Who are the most expensive IPL auction players of All-Time?

It is that time of the year again—Yep, you guessed it—The IPL Auction!

With the IPL 2024 Auction here, we bring to you the most expensive IPL auction players of all-time with a twist. Along with the auction prices, we also consider the dollar to rupee conversion at every IPL auction.

Key Takeaways – Most Expensive IPL Auction Players

• Yuvraj Singh – 2015 ($2.56 Million), Gautam Gambhir – 2011 ($2.4 Million), Chris Morris – 2021 ($2.24 Million), Yuvraj Singh – 2014 ($2.24 Million), and Sam Curran – 2023 ($2.23 Million) are the most expensive IPL auction players of all-time.
• In 2008, $1 = 39.25 INR. In 2023, $1 = 82.81 INR.
• The Top 36 IPL auction buys ranged from $1.5 million (MS Dhoni, Mahela Jayawardene) to $2.56 Million (Yuvraj Singh). In Indian Rupees, the player salaries ranged from 5.88 Crore (MS Dhoni) to 18.5 Crore (Sam Curran).
• Yuvraj Singh & Ben Stokes (3 times each) as well as Glenn Maxwell & Dinesh Karthik (twice each) feature on this list multiple times.
• India (18), England (9), Australia (5), West Indies (1), New Zealand (1), South Africa (1), and Sri Lanka (1) make up the most expensive IPL players of all-time ($1.5 million or above).
• The franchises that have spent the most money regularly in IPL auctions are: RCB (7), CSK, KKR, PBKS/KXIP (5), MI, DD (3), RR, SRH (2), and LSG, KTK, PWI, RPS (1).

Table of Contents

• Who are the Most Expensive IPL Auction Players?
• Most Expensive IPL Players from Each Season (2008-2023)
• USD to INR Conversion Rates (2008-2023)
• Top 25 List of the Most Expensive IPL Auction Buys
• Final Thoughts
• Frequently Asked Questions

By the Numbers: Who are the Most Expensive IPL Auction Players?

Player	IPL Auction Price US$ (INR)	Team (Year)
Yuvraj Singh	$2.56 Million (16 Crore)	DD (2015)
Gautam Gambhir	$2.4 Million (10.88 Crore)	KKR (2011)
Chris Morris	$2.24 Million (16.25 Crore)	RR (2021)
Yuvraj Singh	$2.24 Million (14 Crore)	RCB (2014)
Sam Curran	$2.23 Million (18.5 Crore)	PBKS (2023)
Pat Cummins	$2.18 Million (15.5 Crore)	KKR (2020)
Ben Stokes	$2.17 Million (14.5 Crore)	RPS (2017)
Cameron Green	$2.1 Million (17.5 Crore)	MI (2023)
Yusuf Pathan	$2.1 Million (9.5 Crore)	KKR (2011)
Robin Uthappa	$2.1 Million (9.5 Crore)	KKR (2011)
Kyle Jamieson	$2.07 Million (15 Crore)	RCB (2021)
Ishan Kishan	$2.02 Million (15.25 Crore)	MI (2022)
Dinesh Karthik	$2 Million (12.5 Crore)	DD (2014)
Ravindra Jadeja	$2 Million (9.72 Crore)	CSK (2012)
Rohit Sharma	$2 Million (9.07 Crore)	MI (2011)
Ben Stokes	$1.97 Million (12.5 Crore)	RR (2018)
Ben Stokes	$1.96 Million (16.25 Crore)	CSK (2017)
Glenn Maxwell	$1.96 Million (14.25 Crore)	RCB (2021)
Nicholas Pooran	$1.93 Million (16 Crore)	LSG (2023)
Jhye Richardson	$1.93 Million (14 Crore)	PBKS (2021)
Irfan Pathan	$1.9 Million (8.62 Crore)	DD (2011)
Deepak Chahar	$1.85 Million (14 Crore)	CSK (2022)
Yuvraj Singh	$1.8 Million (8.16 Crore)	PWI (2011)
Tymal Mills	$1.79 Million (12 Crore)	RCB (2017)
Manish Pandey	$1.73 Million (11 Crore)	SRH (2018)
KL Rahul	$1.73 Million (11 Crore)	PBKS (2018)
Dinesh Karthik	$1.69 Million (10.5 Crore)	RCB (2015)
Shreyas Iyer	$1.62 Million (12.25 Crore)	KKR (2022)
Harry Brook	$1.6 Million (13.25 Crore)	SRH (2023)
Saurabh Tiwary	$1.6 Million (7.26 Crore)	RCB (2011)
Kevin Pietersen	$1.55 Million (7.54 Crore)	RCB (2009)
Andrew Flintoff	$1.55 Million (7.54 Crore)	CSK (2009)
Liam Livingstone	$1.52 Million (11.5 Crore)	PBKS (2022)
Glenn Maxwell	$1.51 Million (10.75 Crore)	KXIP (2020)
MS Dhoni	$1.5 Million (5.88 Crore)	CSK (2008)
Mahela Jayawardene	$1.5 Million (6.8 Crore)	KTK (2011)

