Like the IPL itself, the auction smashes records every year. In 2025, franchises made some massive bids, and now five players have entered the list of the all time most expensive players in IPL history. Who are they? Who have been the costliest buys over the years? You will find answers to all these questions here today.
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IPL Most Expensive Players
The franchises often see the most expensive players in IPL as game-changers. Teams spend crores on players because they believe their performance can decide the outcome of a match or even an entire season. A good example is MS Dhoni. In 2008, Chennai Super Kings spent a record ₹9.5 crore on him. Dhoni proved to be a true game-changer. Under his captaincy, CSK won 5 titles.
Another example is Gautam Gambhir, who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹14.9 crore in 2011. Gambhir turned things around for KKR, leading the team to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. In 2025, Iyer proved to be an asset for PBKS. He led the team to the finals after 11 years.
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Top 10 Most Expensive Player in IPL History
In the past 18 seasons of IPL, there have been many record breaking buys. One of them came during the IPL 2025 auction, where LSG paid a whopping 27 crore to seal the deal with star Indian wicket keeper batter Rishabh Pant. He is currently the most expensive player in the history of IPL.
At number two, we have Shreyas Iyer. It was during the same season of the Indian Premier League when PBKS bought Iyer for ₹26.75 crore. During the IPL 2024 auction, Mitchell Starc was the most expensive player. KKR bought him for ₹24.75 crore. Currently, Starc is number three on the overall list.
You can check the complete list of the top 10 most expensive players in the IPL below:
| Player | Price | Team | Edition |
| Rishabh Pant | ₹27.00 crore | Lucknow Super Giants | IPL 2025 |
| Shreyas Iyer | ₹26.75 crore | Punjab Kings | IPL 2025 |
| Mitchell Starc | ₹24.75 crore | Kolkata Knight Riders | IPL 2024 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | ₹23.75 crore | Kolkata Knight Riders | IPL 2025 |
| Pat Cummins | ₹20.50 crore | Sunrisers Hyderabad | IPL 2024 |
| Sam Curran | ₹18.50 crore | Punjab Kings | IPL 2023 |
| Arshdeep Singh | ₹18 crore | Punjab Kings | IPL 2025 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | ₹18 crore | Punjab Kings | IPL 2025 |
| Cameron Green | ₹17.50 crore | Mumbai Indians | IPL 2023 |
| Axar Patel | ₹16.50 crore | Delhi Capitals | IPL 2025 |
Most Expensive Player in IPL History
As of 2025, Rishabh Pant is the most expensive IPL player in history. Lucknow Super Giants bought him for a record ₹27 crore in IPL 2025. The bidding for Pant during the auction was intense. Franchises like the Punjab Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders pushed hard. Finally, LSG sealed the record deal.
The second most expensive player in IPL auction history is Shreyas Iyer. He went to the Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore in IPL 2025. Mitchell Starc, bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹24.75 crore in IPL 2024, is in third place.
Venkatesh Iyer holds the fourth spot. The Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for ₹23.75 crore in IPL 2025.
Pat Cummins is the fifth most expensive player in IPL history. In IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him up for ₹20.50 crore.
Most Expensive Indian Player in IPL History
Among the Indian cricket players, the IPL most expensive player in history is Rishabh Pant. Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore in IPL 2025. He is also the most costly player overall in IPL history. The second most expensive Indian player is Shreyas Iyer. The Punjab Kings bought him. The price was ₹26.75 crore. This also happened during the 2025 IPL auction. He is the second most expensive player overall.
On number three, we have Venkatesh Iyer. He was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025. The price was ₹23.75 crore. This makes him the fourth most expensive player in the IPL overall. In 2025, the Punjab Kings also bought the star left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh for ₹18 crore. They also bought Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore. Both currently hold the fourth position in the IPL history’s most expensive player list of Indian cricketers.
Most Expensive Overseas Player in the History of IPL
The most expensive overseas player in IPL history is Mitchell Starc. The Kolkata Knight Riders bought him. The price was ₹24.75 crore. This happened during the IPL 2024 auction. He is the third most expensive player overall. Another expensive overseas player is Pat Cummins. Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him for ₹20.50 crore in IPL 2024. He is the fifth most expensive overall.
In IPL 2023, Punjab Kings bought Sam Curran for ₹18.50 crore. He is the sixth most expensive player overall and fourth among overseas players. In the same year, MI bought Cameron Green for ₹17.50 crore. Ben Stokes is also in the list of the most expensive overseas players in the IPL. The Chennai Super Kings bought him for ₹16.25 crore in IPL 2023.
Most Expensive Retained Player in IPL History
Heinrich Klaasen of South Africa is the most expensive retained player in IPL history. Sunrisers Hyderabad retained him before the auction of the 2025 season. The team paid him ₹23 crore, the highest amount ever paid to retain a player in IPL.
The second most expensive player retention in IPL was by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In 2017, RCB retained Virat Kohli by paying him ₹17 crore.
Did You Know? During the 2022 IPL auction, Avesh Khan became the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history. LSG bought him for ₹10 crores.
The Most Expensive Player in IPL History 2025
During the 2025 mega auction, Rishab Pant became the most expensive player sold in IPL history. The Lucknow Super Giants signed him and paid ₹27 crore for him. Pant led the team in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League.
The second biggest buy was Shreyas Iyer. The Punjab Kings bought him. The team paid ₹26.75 crore. Another big buy was Venkatesh Iyer. The Kolkata Knight Riders signed him. The price was ₹23.75 crore. The Punjab Kings made the other two big buys in 2025. They bought Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal for ₹18 crore each.
