Most Expensive Players in IPL History – Highest-Paid Players of All Time

The IPL auction has changed dramatically since the tournament began in 2008. Early record deals were worth around ₹10–14 crore, but modern auctions have pushed player prices beyond ₹25 crore.

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

Mitchell Starc, Venkatesh Iyer, Pat Cummins and Sam Curran are also among the highest-paid auction purchases the IPL has seen.

Most Expensive Players in IPL History

The list shows how quickly IPL auction prices have increased. Five of the biggest deals in tournament history came during the 2024, 2025 and 2026 auction cycles.

1. Rishabh Pant – ₹27 Crore

Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history when Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore ahead of IPL 2025.

Pant entered the mega auction after ending his long association with Delhi Capitals.

Several franchises showed interest as soon as his name appeared.

Lucknow eventually secured him for ₹27 crore, breaking the IPL auction record only minutes after Shreyas Iyer had created a new one.

Pant brought wicketkeeping, middle-order batting and captaincy experience to LSG.

His deal remains the highest winning bid in IPL auction history through the 2026 season.

Rishabh Pant IPL Auction Price

Pant’s ₹27 crore deal was ₹25 lakh higher than the price Punjab Kings had paid for Shreyas Iyer earlier in the same auction.

2. Shreyas Iyer – ₹26.75 Crore

Punjab Kings bought Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore at the 2025 mega auction.

For a short period during that auction, Iyer was the most expensive player in IPL history.

Punjab and Delhi Capitals were involved in a strong bidding battle before PBKS completed the deal.

The price came after Iyer had captained Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL 2024 title.

He had also previously led Delhi Capitals to their first IPL final in 2020.

That captaincy record added significant value to his batting experience.

Shreyas Iyer IPL Price

His ₹26.75 crore price remains the second-highest auction deal in IPL history.

3. Cameron Green – ₹25.20 Crore

Cameron Green became the most expensive player at the IPL 2026 auction when Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for ₹25.20 crore.

The deal moved the Australian all-rounder into third place on the all-time IPL auction list.

Green had already been involved in another major IPL deal.

Mumbai Indians bought him for ₹17.50 crore ahead of the 2023 season.

Three years later, his ₹25.20 crore KKR contract increased his personal auction record by ₹7.70 crore.

Cameron Green IPL Auction Prices

Green is the only player to appear twice among the highest IPL auction purchases, with both deals above ₹17 crore.

4. Mitchell Starc – ₹24.75 Crore

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

At the time, it was the highest price ever paid for a player in an IPL auction.

KKR fought off competition from Gujarat Titans before completing the record deal.

Starc returned to the IPL after several years away from the tournament.

The Australian fast bowler later delivered his biggest performances during the playoffs.

He was Player of the Match in Qualifier 1 and again in the final as KKR won IPL 2024.

Mitchell Starc IPL Price

Starc held the IPL auction record for one season before Pant and Shreyas Iyer moved above him in the 2025 mega auction.

5. Venkatesh Iyer – ₹23.75 Crore

Kolkata Knight Riders paid ₹23.75 crore to bring Venkatesh Iyer back at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

His price was one of the biggest surprises of the auction.

KKR had released him before the auction but entered a long bidding contest to regain the left-handed batter.

Venkatesh had already played several important innings for the franchise, including major playoff performances.

He was also part of KKR’s IPL 2024 title-winning team.

Venkatesh Iyer IPL Price

The deal made him the third-most expensive purchase of the 2025 auction and one of the five biggest auction buys in league history.

6. Pat Cummins – ₹20.50 Crore

Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Pat Cummins for ₹20.50 crore ahead of IPL 2024.

The Australian fast bowler had recently led Australia to the 2023 ODI World Cup title.

SRH made him captain for IPL 2024.

The franchise responded with a much stronger season and reached the final.

Cummins therefore became one of the rare ₹20 crore-plus players to combine a major auction price with an immediate leadership role.

Pat Cummins IPL Auction Prices

Cummins has attracted major bids more than once.

His 2020 KKR deal had already made him one of the most expensive overseas players of that period.

7. Sam Curran – ₹18.50 Crore

Sam Curran became the most expensive IPL player at the time when Punjab Kings bought him for ₹18.50 crore ahead of IPL 2023.

The England all-rounder entered the auction after an outstanding 2022 T20 World Cup.

He had won the Player of the Tournament award and produced important performances during England’s title-winning campaign.

Punjab Kings had previously used Curran earlier in his IPL career and brought him back for a record fee.

Sam Curran IPL Price

Curran’s record lasted only one year before Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins moved beyond ₹20 crore in the 2024 auction.

