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Three players have made entry into the list of the most expensive players in IPL history after the teams revealed their retention lists on Thursday evening.
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5 most expensive players in IPL history. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
The IPL 2025 player retention announcement threw up some major surprises. The 10 teams were allowed to retain a maximum of six players from their IPL 2024 squad. A host of top players were retained by their existing sides for big bucks but some of them opted against retention and will now enter the mega auction, which is expected to take place in the last week of November 2024.
Of the many players retained by IPL teams, three were paid more than Rs 20 crore each. Heinrich Klaasen, Virat Kohli and Nicholas Pooran turned out to the three most expensive retained players.
A look at the top five most expensive players in IPL history
Mitchell Starc (KKR, Rs 24.75 crore)
Kolkata Knight Riders splashed Rs 24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 auction to acquire Australian pacer Starc. The left-arm pacer played 14 matches for the Shreyas Iyer-led side and dismissed 17 batters. While Starc failed to live up to expectations for the majority of the tournament, he played a big role in KKR’s title win by producing two Player of the Match performances in the Qualifier 1 and final match of IPL 2024 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Heinrich Klaasen (SRH, Rs 23 crore)
Sunrisers Hyderabad opted to retain South African wicketkeeper-batter Klaasen for a mighty Rs 23 crore. The 33-year-old right-handed batter joined the Orange Army for Rs 5.25 crore in IPL 2023 auctions. He has scored 448 and 479 runs in the last two seasons.
Virat Kohli (RCB, Rs 21 crore)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru have retained Kohli for Rs 21 crore which has made him the most expensive RCB and third most expensive player overall in IPL history. The 35-year-old right-handed batter has been associated with RCB since the first edition of the cash-rich league, and in 252 matches for the franchise, he has 8004 runs to his name. He has scored eight centuries and finished IPL 2024 as its leading run-getter.
Nicholas Pooran (LSG, Rs 21 crore)
West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Pooran became the third joint-most expensive player in IPL history after being retained for Rs 21 crore by the Lucknow Super Giants. Pooran joined LSG for Rs 16 crore in the IPL 2023 auction and hammered 358 and 499 runs for the franchise in the last two editions.
Pat Cummins (SRH, Rs 20.50 crore)
Australia’s Test and ODI captain Cummins was signed for Rs 20.50 crore by SRH in the IPL 2024 auction. The right-arm pacer was appointed as the team’s captain, and in 16 matches he scored 136 runs and dismissed 18 batters. Under Cummins’ leadership, SRH finished second on the points table and also qualified for the IPL 2024 final.