The Indian Premier League auction has always been a place where records break, teams battle fiercely, and players become overnight millionaires. Over the last 18 seasons, the price tags of star cricketers have grown dramatically — from MS Dhoni’s ₹9.5 crore in 2008 to Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking ₹27 crore in 2025.
Every mini-auction and mega-auction brings intense bidding wars, surprising picks, and massive signings. The most expensive player often becomes the headline of the season and a major talking point among fans.
IPL Auction Trends: From Dhoni to Pant – How Prices?
- 2008: MS Dhoni became the first mega-signing of IPL history.
- 2011–2015: Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh dominated big-money buys.
- 2017–2021: Ben Stokes, Pat Cummins & Chris Morris raised the bar.
- 2023–2024: Sam Curran and Mitchell Starc shattered all previous records.
- 2025: Rishabh Pant created history with a ₹27 crore signing.
The price jump clearly shows how the IPL has grown in popularity, revenue, and competition.
Read Also:- Most Valuable IPL Team 2025
Rishabh Pant Becomes the Most Expensive Player in IPL History
Lucknow Super Giants bought Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore, in 2025 IPL Auction making him:
- The costliest player ever in IPL history
- The biggest buy of the IPL 2025 mega auction
- The first-ever player to cross the ₹25 crore mark comfortably
Prior to him, Mitchell Starc held the record with ₹24.75 crore in 2024.
Full List: Most Expensive Player in Each IPL Season (2008–2025)
Season-Wise Costliest Players Table
| Year | Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | MS Dhoni | CSK | ₹9.5 Cr |
| 2009 | Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff | RCB / CSK | ₹9.8 Cr |
| 2010 | Shane Bond, Kieron Pollard | KKR / MI | ₹4.8 Cr |
| 2011 | Gautam Gambhir | KKR | ₹14.9 Cr |
| 2012 | Ravindra Jadeja | CSK | ₹12.8 Cr |
| 2013 | Glenn Maxwell | MI | ₹6.3 Cr |
| 2014 | Yuvraj Singh | RCB | ₹14 Cr |
| 2015 | Yuvraj Singh | DD | ₹16 Cr |
| 2016 | Shane Watson | RCB | ₹9.5 Cr |
| 2017 | Ben Stokes | RPS | ₹14.5 Cr |
| 2018 | Ben Stokes | RR | ₹12.5 Cr |
| 2019 | Jaydev Unadkat, Varun Chakravarthy | RR / KXIP | ₹8.4 Cr |
| 2020 | Pat Cummins | KKR | ₹15.5 Cr |
| 2021 | Chris Morris | RR | ₹16.25 Cr |
| 2022 | Ishan Kishan | MI | ₹15.25 Cr |
| 2023 | Sam Curran | PBKS | ₹18.5 Cr |
| 2024 | Mitchell Starc | KKR | ₹24.75 Cr |
| 2025 | Rishabh Pant | LSG | ₹27 Cr |
Why IPL Auction Prices Keep Increasing?
1. Bigger Salary Purse
Each season, franchises receive higher purse limits, giving them room to bid aggressively.
2. Impact Players Rule
Teams want multi-dimensional cricketers who can change the game anytime.
3. Short-format Value
T20 cricket rewards explosive hitters and wicket-taking bowlers — precisely the profile teams invest heavily in.
4. Competition Among Franchises
Bidding wars often push a player’s price much higher than expected.
You Can See Also:- Top 10 Most Expensive Over in IPL History
Record-Breaking Highlights
Most Expensive Player Ever:
Rishabh Pant – ₹27 Cr (LSG, 2025)
Most Expensive Overseas Player:
Mitchell Starc – ₹24.75 Cr (KKR, 2024)
Player Most Times the Costliest:
Ben Stokes & Yuvraj Singh – twice each
Highest-Paid Indian Before Pant:
Ishan Kishan (2022) & Yuvraj Singh (2015)
Conclusion
The IPL auction continues to evolve every year — from Dhoni’s ₹9.5 crore blockbuster in 2008 to Pant’s ₹27 crore historic signing in 2025. The numbers show how dramatically the league has grown and how fiercely teams compete to secure match-winning talent.
As the IPL 2026 auction approaches, another record-breaking moment may be just around the corner.