Most Expensive IPL Players from Each Season (2008-2023)

IPL Auction (2008-2013)

Between 2008-2013, the IPL Auction happened in US dollars. The most expensive players in each of those early auction years were as follows:

• IPL 2008: MS Dhoni ($1.5 Million), Andrew Symonds ($1.35 Million), Sanath Jayasuriya ($975,000)
• IPL 2009: Kevin Pietersen ($1.55 Million), Andrew Flintoff ($1.55 Million), JP Duminy ($950,000)
• IPL 2010: Shane Bond ($750,000), Kieron Pollard ($750,000), Wayne Parnell ($610,000)
• IPL 2011: Gautam Gambhir ($2.4 Million), Yusuf Pathan ($2.1 Million), Robin Uthappa ($2.1 Million), Rohit Sharma ($2 Million), Irfan Pathan ($1.9 Million), Yuvraj Singh ($1.8 Million), Saurabh Tiwary ($1.6 Million), Mahela Jayawardene ($1.5 Million), David Hussey ($1.4 Million), Dale Steyn ($1.2 Million), Muttiah Muralitharan, Cameron White, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers ($1.1 Million), Ross Taylor ($1 Million)
• IPL 2012: Ravindra Jadeja ($2 Million), Mahela Jayawardene ($1.4 Million), Vinay Kumar ($1 Million)
• IPL 2013: Glenn Maxwell ($1 Million), Ajantha Mendis ($725,000), Kane Richardson ($700,000)

IPL Auction (2014-2023)

After 2013, the IPL Auction happened in Indian Rupee (INR). The most expensive players in this phase of the IPL auction was as follows:

• IPL 2014: Yuvraj Singh (14 Crore INR), Dinesh Karthik (12.5 Crore INR), Kevin Pietersen (9 Crore INR)
• IPL 2015: Yuvraj Singh (16 Crore INR), Dinesh Karthik (10.5 Crore INR), Angelo Mathews (7.5 Crore INR)
• IPL 2016: Shane Watson (9.5 Crore INR), Yuvraj Singh (7 Crore INR), Chris Morris (7 Crore INR)
• IPL 2017: Ben Stokes (14.5 Crore INR), Tymal Mills (12 Crore INR), Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult (5 Crore INR)
• IPL 2018: Ben Stokes (12.5 Crore INR), Manish Pandey (11 Crore INR), KL Rahul (11 Crore INR)
• IPL 2019: Jaydev Unadkat (8.4 Crore INR), Varun Chakravarthy (8.4 Crore INR), Sam Curran (7.2 Crore INR)
• IPL 2020: Pat Cummins (15.5 Crore INR), Glenn Maxwell (10.75 Crore INR), Chris Morris (10 Crore INR)
• IPL 2021: Chris Morris (16.25 Crore INR), Kyle Jamieson (15 Crore INR), Glenn Maxwell (14.25 Crore INR), Jhye Richardson (14 Crore INR)
• IPL 2022: Ishan Kishan (15.25 Crore INR), Deepak Chahar (14 Crore INR), Shreyas Iyer (12.25 Crore INR), Liam Livingstone (11.5 Crore INR), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Nicholas Pooran, Shardul Thakur (10.75 Crore INR), Prasidh Krishna, Lockie Ferguson, Avesh Khan (10 Crore INR)
• IPL 2023: Sam Curran (18.5 Crore INR), Cameron Green (17.5 Crore INR), Ben Stokes (16.25 Crore INR), Nicholas Pooran (16 Crore INR), Harry Brook (13.25 Crore INR)

