₹27 crore! That’s what Lucknow Super Giants paid for Rishabh Pant in 2025. It’s the highest price any cricket player has ever got in IPL auctions.
To put that in perspective – most people don’t earn ₹27 crore in their entire lifetime. LSG paid for one player for just 3-4 months of cricket!
But the interesting part is teams were ready to pay even more. The auction room went completely silent when Pant’s price hit ₹27 crore. Even experienced team owners couldn’t believe it.
And Pant isn’t alone. Nine other players have cost their teams ₹18+ crore. These are the deals that made headlines and shocked the cricket world.
Top 10 Most Expensive IPL Players of All Time
| Rank | Player | Price | Base Price | Previous Team | New Team | Year |
| 1 | Rishabh Pant | ₹27.00 cr | ₹2 cr | DC | LSG | 2025 |
| 2 | Shreyas Iyer | ₹26.75 cr | ₹2 cr | KKR | PBKS | 2025 |
| 3 | Cameron Green | ₹25.20 cr | ₹2 cr | MI | KKR | 2026 |
| 4 | Mitchell Starc | ₹24.75 cr | ₹2 cr | New | KKR | 2024 |
| 5 | Venkatesh Iyer | ₹23.75 cr | ₹2 cr | KKR | KKR | 2025 |
| 6 | Pat Cummins | ₹20.50 cr | ₹2 cr | KKR | SRH | 2024 |
| 7 | Sam Curran | ₹18.50 cr | ₹2 cr | CSK | PBKS | 2023 |
| 8 | Arshdeep Singh | ₹18.00 cr | ₹4 cr | PBKS | PBKS | 2025 |
| 9 | Yuzvendra Chahal | ₹18.00 cr | ₹2 cr | RR | PBKS | 2025 |
| 10 | Matheesha Pathirana | ₹18.00 cr | ₹1.5 cr | CSK | KKR | 2026 |
Why Some Players Cost ₹25+ Crore While Others Go Unsold
Match-winners get crazy money. Teams don’t just buy good players. They buy players who can win the IPL trophy.
Indian superstars cost more. You can only play 4 overseas players. So Indian match-winners become gold.
Captains are priceless. Leading an IPL team is like managing a ₹1000+ crore company. Good leaders get extra money.
Young stars beat old legends. Teams prefer 25-year-olds over 35-year-olds. More cricket years left.
1. Rishabh Pant Shocks Everyone at ₹27 Crore
- Team: Lucknow Super Giants
- Previous team: Delhi Capitals (released him)
- Base price: ₹2 crore → Final price: ₹27 crore
- Bidding war: LSG vs Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Auction moment: When LSG bid ₹27 crore, the entire hall went dead quiet
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Only Indian wicket-keeper who can score 100+ runs regularly
- Proven captain material (led Delhi to playoffs)
- Clutch performer who wins impossible matches
- Young enough to play 8+ more IPL seasons
The winning bid: Delhi desperately wanted him back. RCB kept raising their paddle. But LSG shocked everyone with ₹27 crore. Even Pant looked stunned.
What LSG gets: The complete package. Captain, wicket-keeper, match-winner, and crowd favorite all in one player.
2. Shreyas Iyer Costs Punjab ₹26.75 Crore
- Team: Punjab Kings
- Previous team: Kolkata Knight Riders (released him)
- Base price: ₹2 crore → Final price: ₹26.75 crore
- Bidding war: PBKS vs KKR vs SRH
- Auction moment: KKR thought they’d get him back cheap. Punjab had other plans.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Captain who led KKR to playoffs multiple times
- Averages 40+ runs in T20 cricket consistently
- Plays spin better than any Indian batsman
- Cool under pressure, never panics
The winning bid: KKR bid ₹25 crore thinking that would be enough. Punjab immediately jumped to ₹26.75 crore. KKR gave up.
What Punjab gets: Their dream captain finally. Someone who can handle pressure and make smart decisions.
