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The mini auction for IPL 2026 has started today at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi . In this mini-auction, all the franchises will try to improve their team by buying some players. Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player at an IPL auction, surpassing Australian Mitchell Starc (Rs 24.75 crore). He was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore.
Matheesha Pathirana was another expensive acquisition by KKR, who purchased the pacer for Rs 18 crore. The deal was finalised after an intense bidding war with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who they roped in for Rs 2 crore.
In this article, we will discuss the most expensive players in IPL history.
Most expensive players in IPL history
1. Rishabh Pant | 27 Cr
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was bought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs 27 crore at the IPL 2025, making him the most expensive buy in the history of the tournament.
Pant, who was not retained by Delhi Capitals, was bought by the Lucknow Super Giants after an intense bidding war with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi taking his base-price of Rs 2 crore to a record rise.
Delhi exercised their Right-to-Match card when LSG reached Rs 20.75 crore, matching Lucknow's bid to keep Pant in their squad. However, LSG raised the stakes once again, pushing their bid to Rs 27 crore. DC, despite their desire to retain Pant, did not use the RTM again to match the final bid.
2. Shreyas Iyer | 26.75 Cr
Shreyas Iyer, who left Kolkata Knight Riders after the team's victorious IPL 2024 campaign, was roped in by PBKS at the IPL 2025 mega-auction for a whopping Rs. 26.75 crore and handed the leadership duties.
His leadership proved critical for the team as they reached only their second final in the tournament's history, only to loose the title to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who lifted their maiden cup.
Iyer surpassed the record held by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 24.75 crore in the last auction. He started with a base price of Rs two crore. Delhi Capitals had the bid at Rs 26 crore for him but PBKS raised the amount to get the player.
3. Cameron Green | 25.20 Cr
Cameron Green became the third most expensive buy at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction ever as he was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a whooping Rs 25.20 crore in the IPL 2026 mini auction.
Mumbai Indians started the bidding for Green despite the franchise having only Rs 2.75 crore in their kitty. The bidding war was soon taken over by Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Once Rajasthan Royals pulled out, the slugfest between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings began. Ultimately, KKR’s enormous purse helped them wrest Green for a record sum of Rs 25.20 crore, which is expected to be the highest in the ongoing auction in Abu Dhabi.
4. Mitchell Starc | 24.75 Cr
At a historic IPL 2024 auction, Australia’s Mitchell Starc surpassed his compatriot Pat Cummins to become the costliest player in the league’s history, bought at Rs 24.75 Cr by the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The bidding for Starc began with Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians raising their pedals with the speed of light. But they lasted only till the team his price reached Rs 10 Cr from a base price of Rs 2 Cr.
The bidding was then joined by Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders who bid intensely as they had money in their coffers to spend. In the end, at Rs 24.75 Cr, KKR overpowered the GT side and got the Australian for a staggering, unprecedented price tag.
5. Venkatesh Iyer | 23.75 Cr
Venkatesh Iyer was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs. 23.75 cr at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Venkatesh, was initially released but later re-signed by the franchise, making him the fifth-highest-paid player in IPL history.
Venkatesh had been KKR’s standout performer during its victorious campaign in 2024, notably scoring the joint-fastest fifty in an IPL final against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kolkata Knight Riders stayed in the race throughout. They first saw off competition from Lucknow Super Giants before taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the end, the Bengaluru-based outfit was outbid by the reigning champions.
6. Pat Cummins | Rs 20.50 Cr
Australia World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins became the sixth-most expensive buy ever in the Indian Premier League history. Sunrisers Hyderabad brought Cummins for a record Rs. 20. 05 Crore. Starting with a base price of Rs. 2.00 crore, Cummins became the center of a bidding war between IPL heavyweights CSK and Mumbai Indians.
The bidding originally began with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who were joined by Mumbai Indians (MI).
Expectedly, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) also entered the bidding battle and ousted both the record IPL winners. Later, Sunrisers joined the war against Bangalore, and it turned into a massive southern battle, with the Orange Army grabbing the player for a record INR 20.50 crore.
7. Sam Curran | 18.50 Cr
Sam Curran was an attraction in the IPL auction after becoming the Player of the Tournament in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He was also the Player of the Match in the final where England beat Australia.
Curran did not register for the IPL mega auction in February 2022, citing rehabilitation from a back injury as the reason for opting out. The England left-arm pacer played for Chennai Super Kings in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He was handed his IPL debut by Punjab Kings, which signed him for Rs. 7.2 crore in 2019.
8. Matheesha Pathirana | 18 Cr
Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana was sold to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for 18 crore following a fierce bidding war among Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the IPL 2026 mini auction, underlining the premium demand for elite death-overs specialists in T20 cricket.
Pathirana’s release by the Super Kings came as a major surprise in the IPL 2026 retention announcements. The 22-year-old had entered the auction with a base price of 2 crore.
Delhi Capitals opened the bidding for Pathirana at his base price of Rs. 2 crore, with Lucknow Super Giants joining soon after and pushing the contest beyond the 10-crore mark. Kolkata entered the bidding shortly thereafter and secured the 22-year-old for Rs. 18 crore.
9. Arshdeep Singh | 18 Cr
Arshdeep Singh was retained by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for Rs 18 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Initially picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for Rs 15.75 crore, Punjab Kings utilised its Right to Match (RTM) option to secure him. SRH then raised its bid to Rs 18 crore, which PBKS matched to retain the left-arm pacer.
Arshdeep's bidding started at a base price of INR 2 crore and a war began after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) raised their board first. Delhi Capitals followed. And the fight between them went on till INR 7 crore.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered the bidding much later with a bid of Rs 10 crore. However while RCB was contemplating a Rs 11 crore bid, it was Rajasthan Royals who bid for the amount. Sunrisers Hyderabad had the final bid for Rs 15.5 crore.
However, Punjab Kings matched the bid and SRH rose the amount to Rs 18 crore to which PBKS agreed.
10. Yuzvendra Chahal | 18 Cr
Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who is IPL's highest wicket-taker and the only one to have taken over 200 wickets (221) in the league, was sold for a mammoth Rs 18 Crore to Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 auction.
The bidding battle started with PBKS and Lucknow Super Giants with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad also joining in. However, PBKS emerged victorious. Chahal is the chart-topping bowler in the league, owning most wickets by any bowler in the IPL.
In 174 IPL matches he has taken 221 wickets at an average of 22.76 with best figures of 5/40.