USD to INR Conversion Rates (2008-2023)

It is important to consider the US$ to INR conversion year at the start of each year from 2008 to 2023.

We do this for two reasons: (1) The Indian economy has vastly changed in the last 15 years and the Rupee has taken a nosedive and (2) to compare IPL auction price across the different years.

Take for example, Ben Stokes.

• In IPL 2017, he was sold for 14.5 Crore INR, when $1 = 66.91 INR.
• A year later, his price was 12.5 Crore INR, when $1 = 63.6 INR.
• Finally, in IPL 2023, Stokes was sold for 16.25 Crore INR, when $1 = 82.81 INR.

On the face of it, the 16.25 Crore INR looks like the ‘most expensive’ price Stokes was bought at. However, IPL 2017 was actually the better deal for Stokes.

IPL Auction Year	1 US$ to INR Conversion (IPL Auction Date)
2008	39.25 INR (01/24/2008)
2009	48.63 INR (02/06/2009)
2010	45.76 INR (01/19/2010)
2011	45.35 INR (01/08/2011)
2012	48.60 INR (02/04/2012)
2013	53.16 INR (02/03/2013)
2014	62.43 INR (02/13/2014)
2015	62.11 INR (02/16/2015)
2016	67.80 INR (02/06/2016)
2017	66.91 INR (02/20/2017)
2018	63.60 INR (01/27/2018)
2019	70.62 INR (12/18/2018)
2020	71.18 INR (12/19/2019)
2021	72.59 INR (02/18/2021)
2022	75.65 INR (02/12/2022)
2023	82.81 INR (12/23/2022)

Top 20 Most Expensive IPL Auction Buys of All-Time

Some of these players were let go of their franchises frequently and fetched a high-price on multiple occasions. Also, this list does not include retentions, transfers, drafts, and any undisclosed fees. These are the most expensive IPL auction players as per the IPL auction only.

*Note: The Base Price is shown as the amount used during the auction. Hence, for IPL 2008-2013, it will be in US $, while it will be displayed as INR for IPL 2014 and later.

1. Yuvraj Singh – $2.56 Million (16 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2015
• IPL Team: Delhi Daredevils (DD)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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2. Gautam Gambhir – $2.4 Million (10.88 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2011
• IPL Team: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
• Country: India
• Base Price: $200,000

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3. Chris Morris – $2.24 Million (16.25 Crore INR)

• Season: Rajasthan Royals (RR)
• IPL Team: IPL 2021
• Country: South Africa
• Base Price: 75 Lakhs INR

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4. Yuvraj Singh – $2.24 Million (14 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2014
• IPL Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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5. Sam Curran – $2.23 Million (18.50 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2023
• IPL Team: Punjab Kings (PBKS)
• Country: England
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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6. Pat Cummins – $2.18 Million (15.5 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2020
• IPL Team: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
• Country: Australia
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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7. Ben Stokes – $2.17 Million (14.5 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2017
• IPL Team: Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS)
• Country: England
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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8. Cameron Green – $2.1 Million (17.50 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2023
• IPL Team: Mumbai Indians (MI)
• Country: Australia
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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9. Yusuf Pathan – $2.1 Million (9.50 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2011
• IPL Team: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
• Country: India
• Base Price: $300,000

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10. Robin Uthappa – $2.1 Million (9.50 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2011
• IPL Team: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
• Country: India
• Base Price: $200,000

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11. Kyle Jamieson – $2.07 Million (15 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2021
• IPL Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
• Country: New Zealand
• Base Price: 75 Lakhs INR