3. Cameron Green Becomes Most Expensive Overseas Player at ₹25.20 Crore
- Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
- Previous team: Mumbai Indians (didn’t retain)
- Base price: ₹2 crore → Final price: ₹25.20 crore
- Bidding war: KKR vs MI vs CSK
- Auction moment: MI thought they had him at ₹20 crore. KKR’s final bid stunned everyone.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Can open batting, finish innings, or bat anywhere
- Bowls 140+ kmph with perfect line and length
- Best fielder in world cricket right now
- Only 26 years old with 10+ years left
The winning bid: MI were confident at ₹20 crore. Then KKR dropped the bomb – ₹25.20 crore. MI immediately backed out.
What KKR gets: A walking team balance. Bat him at 3, 4, 5, or 6. Bowl him 4 overs. Perfect player.
4. Mitchell Starc’s Left-Arm Magic Costs ₹24.75 Crore
- Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
- Previous team: None (returning to IPL after 9 years)
- Base price: ₹2 crore → Final price: ₹24.75 crore
- Bidding war: KKR vs RCB vs GT
- Auction moment: Teams knew Starc was special. Bidding war was intense from ₹10 crore itself.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Fastest left-arm bowler in world (150+ kmph regularly)
- Unplayable yorkers in death overs
- Takes wickets in powerplay when batsmen attack
- World Cup winner who performs under pressure
The winning bid: RCB and GT stopped at ₹20 crore. KKR went all the way to ₹24.75 crore without hesitation.
What KKR gets: The best death bowler money can buy. Someone who can defend 10 runs in the last over.
5. Venkatesh Iyer’s Surprise Price of ₹23.75 Crore
- Team: Kolkata Knight Riders (bought back)
- Previous team: KKR (released him)
- Base price: ₹2 crore → Final price: ₹23.75 crore
- Bidding war: KKR vs DC vs RR
- Auction moment: Nobody expected Venkatesh to cost this much. Biggest surprise of 2025 auction.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Explosive opener who can score 50+ in 6 overs
- Medium-pace bowling adds extra value
- KKR’s lucky charm (helped them win big matches before)
- Young Indian talent with improving skills
The winning bid: DC bid ₹18 crore thinking it was enough. KKR immediately jumped to ₹23.75 crore to end the bidding.
What KKR gets: Their favorite player back. Someone they know fits perfectly in their system.
6. Pat Cummins Brings Captain-Bowler Combo for ₹20.50 Crore
- Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Previous team: KKR (didn’t retain)
- Base price: ₹2 crore → Final price: ₹20.50 crore
- Bidding war: SRH vs PBKS vs MI
- Auction moment: Teams needed a captain-bowler. Cummins was perfect fit.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- World’s number 1 Test bowler
- Australia’s captain (leadership proven)
- Takes wickets every single match
- Brings out best in teammates
The winning bid: PBKS bid ₹18 crore. SRH immediately went to ₹20.50 crore. Others backed out.
What SRH gets: Captain who leads from front. Bowls 4 overs, takes 2+ wickets, wins matches.
7. Sam Curran’s All-Round Skills Cost ₹18.50 Crore
- Team: Punjab Kings
- Previous team: CSK (didn’t retain)
- Base price: ₹2 crore → Final price: ₹18.50 crore
- Bidding war: PBKS vs CSK vs LSG
- Auction moment: CSK wanted him back but Punjab offered too much.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Can open batting or finish innings
- Swings ball both ways with new ball
- Death bowling specialist
- England star who performs in big matches
The winning bid: CSK bid ₹15 crore hoping to get him back. PBKS went straight to ₹18.50 crore.
What Punjab gets: Mr. Reliable. Someone who can bat anywhere, bowl anytime, and deliver under pressure.
8. Arshdeep Singh Stays Home for ₹18 Crore
- Team: Punjab Kings (retained)
- Previous team: PBKS (used Right to Match card)
- Base price: ₹4 crore → Final price: ₹18 crore
- Bidding war: RR vs RCB vs others (but PBKS matched final bid)
- Auction moment: Other teams bid high hoping Punjab wouldn’t match. They were wrong.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Best Indian death bowler currently
- Left-arm pace is rare in India
- Perfect yorkers that batsmen can’t hit
- Young with room to improve more
The winning bid: RR bid ₹18 crore thinking Punjab couldn’t afford it. Punjab immediately matched it.
What Punjab gets: Their homegrown star stays home. The death bowler they developed from nothing.
