the powerplay and at the death while also providing aggressive left-handed batting in the lower middle order.

His stock was especially high after an outstanding 2022 T20 World Cup, where he was named Player of the Tournament as England won the title.

His record survived for only one season before Cummins and Starc pushed IPL auction prices beyond ₹20 crore in 2024.

Ishan Kishan – ₹15.25 Crore

Ishan Kishan was the most expensive player at the 2022 IPL mega auction.

Mumbai Indians bought the wicketkeeper-batter for ₹15.25 crore after several teams competed for him.

The price made Kishan the second-most expensive Indian auction purchase at the time, behind Yuvraj Singh’s ₹16 crore deal from 2015.

Mumbai’s interest was easy to understand. Kishan was an Indian wicketkeeper who could open the batting, attack during the powerplay and remain with the franchise for several seasons.

The 2022 mega auction also saw Deepak Chahar go to Chennai Super Kings for ₹14 crore, but Kishan remained the biggest purchase of the event.

Recent IPL Mega Auction Highlights

The 2025 mega auction was one of the most expensive player auctions in IPL history.

A total of 182 players were sold, including 62 overseas players, and franchises spent more than ₹639 crore.

The largest purchases were:

The top three purchases alone cost ₹77.50 crore.

Indian players were particularly valuable because franchises could use them without occupying one of the four overseas positions in the playing XI.

Venkatesh Iyer’s ₹23.75 crore price was one of the biggest surprises. KKR spent heavily to bring back the all-rounder after releasing him before the auction.

IPL 2026 Auction Highlights

The auction for IPL 2026 was smaller than the previous mega auction, but it still produced several remarkable bids.

KKR spent ₹25.20 crore on Cameron Green and another ₹18 crore on Matheesha Pathirana.

Chennai Super Kings then created history in the uncapped category by buying Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for ₹14.20 crore each.

Other significant purchases included Liam Livingstone for ₹13 crore, Mustafizur Rahman for ₹9.20 crore and Josh Inglis for ₹8.60 crore.

Most Expensive Uncapped Players in IPL Auction History

The uncapped-player record changed dramatically in the 2026 auction.

Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma jointly hold the record after Chennai Super Kings paid ₹14.20 crore for each player at the auction for IPL 2026.

Before that auction, Avesh Khan’s ₹10 crore move to Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 had been the uncapped record.

The previous mega auction in 2025 had a much lower top uncapped price. Rasikh Dar was bought by RCB for ₹6 crore, while Naman Dhir fetched ₹5.25 crore from Mumbai Indians.

Most Expensive Buy in Each IPL Auction

Early IPL auctions were conducted largely in US dollars, so INR values for the first few seasons can vary between historical lists depending on the exchange rate used for conversion. The later rupee-denominated auctions are easier to compare directly.

How IPL Auction Prices Have Increased

The increase in auction prices is striking.

MS Dhoni was the biggest purchase of the inaugural auction at $1.5 million. By 2015, Yuvraj Singh had reached ₹16 crore.

Chris Morris set a ₹16.25 crore record in 2021, Sam Curran raised it to ₹18.50 crore in 2023, and Starc pushed the figure to ₹24.75 crore in 2024.

Only one year later, Pant reached ₹27 crore.

The increase reflects larger team purses, higher league revenues and growing competition for elite Indian players and specialist overseas talent.

Why Indian Players Often Attract Huge Bids

Squad rules make established Indian players especially valuable.

An IPL team can field only four overseas players in its XI, so a high-quality Indian batter, bowler, wicketkeeper or all-rounder provides greater flexibility.

That helps explain enormous bids for Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ishan Kishan.

Leadership creates another premium. Pant and Shreyas were both captaincy options, while wicketkeeping increased Pant’s value further.

For overseas players, fast bowling and all-round ability have often attracted the biggest bids. Starc, Cummins, Curran, Green and Morris all offered skills that are difficult to replace.

Big Auction Price Does Not Guarantee Success

An IPL auction price measures demand at a particular moment rather than guaranteeing performance.

Team requirements, available purse, player scarcity and bidding competition can push a price far above what might have been expected before the auction.

Some record purchases have delivered immediately. Others have struggled with form, injuries or team balance.

That uncertainty is one reason the IPL auction remains so closely followed. A franchise is not simply buying previous statistics; it is predicting how much impact a player can provide in the coming season.

Conclusion

Rishabh Pant remains the most expensive player in IPL auction history after Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore in the 2025 mega auction. Shreyas Iyer is second at ₹26.75 crore, while Cameron Green moved into third place after KKR paid ₹25.20 crore for him ahead of IPL 2026.

Mitchell Starc’s ₹24.75 crore move to KKR remains one of the biggest auction deals and was the record before the 2025 mega auction. Pat Cummins became the first ₹20 crore player in 2024, while Sam Curran, Chris Morris and Yuvraj Singh all held the auction record during earlier periods.

The uncapped market has also changed significantly. Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma jointly set a new record at ₹14.20 crore each in the auction for IPL 2026, passing Avesh Khan’s previous ₹10 crore mark.

From Dhoni’s landmark purchase in the inaugural season to Pant, Green and the latest uncapped stars, IPL auction history shows how rapidly franchise valuations and squad-building strategies have evolved.

FAQs

Who is the most expensive player in IPL auction history?

Rishabh Pant holds the record after Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore at the 2025 mega auction.

Who is the second-most expensive IPL auction player?

Shreyas Iyer is second after Punjab Kings paid ₹26.75 crore for him in the 2025 auction.

Who is the most expensive overseas player in IPL history?

Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas auction purchase when KKR bought him for ₹25.20 crore ahead of IPL 2026.

How much did Mitchell Starc cost in the IPL auction?

Kolkata Knight Riders bought Starc for ₹24.75 crore ahead of IPL 2024.

How much did Pat Cummins cost in the 2024 IPL auction?

Sunrisers Hyderabad paid ₹20.50 crore for Cummins.

How much did Sam Curran cost at the IPL auction?

Punjab Kings bought Sam Curran for ₹18.50 crore ahead of IPL 2023.

Was Sam Curran once the most expensive IPL player?

Yes. Curran’s ₹18.50 crore deal was the all-time auction record until Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc surpassed it in the 2024 auction.

How much did Mumbai Indians pay for Ishan Kishan in 2022?

Mumbai Indians bought Ishan Kishan for ₹15.25 crore, making him the most expensive player of the 2022 mega auction.

Who was the most expensive player at the 2025 IPL auction?

Rishabh Pant was the highest purchase at ₹27 crore.

Who was the most expensive player at the 2026 IPL auction?

Cameron Green was the biggest buy at ₹25.20 crore for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Who are the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history?

Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma jointly hold the record after Chennai Super Kings bought each for ₹14.20 crore ahead of IPL 2026.

Who held the uncapped auction record before 2026?

Avesh Khan held the record after Lucknow Super Giants paid ₹10 crore for him at the 2022 auction.

Who was the most expensive player in the first IPL auction?

MS Dhoni was the biggest purchase of the inaugural 2008 auction, joining Chennai Super Kings for $1.5 million.

Who was the most expensive IPL auction player in 2021?

Rajasthan Royals bought Chris Morris for ₹16.25 crore.

Which player was the highest IPL auction buy twice in consecutive years?

Yuvraj Singh topped the auction in both 2014 and 2015, while Ben Stokes was the biggest purchase in 2017 and 2018.

What is the difference between an IPL auction price and a retention price?

An auction price results from franchises bidding for a player under auction rules. A retention amount is agreed or assigned when a franchise keeps a player before the auction, so it should not be included when ranking auction purchases.