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12. Ishan Kishan – $2.02 Million (15.25 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2022
• IPL Team: Mumbai Indians (MI)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 1.5 Crore INR

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13. Dinesh Karthik – $2 Million (12.5 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2014
• IPL Team: Delhi Daredevils (DD)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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14. Ravindra Jadeja – $2 Million (9.07 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2012
• IPL Team: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
• Country: India
• Base Price: $100,000

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15. Rohit Sharma – $2 Million (9.07 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2011
• IPL Team: Mumbai Indians (MI)
• Country: India
• Base Price: $200,000

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16. Ben Stokes – $1.97 Million (12.5 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2018
• IPL Team: Rajasthan Royals (RR)
• Country: England
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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17. Ben Stokes – $1.96 Million (16.25 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2023
• IPL Team: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
• Country: England
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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18. Glenn Maxwell – $1.96 Million (14.25 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2021
• IPL Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
• Country: Australia
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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19. Nicholas Pooran – $1.93 Million (16 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2023
• IPL Team: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
• Country/Team: West Indies
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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20. Jhye Richardson – $1.93 Million (14 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2021
• IPL Team: Punjab Kings (PBKS)
• Country: Australia
• Base Price: 1.5 Crore INR

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21. Irfan Pathan – $1.9 Million (8.62 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2011
• IPL Team: Delhi Daredevils
• Country: India
• Base Price: $200,000

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22. Deepak Chahar – $1.85 Million (14 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2022
• IPL Team: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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23. Yuvraj Singh – $1.8 Million (8.16 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2011
• IPL Team: Pune Warriors India (PWI)
• Country: India
• Base Price: $400,000

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24. Tymal Mills – $1.79 Million (12 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2017
• IPL Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
• Country: England
• Base Price: 50 Lakhs INR

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25. Manish Pandey – $1.73 Million (11 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2018
• IPL Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 1 Crore INR

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26. KL Rahul – $1.73 Million (11 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2018
• IPL Team: Punjab Kings (PBKS)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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27. Dinesh Karthik – $1.69 Million (10.5 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2015
• IPL Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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28. Shreyas Iyer – $1.62 Million (12.25 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2022
• IPL Team: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
• Country: India
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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29. Harry Brook – $1.6 Million (13.25 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2023
• IPL Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
• Country: England
• Base Price: 1.5 Crore INR

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30. Saurabh Tiwary – $1.6 Million (7.26 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2011
• IPL Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
• Country: India
• Base Price: $100,000

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31. Kevin Pietersen – $1.55 Million (7.54 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2009
• IPL Team: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
• Country: England
• Base Price: $1.35 Million

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32. Andrew Flintoff – $1.55 Million (7.54 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2009
• IPL Team: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
• Country: England
• Base Price: $950,000

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33. Liam Livingstone – $1.52 Million (11.5 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2022
• IPL Team: Punjab Kings (PBKS)
• Country: England
• Base Price: 1 Crore INR

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34. Glenn Maxwell – $1.51 Million (10.75 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2020
• IPL Team: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)
• Country: Australia
• Base Price: 2 Crore INR

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35. MS Dhoni – $1.5 Million (5.88 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2008
• IPL Team: Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
• Country: India
• Base Price: $400,000

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36. Mahela Jayawardene – $1.5 Million (6.8 Crore INR)

• Season: IPL 2011
• IPL Team: Kochi Tuskers Kerela (KTK)
• Country: Sri Lanka
• Base Price: $400,000

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Final Thoughts

The Indian Premier League is known for its extravagant spending. The IPL auction has now become a yearly phenomenon on its own.

The top 36 most expensive IPL buys of all time includes some of the most iconic players in the world, such as Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, and Sam Curran.

The money spent on these players shows that there is always going to be a high demand for talent in the IPL, and that it will continue to be one of the most exciting sporting events.

How high do you think IPL salaries can go? Will they match the NBA or NFL?

Source: Conversion Rate – Historical Data, Exchange Rates Data

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Most Expensive IPL Auction Players

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