Most Expensive Player in IPL history, 2025 to 2008
The biggest bid in IPL came in 2025. During this season, Lucknow Super Giants spent ₹27 crore. Next was in 2024. In the auction, Kolkata Knight Riders paid ₹24.75 crore. In 2023, Punjab Kings spent ₹18.50 crore. In 2021, Rajasthan Royals paid ₹16.25 crore; in 2015, Delhi Daredevils spent ₹16 crore.
In 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders signed Pat Cummins for ₹15.50 crore. In 2022, the Mumbai Indians bought Ishan Kishan for ₹15.25 crore. Royal Challengers Bangalore spent ₹14.90 crore in 2011 and ₹14.50 crore in 2017. Rajasthan Royals paid ₹12.50 crore in 2018, and Chennai Super Kings once spent ₹12.80 crore in 2012.
Here is the complete yearly breakdown of the most expensive player in IPL history (2025-2008)
| Year | Player | Team | Price |
| 2025 | Rishabh Pant | Lucknow Super Giants | 27 Crore |
| 2024 | Mitchell Starc | Kolkata Knight Riders | 24.75 Crore |
| 2023 | Sam Curran | Punjab Kings | 18.5 Crore |
| 2022 | Ishan Kishan | Mumbai Indians | 15.25 Crore |
| 2021 | Chris Morris | Rajasthan Royals | 16.25 Crore |
| 2020 | Pat Cummins | Kolkata Knight Riders | 15.5 Crore |
| 2019 | Varun Chakravarthy | Kings XI Punjab | 8.4 Crore |
| 2019 | Jaydev Unadkat | Rajasthan Royals | 8.4 Crore |
| 2018 | Ben Stokes | Rajasthan Royals | 12.5 Crore |
| 2017 | Ben Stokes | Rising Pune Supergiant | 14.5 Crore |
| 2016 | Shane Watson | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 9.5 Crore |
| 2015 | Yuvraj Singh | Delhi Daredevils | 16 Crore |
| 2014 | Yuvraj Singh | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 14 Crore |
| 2013 | Glenn Maxwell | Mumbai Indians | 6.3 Crore |
| 2012 | Ravindra Jadeja | Chennai Super Kings | 12.8 Crore |
| 2011 | Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | 14.9 Crore |
| 2010 | Kieron Pollard | Mumbai Indians | 4.8 Crore |
| 2010 | Shane Bond | Kolkata Knight Riders | 4.8 Crore |
| 2009 | Andrew Flintoff | Chennai Super Kings | 9.8 Crore |
| 2009 | Kevin Pietersen | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 9.8 Crore |
| 2008 | MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 9.5 Crore |
Most Expensive Player in IPL History List Summary
Players who are sold for huge money ahead of an IPL season are usually expected to perform exceptionally well. Sometimes, it does not go that way, and a big player may fail to deliver. However, most of the most expensive players have helped their teams perform well.
As the next IPL season gets closer, fans are already asking one big question: Who will be the most expensive player next year? The answer will only come at the auction. But you can join in the action today. Download the official Parimatch app and follow the long-term bets to the next season of IPL. Check odds, prediction options, and more.
FAQs
Who is the most expensive player in IPL history?
The most expensive player in IPL history is Rishabh Pant. Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore in IPL 2025.
Who was the most expensive player in IPL history?
Rishabh Pant is the most expensive player in IPL history. The Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore in IPL 2025.
Which is the most expensive player in IPL history?
Rishabh Pant is the most expensive player in IPL history. He joined Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 for ₹27 crore.
Which player is most expensive in IPL history?
As of 2025, the most expensive player in the IPL is Rishabh Pant.
Which is most expensive player in IPL history?
Rishabh Pant is the costliest player in the Indian Premier League. In the 18th season, Lucknow Super Giants signed him for ₹27 crore.
Which IPL team is most expensive?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) is currently the most expensive IPL team. According to Houlihan Lokey, its brand value was $269 million as of 2025.
Who is the 27 crore player in IPL?
The ₹27 crore player in the IPL is Rishabh Pant. He was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for this price in the IPL 2025 mega auctions.
Who is the most expensive player for Punjab Kings?
Shreyas Iyer is the most expensive player for Punjab Kings. He was bought for ₹26.75 crore in the IPL 2025 auction.
Who is the most expensive player for Delhi Capitals?
Axar Patel is the costliest player for Delhi Capitals. He was signed for ₹16.50 crore in the 2025 auction.
Who is the most expensive player for Royal Challengers Bengaluru?
Josh Hazlewood is RCB’s most expensive player. He was bought for ₹12.50 crore in the 2025 auction.
How much is the biggest bid for Yuvraj Singh in IPL auctions?
Yuvraj Singh’s biggest IPL bid was ₹16 crore. He was picked by Delhi Daredevils for this price in 2015.
How much is the biggest bid for Ben Stokes in IPL auctions?
The biggest bid for Ben Stokes in IPL auctions was ₹16.25 crore. CSK picked him up in 2023.
How much is the biggest bid for MS Dhoni in IPL auctions?
The biggest bid for MS Dhoni in IPL auctions was ₹9.5 crore. CSK picked him up in 2008.
How much is the biggest bid for Kevin Pietersen in IPL auctions?
The biggest bid for Kevin Pietersen in IPL auctions was 9.8 crore. RCB picked him up in 2009.