8. Arshdeep Singh – ₹18 Crore

Punjab Kings used ₹18 crore to retain Arshdeep Singh through the auction process ahead of IPL 2025.

Arshdeep had developed into one of India’s leading left-arm fast bowlers.

His ability to bowl with the new ball and at the death made him one of the most wanted Indian pacers in the auction.

Punjab eventually secured him for ₹18 crore.

That made him one of the most expensive Indian bowlers in IPL history.

8. Yuzvendra Chahal – ₹18 Crore

Yuzvendra Chahal also joined Punjab Kings for ₹18 crore at the 2025 mega auction.

Chahal entered the auction as the highest wicket-taker in IPL history.

His long record of taking wickets in the middle overs made him one of the biggest bowling names available.

Punjab’s ₹18 crore bid put him level with Arshdeep Singh on the all-time auction list.

For a specialist spinner, it was one of the largest contracts the IPL had seen.

Ben Stokes – ₹16.25 Crore

Chennai Super Kings bought Ben Stokes for ₹16.25 crore ahead of IPL 2023.

Stokes was one of the biggest names available in that auction.

His record in international cricket and experience as a big-match all-rounder created strong demand.

CSK won the IPL title that season, although Stokes played only a limited number of matches because of fitness issues.

Chris Morris – ₹16.25 Crore

Chris Morris joined Rajasthan Royals for ₹16.25 crore in 2021.

At the time, he became the most expensive player ever bought at an IPL auction.

Rajasthan were looking for a fast-bowling all-rounder who could bowl at the death and provide power hitting lower down the order.

Morris held the auction record until the 2023 auction, when Sam Curran reached ₹18.50 crore.

Nicholas Pooran – ₹16 Crore

Lucknow Super Giants bought Nicholas Pooran for ₹16 crore ahead of IPL 2023.

The West Indies batter was already known as one of the strongest six-hitters in T20 cricket.

LSG used him mainly as a middle-order batter and finisher.

Pooran later became even more valuable to the franchise and received a significantly larger retention contract.

Yuvraj Singh – ₹16 Crore

Yuvraj Singh was bought by Delhi Daredevils for ₹16 crore in 2015.

The price made him the most expensive player at that auction.

Remarkably, Yuvraj had also been the biggest purchase the previous year when Royal Challengers Bangalore paid ₹14 crore for him.

For several seasons, his ₹16 crore figure remained one of the largest auction prices in IPL history.

Highest-Paid Retained Players in IPL

These figures should not be mixed directly with auction records because no open bidding took place.

Heinrich Klaasen – ₹23 Crore Retention

Sunrisers Hyderabad retained Heinrich Klaasen for ₹23 crore before IPL 2025.

That made him one of the highest-paid retained players in IPL history.

Klaasen had become one of SRH’s most important middle-order batters through his ability to attack both pace and spin.

His ₹23 crore retention is larger than the auction price paid for many players on the all-time list.

Virat Kohli – ₹21 Crore Retention

Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained Virat Kohli for ₹21 crore.

Kohli has been with RCB since the inaugural 2008 IPL season and is the highest run-scorer in tournament history.

His ₹21 crore contract places him among the league’s highest-paid players even though it is not an auction purchase.

Nicholas Pooran – ₹21 Crore Retention

Lucknow Super Giants retained Nicholas Pooran for ₹21 crore.

Only a few seasons earlier, the franchise had bought him for ₹16 crore.

The increase reflected his growing importance as a destructive middle-order batter.

Pooran became one of the most valuable overseas players in the LSG squad.

Most Expensive Indian Players in IPL History

Pant, Shreyas and Venkatesh all crossed ₹23 crore during the same mega-auction cycle.

Most Expensive Overseas Players in IPL History

Australian players hold three of the first five positions on the overseas list.

Most Expensive Player in IPL 2026 Auction

Cameron Green was the most expensive player at the IPL 2026 auction.

Kolkata Knight Riders paid ₹25.20 crore for the Australian all-rounder.

The deal was slightly higher than Mitchell Starc’s ₹24.75 crore KKR contract from 2024.

However, Green did not break the overall IPL auction record because Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 crore bid from 2025 remained higher.

Most Expensive Player in IPL 2025 Auction

Rishabh Pant topped the 2025 mega auction at ₹27 crore.

The leading buys were:

The auction completely changed the all-time highest-price list.

Most Expensive Player in IPL 2024 Auction

Mitchell Starc was the biggest purchase of the IPL 2024 auction at ₹24.75 crore.

Pat Cummins was second at ₹20.50 crore.