9. Yuzvendra Chahal Spins Gold at ₹18 Crore
- Team: Punjab Kings
- Previous team: Rajasthan Royals (didn’t retain)
- Base price: ₹2 crore → Final price: ₹18 crore
- Bidding war: PBKS vs KKR vs MI
- Auction moment: Teams needed a spinner who takes wickets. Chahal was obvious choice.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Most wickets by any spinner in IPL history
- Googly that still fools batsmen after 15 years
- Takes wickets in middle overs when batsmen attack
- Experienced match-winner
The winning bid: KKR bid ₹15 crore. Punjab immediately jumped to ₹18 crore to end the bidding.
What Punjab gets: Wicket-taking spinner for middle overs. Someone who can control the game.
10. Matheesha Pathirana’s Unique Action Costs ₹18 Crore
- Team: Kolkata Knight Riders
- Previous team: CSK (didn’t retain)
- Base price: ₹1.5 crore → Final price: ₹18 crore
- Bidding war: KKR vs CSK vs MI
- Auction moment: CSK wanted him back but KKR offered too much.
Why teams went crazy for him:
- Sling-arm action like Malinga confuses batsmen
- Unplayable yorkers from weird angle
- Young Sri Lankan with huge potential
- Death bowling specialist
The winning bid: CSK bid ₹12 crore hoping to keep him. KKR shocked them with ₹18 crore.
What KKR gets: A unique bowler who’s impossible to read. Perfect for tight finishes.
Auction Room Drama: What Really Happens
The atmosphere is electric. Team owners, coaches, and analysts sit tensely. Every bid could change their season.
Quick decisions matter. You have 30 seconds to decide whether to bid ₹5 crore more. No time to think.
Emotions run high. Teams celebrate big wins. They look devastated when rival teams get their target player.
Mind games everywhere. Some teams bid early to scare others. Some wait till the end to surprise everyone.
How Teams Decide Who’s Worth ₹25 Crore
- Step 1: Make a priority list. Teams identify 5-6 players they absolutely need.
- Step 2: Set maximum budgets. They decide beforehand how much they’ll pay for each player.
- Step 3: Watch team combinations. Getting the right balance matters more than getting one superstar.
- Step 4: Read the room. Smart teams sense when to bid and when to back out.
- Step 5: Trust their research. Months of analysis leads to split-second auction decisions.
Big Spenders vs Bargain Hunters: Who Wins More?
Big Spenders (Usually Win More):
Mumbai Indians approach:
- Buy 2-3 superstars for huge money
- Fill rest of team with smart, cheaper buys
- Result: 5 IPL titles
Chennai Super Kings method:
- Pay premium for proven match-winners
- Focus on experience over youth
- Result: 5 IPL titles
Smart Bargain Hunters (Mixed Results):
Rajasthan Royals strategy:
- Find unknown gems for cheap
- Develop young talent
- Result: 1 title, but often competitive
Gujarat Titans approach:
- Perfect balance of stars and role players
- Don’t overspend on anyone
- Result: 1 title in just 2 years
The truth: Both strategies work, but big spenders win more often.
Biggest Auction Shocks and Surprises
Shock 1: Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore
Nobody saw this coming. Even experts predicted ₹8-10 crore maximum.
Shock 2: Pat Cummins going to SRH
Everyone expected him to return to KKR. SRH surprised everyone.
Shock 3: CSK not fighting harder for Pathirana
They developed him but let KKR take him for ₹18 crore.
Shock 4: No team bidding big for David Warner
Former Orange Cap winner went unsold initially.
Shock 5: Multiple teams crossing ₹25 crore in same auction
2025 auction broke all previous records.
Failed Bids: Who Almost Got These Superstars
- Rishabh Pant: Delhi Capitals stopped at ₹26.75 crore. If they bid ₹27.25 crore, they’d have gotten their former captain back.
- Cameron Green: Mumbai Indians thought ₹20 crore would be enough. Wrong decision cost them their best all-rounder.
- Shreyas Iyer: KKR stopped at ₹25 crore. Just ₹1.75 crore more and they’d have kept their successful captain.
- Mitchell Starc: RCB and GT both stopped at ₹20 crore. They regretted it immediately.
