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IPL 2025 mega auction: Here’s a look at 10 most expensive players in history of IPL auction.
Left to right: Rishabh Pant, Mitchell Starc, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has created history on Sunday (November 24) by becoming the most expensive player in IPL history. On Day 1 of the IPL 2025 mega auction, which is taking place in Jeddah, the 27-year-old was signed for Rs 27 crore by Lucknow Super Giants. Apart from Pant, Shreyas Iyer also bagged deals worth more than Rs 26 crore.
Here’s a look at 10 most expensive players in IPL auction history:
Rishabh Pant (India): Rs 27 crore (LSG, 2025)
Rishabh Pant will play for the Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming 2025 season of the Indian Premier League after being signed for Rs 27 crore. Pant made his IPL debut in 2016, and in 111 matches played so far, the left-handed batter has 3284 runs to his name.
Shreyas Iyer (India): Rs 26.75 crore (PBKS, 2025)
Indian middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer will play for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. The Mohali-based franchise signed him for Rs 26.75 crore on Day 1 of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Iyer is the only captain in IPL history to play the final with two teams. He has played a total of 116 matches in the world’s richest franchise cricket league and has 3127 runs to his name.
Mitchell Starc (Australia): Rs 24.75 crore (KKR, 2024)
Star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc was signed for Rs 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 auction by Kolkata Knight Riders after an intense bidding war with Gujarat Titans. The left-arm fast bowler played 14 matches for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned team and picked up 17 wickets. He won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant bowling performances in the two knockout matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but despite that, he was not retained by the three-time IPL champion ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Pat Cummins (Australia): Rs 20.50 crore (SRH, 2024)
Australia’s Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins joined Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 20.50 crore in the IPL 2024 auction. RCB was also very interested in signing the 2023 ODI World Cup-winning team captain, but SRH went all out for him and finally managed to sign him. Cummins was appointed as SRH captain for IPL 2024, and he led the side to the final. He played in 16 matches for SRH in IPL 2024, and apart from picking up 18 wickets, he also scored 136 runs with the bat.
Sam Curran (England): Rs 18.50 crore (PBKS, 2023)
Punjab Kings signed England’s fast bowling all-rounder Sam Curran for Rs 18.50 crore. The English cricketer won the Player of the Tournament award in the 2022 T20 World Cup, and because of that he earned a big deal. During his two-year stint with the Preity Zinta-owned side, Curran played 27 matches and scored 546 runs (276+270). He impressed with his performance with the ball as well and got rid of 26 batters (10+16).
Arshdeep Singh (India): Rs 18 crore (PBKS, 2024)
PBKS used the RTM card to sign Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh for Rs 18 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction on Sunday. Arshdeep, who has 95 wickets to his name in 60 T20Is for India, has dismissed 76 batters in 65 IPL matches played so far for the Punjab Kings.
Cameron Green (Australia): Rs 17.50 crore (MI, 2023)
Mumbai Indians splashed out Rs 17.50 crore to sign Australian all-rounder Cameron Green in the IPL 2023 auction. Green played 16 matches for the Mumbai-based franchise in his first year at the IPL and scored 452 runs along with taking six wickets. He was traded by MI to RCB ahead of the IPL 2024 auction in an all-cash deal.
Ben Stokes (England): Rs 16.25 crore (CSK, 2023)
Chennai Super Kings signed England’s Test captain Ben Stokes for Rs 16.25 crore in the IPL 2023 auction, but the star all-rounder could only manage to play two matches in the 2023 edition of the cash-rich league for the Chennai-based franchise and failed to make any significant contribution.
Chris Morris (South Africa): Rs 16.25 crore (RR, 2021)
South Africa’s pace bowling all-rounder Chris Morris was signed for Rs 16.25 crore by inaugural edition winners Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2021 auction. But he turned out to be a big flop and finished the season with 15 wickets and 67 runs to his name in 11 matches.
Yuvraj Singh (India): Rs 16 crore (DC, 2015)
Yuvraj Singh became the most expensive Indian player in IPL auction history when he was signed for Rs 16 crore by Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2015 auction. The hero of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup wins, however, failed to make any significant contribution for the Delhi-based franchise and finished the season with 248 runs and 1 wicket in 14 matches.
Nicholas Pooran (West Indies): Rs 16 crore (LSG, 2023)
Lucknow Super Giants signed West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran for Rs 16 crore in the IPL 2023 auction, which was held in Cochin. The left-handed batter scored 358 runs in his first season for the Lucknow-based franchise and 499 in the second. He was retained for Rs 21 crore by LSG ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
