Top 5 most expensive players in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL)

With the IPL gearing up for yet another season, the preparation for the tournament is in full swing.

It goes without a question that the Indian Premier League’s auctions are as competitive and intense as the tournament itself. The team bidder racking their brain, trying their very best to bag the best and most in-form player of the season for their team to increase their chances of winning the trophy is sure fun to watch. 

With that being said, let’s look back at the five most expensive players in the history of India Premier League’s auctions. 

5. Kyle Jamieson – 15 Crore. (2021)

   

Securing the fifth spot on the list is the 27 years old cricketer from New Zealand, Kyle Jamieson. At the 2021 IPL auctions, the then 26 years old player was bagged by the Royal Challengers Bangalore at a whopping cost of 15 crores, much higher than his base price of 75 lakhs, thereby making him the season’s most expensive player of the season.  

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, the right-arm fast-medium bowler made his international debut in February 2020 with the New Zealand cricket team against India. 

4. Ishan Kishan – 15.25 Crore. (2022)

   

Making it to the list this year after the 2022 IPL auction is the young Indian player, Ishan Kishan. The Mumbai Indians were able to successfully secure Kishan after an intense bidding battle with the Sunrisers Hyderabad at an expense of 15.25 crores making him stay in the team for another season. The left-handed opening batsman and wicketkeeper with the base price of 40 lakhs was originally bought by Mumbai Indians in the 2018 IPL auction for a jaw-dropping 6.20 cr. 

Hailing from Patna, India, Ishan Pranav Kumar Pandey Kishan, is set to be the opening batsman alongside captain Rohit Sharma of Mumbai Indians for the 2022 IPL season. 

3. Pat Cummins – 15.50 Crore. (2020)

   

During the 2020 IPL elections, much to everyone’s surprise, Kolkata Knight Riders spent a whopping 15.5 Crores to secure the Australian cricketer, Pat Cummins. And well one can say it was money well spent after Cummins’s commendable performance with 12 wickets and lower-order batting. While the player had renewed for a second season in 2021 IPL, he, however, had to pull out after the UAE leg of the tournament owing to the approaching birth of his child was consequently not held by his establishment for IPL 2022.  

The recently named Australian captain was bought by KKR at 7.25 crore at the 2022 IPL auctions. 

2. Yuvraj Singh – 16 Crores. (2015)

Second, on the list is the exuberant all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. Just a year after Royal Challengers Bangalore had secured the player at a whopping price of 14 Crores, Delhi Daredevils raised the bars and roped in the left-hander at a jaw-dropping price of 16 Crores in the 2015 IPL auctions. However, the player did not manage to perform well that season and was dropped by the team in the subsequent season. Later, in 2016, Sunrisers Hyderabad availed its services at INR 7 crores.  

Known for his aggressive batting style and all-around ability, Yuvraj Singh, the former international cricketer who bowled slow left-arm orthodox and batted in the middle order, was born in Chandigarh on 12 December 1981.  

1. Chris Morris – 16.25 Crore

   

Rajasthan Royals took the 2021 IPL when they broke their bank to secure Chirs Morris at a record-breaking price of 16.25 Crore. The acquisition made Morris the most expensive player in IPL history taking the title away from Yuvraj Singh after 6 years, since his acquisition by the Delhi Daredevils in 2015 IPL auctions. The South African player was the subject of a wild bidding battle which saw his worth take off from a base cost of INR 75 lakh to an incredible 16.25 crore.  

Coming from Pretoria, South Africa, the 34 years old Christopher Henry Morris, is a former international South African cricketer who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on January 11, 2022. 

However, as of 2022, Chris Morris remains the most expensive acquisition in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). 

Published By: Manan Khurana

Edited By: Khushi Thakur