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While overseas players have made headlines in the IPL mini-auction, five out of the top six most expensive players in IPL mega-auction history are Indians.
5 most expensive players at IPL mega auctions. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
As many as 574 players will go under the hammer during the IPL 2025 mega auction, which is scheduled to take place in Jeddah on November 24 and 25. After retaining a few players from their 2024 squad, all 10 IPL teams would like to sign star players in the two-day event to boost their chances of winning the cash-rich league title next year. Indian wicketkeepers Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, and KL Rahul, along with IPL 2024 winning captain Shreyas Iyer and star pacers Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh, are some of the big names that will be up for grabs.
In the IPL auction last year, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc was signed for Rs 24.75 crore by KKR, whereas Pat Cummins joined SRH for Rs 20.50 crore, which made them the highest paid players in IPL history. But there are high chances that their record will break this time as many big players are grabs and quite a few teams are entering the auction with big purses.
Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians, Rs 15.25 crore in 2022)
Ishan Kishan holds the record for being the most expensive player ever bought at IPL mega auctions. Five-time champion Mumbai Indians splashed out Rs 15.25 crore in the 2022 mega auction to sign him. MI was involved in an intense bidding war first with the Gujarat Titans and then with SRH, but they finally managed to secure Kishan’s services, who played a big role in the team’s title win in 2020.
Yuvraj Singh (Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rs 14 crore in 2014)
RCB signed Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh for Rs 14 crore in the IPL 2014 mega auction. The hero of India’s title wins in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup played 14 matches for the franchise and scored 376 runs apart from taking five wickets. He was released by RCB ahead of the IPL 2015 auction, and he then joined the Delhi Capitals for Rs 16 crore.
Deepak Chahar (Chennai Super Kings, Rs 14 crore in 2022)
Chennai Super Kings signed medium pacer Deepak Chahar for Rs 14 crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction after getting involved in a bidding war with RR and Delhi Capitals. But due to injury, Chahar got ruled out of the entire 2022 season and was only able to make limited appearances for the franchise in the next two years.
Dinesh Karthik (Delhi Capitals, Rs 12.50 crore in 2014)
Delhi Capitals signed Dinesh Karthik for Rs 12.50 crore in the IPL 2014 mega auction after his impressive performance for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2013. But the Indian wicketkeeper-batter failed to justify the price tag and finished the season with 325 runs in 14 matches. He was released by the franchise after just one season.
Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals, Rs 12.50 crore in 2018)
Star English all-rounder Ben Stokes holds the record for being the most expensive overseas player at the IPL mega auction. He was signed for Rs 12.50 crore by inaugural edition winners Rajasthan Royals in 2018. Stokes stocks rise after he impressed with his performance for Rising Pune Super Giant in IPL 2017 and played a big role in the team’s run to the final after a disappointing second-last finish in the maiden season.
