As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaches, teams are preparing to secure the best international talent. Over the years, the IPL auction has seen several foreign players become some of the most expensive signings in cricket history. Here’s a year-by-year look at the most expensive foreign players in the IPL auction, showcasing the trends and key players who have captured franchises’ attention.
| Player | Edition | Franchise | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Symonds | 2008 | Deccan Chargers | $1.35 million |
| Andrew Flintoff & Kevin Pietersen | 2009 | Chennai Super Kings & Royal Challengers Bangalore | $1.55 million |
| Shane Bond & Kieron Pollard | 2010 | Kolkata Knight Riders & Mumbai Indians | $750,000 |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 2011 | Kochi Tuskers Kerala | $1.4 million |
| Mahela Jayawardene | 2012 | Delhi Daredevils* | $2 million |
| Glenn Maxwell | 2013 | Mumbai Indians | $1 million |
| Kevin Pietersen | 2014 | Delhi Daredevils* | ₹9 crore |
| Angelo Mathews | 2015 | Delhi Daredevils* | ₹7.5 crore |
| Shane Watson | 2016 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹9.5 crore |
| Ben Stokes | 2017 | Rising Pune Supergiant | ₹14.5 crore |
| Ben Stokes | 2018 | Rajasthan Royals | ₹12.5 crore |
| Sam Curran | 2019 | Kings XI Punjab^ | ₹7.2 crore |
| Pat Cummins | 2020 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹15.5 crore |
| Chris Morris | 2021 | Rajasthan Royals | ₹16.25 crore |
| Liam Livingstone | 2022 | Punjab Kings | ₹11.5 crore |
| Sam Curran | 2023 | Punjab Kings | ₹18.5 crore |
| Mitchell Starc | 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹24.75 crore |
Most expensive players over the years
Mitchell Starc (2024)
Mitchell Starc became the most expensive player in IPL history during the 2024 mega auction when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured him for ₹24.75 crore. Starc’s lethal bowling and impactful performances in the playoffs helped KKR lift their third IPL trophy.
Sam Curran (2023)
Sam Curran was the costliest player in 2023, bought by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for ₹18.5 crore. While Curran performed decently with the bat, scoring 276 runs at a strike rate of 135.96, his bowling disappointed, as he managed only 10 wickets in 14 matches.
Ben Stokes (2017, 2018)
Ben Stokes commanded record-breaking prices for two consecutive years. His all-around capabilities made him a franchise favorite, with Rising Pune Supergiant paying ₹14.5 crore in 2017 and Rajasthan Royals securing him for ₹12.5 crore in 2018.
Pat Cummins (2020)
KKR purchased Pat Cummins for ₹15.5 crore in 2020. While his bowling contributed 45 wickets across six seasons, Cummins’ explosive batting, including a 152.21 strike rate and the third-fastest IPL fifty, proved to be a surprise package.
Andrew Flintoff (2009)
Andrew Flintoff, the most expensive buy in 2009 for Chennai Super Kings, struggled to live up to expectations. He played just three matches, scoring 62 runs and taking two wickets.
Glenn Maxwell (2013)
Mumbai Indians invested $1 million in Glenn Maxwell in 2013. Though his tally of 83 runs seemed underwhelming, his strike rate of 172.91 showcased his ability to deliver quick runs.