International Sports Comparison: Are IPL Players Overpaid?
IPL vs Football:
- Pant’s ₹27 crore = $3.2 million per year
- Average Premier League player earns $3.5 million per year
- Top football stars earn $30+ million per year
IPL vs Basketball:
- NBA average salary: $8 million per year
- IPL average salary: $1 million per year
- But IPL season is only 3-4 months!
The verdict: IPL players are paid fairly compared to global sports stars.
What Happens If Expensive Players Flop?
Recent success stories:
- Pant justified ₹27 crore with match-winning performances
- Starc took crucial wickets for KKR
- Iyer led Punjab to playoffs for first time in 8 years
Some disappointments:
- Injured players can’t contribute (bad luck, not bad performance)
- Some stars don’t fit new team’s playing style
- Pressure of big price tag affects young players
Success rate: About 7 out of 10 expensive buys become worth their price.
IPL 2026 Mini Auction: Latest Records
- Date: December 16, 2026, Abu Dhabi
- Biggest buy: Cameron Green (₹25.20 crore)
- Biggest surprise: Kartik Sharma, 19 years old (₹14.20 crore to CSK)
- Smart buy: Prashant Veer (₹14.20 crore to CSK)
What was different: Teams focused on specific needs rather than big names. Most superstars were already retained.
Fun Facts About IPL’s Money Madness
Pant’s ₹27 crore breakdown:
- Per match: ₹1.93 crore (if he plays 14 matches)
- Per ball faced: ₹64,000 (if he faces 420 balls)
- Per six hit: ₹4.5 lakh (if he hits 60 sixes)
Craziest auction moment: When Venkatesh Iyer’s price hit ₹20 crore, his own family couldn’t believe it.
Most money spent by one team: Punjab Kings – ₹87.50 crore on these 4 players alone.
Richest IPL squad ever: If you combine all top 10 salaries, that’s ₹220+ crore for just 10 players!
Will Someone Cross ₹30 Crore Soon?
Probably yes. Player prices increase 15-20% every mega auction.
Who could break ₹30 crore:
- Virat Kohli<span style=”font-weight: 400;”> (if RCB releases him)
- Jasprit Bumrah<span style=”font-weight: 400;”> (best Indian fast bowler)
- Hardik Pandya<span style=”font-weight: 400;”> (perfect captain-all-rounder combo)
- Shubman Gill (young Indian superstar)
When it might happen: Next mega auction in 2027 or 2028.
Why it will happen: IPL gets richer every year. More money means higher player prices.
FAQs
Why did Pant cost more than any player in history?
He’s the complete package – wicket-keeper, captain, match-winner, young, and Indian. Teams rarely find all these qualities in one player.
Which team spends the most money on players?
Punjab Kings. They have 4 players in this top 10 list and love buying expensive stars.
Do expensive players feel pressure to perform?
Some do, some don’t. Experienced players like Pant and Starc handle it well. Younger players sometimes struggle initially.
What’s the biggest auction mistake ever?
Teams not bidding for proven match-winners. Sometimes the “expensive” player turns out to be the biggest bargain.
How do teams afford such huge salaries?
IPL teams are worth ₹500+ crore each. Player salaries are only 30-40% of their total revenue.
Do players negotiate their auction price?
No. Players set a base price, then teams bid. Players have no control over the final amount.
Pant’s ₹27 Crore Revolution Changes Cricket Forever
Rishabh Pant didn’t just break the auction record. He changed what cricket players can earn worldwide.
Young cricketers now dream of IPL millions, not just playing for their country. The best players choose IPL over international series. Cricket has become a proper career, not just a passion.
For fans, this means better entertainment. When teams pay ₹25+ crore for a player, that player usually delivers something special. We get to watch world-class cricket every match.
Pant’s price tag isn’t just about money. It shows how much Indian cricket has grown. From a sport played for pride to an industry worth thousands of crores.
And you know what? These players are worth every penny. They entertain millions, inspire young cricketers, and make IPL the most exciting cricket tournament in the world.
The next target? Someone will definitely cross ₹30 crore soon. And cricket fans everywhere will love every minute of that auction drama.
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