Both Australian fast bowlers broke Sam Curran’s previous ₹18.50 crore record during the same auction.

Starc eventually played a major role in KKR winning the championship, while Cummins captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to the final.

Most Expensive Player in IPL 2023 Auction

Sam Curran topped the 2023 auction at ₹18.50 crore.

Cameron Green followed at ₹17.50 crore, while Ben Stokes received ₹16.25 crore.

All three were all-rounders.

The auction showed the premium franchises were willing to pay for players who could contribute in more than one department.

Most Expensive Player in IPL 2022 Auction

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

Mumbai Indians paid ₹15.25 crore to bring the wicketkeeper-batter back.

At the time, it was one of the biggest deals ever given to an Indian player at an IPL auction.

Most Expensive Player in IPL 2021 Auction

Chris Morris topped the 2021 auction after Rajasthan Royals paid ₹16.25 crore.

The deal broke Yuvraj Singh’s long-standing ₹16 crore auction record.

Morris held the overall record for two seasons before Sam Curran moved above him.

Most Expensive Player in IPL 2020 Auction

Pat Cummins was the biggest purchase at the 2020 auction.

Kolkata Knight Riders paid ₹15.50 crore for the Australian fast bowler.

The deal made Cummins the most expensive overseas player in IPL history at that time.

Most Expensive IPL Players Year by Year

The record rose from ₹15.50 crore in 2020 to ₹27 crore by 2025.

How IPL Auction Record Changed Over the Years

For many years, a ₹10 crore price was considered enormous.

Yuvraj Singh changed the scale of the auction when RCB paid ₹14 crore for him in 2014 and Delhi increased that to ₹16 crore in 2015.

Chris Morris finally moved past ₹16 crore in 2021.

Sam Curran raised the record to ₹18.50 crore in 2023.

One year later, Mitchell Starc pushed it all the way to ₹24.75 crore.

The 2025 mega auction created two new records within a short period. Shreyas Iyer reached ₹26.75 crore before Rishabh Pant moved to ₹27 crore.

Pant’s figure remains the record through 2026.

KKR's Biggest IPL Auction Purchases

KKR therefore appear repeatedly near the top of the all-time list.

Punjab Kings' Biggest IPL Auction Purchases

Shreyas Iyer remains the franchise’s highest-priced auction signing.

Auction Price vs IPL Salary

An auction bid normally represents the player’s contract amount for that IPL season or contract cycle under league rules.

Retention values work differently because the player is kept by the franchise before entering the auction.

For example, Pant’s ₹27 crore is an auction record.

Kohli’s ₹21 crore is a retention salary.

Heinrich Klaasen’s ₹23 crore is also a retention figure.

That distinction is important when comparing the most expensive IPL players.

Who Is the Most Expensive Player in IPL History?

Rishabh Pant is the most expensive player ever bought at an IPL auction.

Lucknow Super Giants paid ₹27 crore for him ahead of IPL 2025.

Shreyas Iyer is second at ₹26.75 crore, followed by Cameron Green at ₹25.20 crore and Mitchell Starc at ₹24.75 crore.

Pant’s record survived the IPL 2026 auction, where Green came closest with his ₹25.20 crore KKR deal.

FAQs

Who is the most expensive player in IPL history?

Rishabh Pant is the most expensive player in IPL auction history at ₹27 crore.

Which team bought Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore?

Lucknow Super Giants bought Pant at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Who is the second-most expensive IPL player?

Shreyas Iyer is second at ₹26.75 crore, paid by Punjab Kings.

Who was the most expensive player in IPL 2026?

Cameron Green was the most expensive IPL 2026 auction purchase at ₹25.20 crore for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Who is the most expensive overseas player in IPL history?

Cameron Green holds the record among overseas auction purchases at ₹25.20 crore.

How much did KKR pay for Mitchell Starc?

KKR bought Mitchell Starc for ₹24.75 crore ahead of IPL 2024.

How much did KKR pay for Venkatesh Iyer?

Kolkata Knight Riders bought Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore at the 2025 mega auction.

How much did SRH pay for Pat Cummins?

Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Pat Cummins for ₹20.50 crore ahead of IPL 2024.

How much did Punjab Kings pay for Sam Curran?

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

What is Virat Kohli's IPL salary?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained Virat Kohli for ₹21 crore in the 2025 retention cycle.

Who is the highest-paid retained IPL player?

Heinrich Klaasen was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹23 crore ahead of IPL 2025.

Has any IPL player been sold for more than ₹30 crore?

No. The highest auction price through IPL 2026 remains Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 crore.