The IPL 2022 Auction is scheduled to be held on February 12th and 13th in Bengaluru, with as many as 590 players up for grabs, and 10 franchises looking to build a perfect squad and a core base for the next 2-3 years.
Many prestigious and established players will be available for bidding, as well as some young talent who have caught the eye with their impressive and consistent performances on domestic circuits. For many players, an intense bidding war is expected, and it will be interesting to see who becomes the most expensive buy this year and for how much.
Let’s take a look at the most expensive IPL auction players from 2008 to 2021.
2008 – MS Dhoni (1.5 million USD – CSK)
MS Dhoni, India’s multiple ICC trophy-winning captain, set a record in the auction during the inaugural edition of the IPL. All eight IPL franchises were involved in the bidding war for the wicketkeeper-batsman and captain at the time, and Chennai Super Kings won it for 1.5 billion dollars.
2009 – Andrew Flintoff (1.55 million USD – CSK), Kevin Pietersen (1.55 million USD – RCB)
Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen of England were the most expensive buys in the IPL 2009 auction, each receiving $15 million USD. Chennai Super Kings bought Andrew Flintoff, while Royal Challengers Bangalore bought Kevin Pietersen
2010 – Shane Bond (750,000 USD – KKR), Kieron Pollard (750,000 USD – MI)
The New Zealand pacer and the Windies all-rounder became the most expensive buys in the IPL 2010 auction, with a price of 750,000 USD each. Shane Bond was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders while Kieron Pollard was acquired by Mumbai Indians.
2011 – Gautam Gambhir (2.4 million USD – KKR)
The former Indian opener emerged as the most expensive buy in the IPL 2011 auction. The left-handed batter was acquired for a price of 2.4 million USD by Kolkata Knight Riders and led them to two IPL trophies.
2012 – Ravindra Jadeja (2 million USD – CSK)
India’s ace all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was banned for a year from the IPL, returned to be the most expensive buy in the IPL 2012 auction. Jadeja was bought by Chennai Super Kings for 2 million USD. The player has been retained by CSK for a maximum cap of 16 crores INR.
2013 – Glenn Maxwell (1 million USD – MI)
The Australian ‘Big Show’, who was an uncapped player at the time was the most expensive buy in the IPL 2013 auction, for a price of 1 million USD by Mumbai Indians. However, he didn’t play many games for the team and changed teams in the next season.
2014 – Yuvraj Singh (14 crores INR – RCB)
India’s World Cup 2011 hero and a legend of the white ball cricket, Yuvraj Singh went for a mind-boggling 14 crores to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2014 auction.
2015 – Yuvraj Singh (16 crores INR – DD)
Yuvraj Singh broke his own record of being the most expensive player in the very next auction, where he was bought at a price of 16 crores INR by the Delhi Daredevils. Yet again, he left the team after one season and was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad later.
2016 – Shane Watson (9.5 crores INR – RCB)
Shane Watson emerged as the most expensive player in the IPL 2016 auction when Chennai and Rajasthan were banned for two seasons and all the players in these two squads were made available for the auction. Royal Challengers Bangalore acquired the services of the retired Australian all-rounder.
2017 – Ben Stokes (14.5 crores INR – RPSG)
Ben Stokes entered the IPL auction for the first and was bought for a mammoth amount of 14.5 crores INR. Stokes became the most expensive overseas buy in the IPL at that time.
2018 – Ben Stokes (12.5 crores INR – RR)
Ben Stokes yet again became the most expensive buy-in two consecutive seasons, bagging 14.5 crores INR in IPL 2018 auction from Rajasthan Royals.
2019 – Jaydev Unadkat (8.4 crores INR – RR), Varun Chakravarthy (8.4 crores INR – KKR)
India’s one of the most successful bowlers in the domestic circuit, the left-handed pacer Jaydev Unadkat bagged 8.4 crores in the IPL 2019 auction, bought by Rajasthan Royals. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was also acquired for Rs. 8.3 crores by Kolkata Knight Riders, and has been retained for 8 crores by the KKR ahead of IPL 2022 Auction.
2020 – Pat Cummins (15.5 crores INR – KKR)
Australia test captain surprised everyone as he was bought for as much as 15.5 crores INR by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2020 auction. With this, Pat Cummins became the most expensive buy of the tournament history till then. An intense war between PBKS & DD was waged after KKR ented the bidding late and bought the player with just two bids.
2021 – Chris Morris (16.25 crores INR – RR)
To this day it can be argued if the South African deserved such a big amount. Morris was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the last year’s IPL 2021 auction and became the most expensive overseas player ever.