The IPL auction’s most expensive stars (2008–2025): Rediffusion-ICYMI report – Exchange4Media

When Cricket Meets Commerce
Where willow meets wallet, and dreams are bought in crores…
Every year, the IPL auction hall becomes cricket’s version of a stock market, where talent turns into bidding wars, and players turn into million-dollar dreams.
From young captains to budget-busting all-rounders, the auction table has been full of drama, destiny, and dizzying numbers.
In this ICYMI report, we trace the 18-year journey of the IPL’s most expensive buys, year by year.
2008
MS Dhoni – $1.5M (CSK)
The Beginning of the Blockbuster
The league opened with a roar, and the first
superstar sold was a future legend.
Dhoni didn’t just start a team; he started an era.
2009
Kevin Pietersen & Andrew Flintoff – $1.55M (RCB & CSK)
England Enters the Auction Ring
Two English powerhouses. One price tag that said: the IPL is now global.
2010
Shane Bond & Kieron Pollard – $750K (KKR & MI)
The Rise of the Specialists
Pace that terrified, power that electrified, two roles, one mission: impact.
2011
Gautam Gambhir – $2.4M (KKR)
Captaincy Comes at a Premium
Aggression. Calm. Strategy. KKR didn’t just buy a player, they bought a future trophy
2012
Ravindra Jadeja – $2M (CSK)
Jaddu: From Bits-n-Pieces to Big Bucks
A youngster trusted with a millionaire tag, proof that utility can be priceless.
2013
Glenn Maxwell – $1M (MI)
The Big Show Arrives
Switch-hits, 360° batting, chaos in motion. The auction found its entertainer.
2014
Yuvraj Singh – ₹14 Cr (RCB)
Yuvi: The Comeback Worth Crores
A warrior with a story money couldn’t measure… but franchises tried.
2015
Yuvraj Singh – ₹16 Cr (DD)
Yuvi Again, But Bigger
Back-to-back years.
Back-to-back belief.
When form met faith, price followed.
2016
Shane Watson – ₹9.5 Cr (RCB)
Watto: The Veteran Value
Experience isn’t cheap.
Impact is even costlier.
2017
Ben Stokes – ₹14.5 Cr (RPS)
Stokes Shakes the Table
The all-rounder every team wanted.
And one team Rising Pune Supergiants, paid like they meant it.
2018
Ben Stokes – ₹12.5 Cr (RR)
The Stokes Supremacy
His 2018 return to Rajasthan Royals for ₹12.5 crores proved one thing: champions don’t depreciate, they just change price tags.
2019
Jaydev Unadkat & Varun Chakravarthy ₹8.4 Cr (RR & KXIP)
The Surprise Bid Year
One a comeback story, the other a mystery spinner — both bought at a price that shocked everyone.
2020
Pat Cummins – ₹15.5 Cr (KKR)
The Big Aussie Payday
Pace like thunder — and a cheque to match.
2021
Chris Morris – ₹16.25 Cr (RR)
When Morris Broke the Universe
The most expensive player ever at that time. Proof that one skill matters most in auctions: timing.
2022
Ishan Kishan – ₹15.25 Cr (MI)
Baby Face, Big Price
Youth. Fearless shots. Long-term vision. Mumbai Indians bet big, and loud.
2023
Sam Curran – ₹18.5 Cr (PBKS)
Curran’s Historic Splash
All-rounders rule auctions.
And Curran ruled 2023.
2024
Mitchell Starc – ₹24.75 Cr (KKR)
Starc Rewrites the Record Books
Speed. Swing. Stardom.
A price tag that went faster than his bouncers.
2025
Rishabh Pant – ₹27 Cr (LSG)
Pant Takes the Throne
A comeback for the ages.
A bid that became a tribute.
A price that became history.
CONCLUSION
From Dhoni’s pioneering $1.5 million to Pant’s stratospheric ₹27 crores, the IPL auction has been cricket’s greatest financial theatre, a place where talent meets treasure, and franchises bet on glory measured in runs, wickets, and rupees. Each year adds a new chapter, each bid writes a new story.
The question isn’t what the ceiling is, it’s who will break through it next.
Because in the IPL, the only predictable thing about prices is that they’re unpredictable.
And in this ICYMI report, we captured that story, one auction at a time.
Read more news about Industry Briefing, Internet Advertising, Marketing, PR & Corporate Communication, Television Media
IPL value drops 20% in 2025: Report
We refuse to let India become a passive consumer of foreign AI tools: Dr Sandeep Goyal 
Royal Challengers Bangalore up for sale, process expected to conclude by March 2026
The faces of Indian women’s cricket — stories of spirit, struggle and triumph
The surprising ducks of Indian cricket: Rediffusion-ICYMI report
IPL valuation dips to Rs 76,100 cr; Rs 16,400 cr loss over two years
Media rights: ICC's hunt for JioStar successor may be easier said than done
Clear communication is call of the day as brands vie for consumer recall 
Did bots add chaos to the Black Friday mania?
MarTechAI Summit & Awards 2025 today to decode the growth and future of MarTech landscape
Why social media giants are suddenly advertising themselves
Omnicom: India team on edge as media structure unlikely before Jan 1
MarTechAI Summit 2025: Industry leaders push for ethical, empathetic data use
Marketers eye agentic AI for context, precision and scale
Hinduja Group appoints Diana Monteiro as VP-Branding & Corporate Communications
Channel 4 appoints Priya Dogra as Chief Executive
Freo named MarTech Brand of the Year (SME) at MarTechAI Awards 2025
MarTechAI Awards 2025: Shriram Finance named MarTech Brand of the Year (Enterprise)
Netcore, ReBid bag ‘MarTech Agency of the Year’ title at MarTechAI Awards 2025
MarTechAI Awards 2025: Shriram Finance, Netcore, ReBid and Freo take home top honours
The biggest field that generative AI is going to disrupt is marketing: Deepak Oram
Omnicom: India team on edge as media structure unlikely before Jan 1
31 seconds ago
MarTechAI Summit 2025: Industry leaders push for ethical, empathetic data use
3 minutes ago
Marketers eye agentic AI for context, precision and scale
19 minutes ago
Hinduja Group appoints Diana Monteiro as VP-Branding & Corporate Communications
58 minutes ago
Channel 4 appoints Priya Dogra as Chief Executive
1 hour ago
SEE MORE
Media rights: ICC's hunt for JioStar successor may be easier said than done
23 hours ago
Clear communication is call of the day as brands vie for consumer recall 
23 hours ago
Did bots add chaos to the Black Friday mania?
23 hours ago
MarTechAI Summit & Awards 2025 today to decode the growth and future of MarTech landscape
23 hours ago
Why social media giants are suddenly advertising themselves
23 hours ago
SEE MORE
Smriti Mandhana fronts OnePlus 15R campaign following split from fiancé Palash Muchhal
3 days ago
Zero marketing spends: Dream11 prioritises user retention in new sports entertainment push
1 week ago
What Netflix’s new library means for viewers: Globally & in India
5 days ago
Dream11 pivots from gaming to sports entertainment platform
1 week ago
Publicis Groupe completes a century: Celebrates with ‘a lion that never gives up’
6 days ago
SEE MORE
exchange4media was set up in year 2000 with the aim of publishing niche, relevant and quality publications for the marketing, advertising and media professionals.
ADSERT WEB SOLUTIONS PVT. LTD. 3'rd Floor, D-40, Sector-2, Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Pincode – 201301

Connect With Us !
25000+ Industry Leaders already read it everyday
By clicking Sign Up, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

source