IPL auction history, 2009 to 2026
The most expensive player ever sold at an IPL auction is Rishabh Pant, bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore in 2025. The franchises bought 1,561 players at the 18 auctions from 2009 to 2026, and spent the most in 2025, when 182 players went for ₹639.15 crore.
The most expensive buys in IPL auction history
The 25 biggest prices paid at any auction from 2009 to 2026, ranked in sterling so a dollar auction and a rupee one sit on one scale
| # | PLAYER | YEAR | FRANCHISE | SOLD FOR | CONVERTED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Rishabh Pant | 2025 | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹27 crore | £2,646,000£2.6m |
| 02 | Shreyas Iyer | 2025 | Punjab Kings | ₹26.75 crore | £2,621,500£2.6m |
| 03 | Cameron Green | 2026 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹25.20 crore | £2,469,600£2.5m |
| 04 | Mitchell Starc | 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹24.75 crore | £2,425,500£2.4m |
| 05 | Venkatesh Iyer | 2025 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹23.75 crore | £2,327,500£2.3m |
| 06 | Pat Cummins | 2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹20.50 crore | £2,009,000£2.0m |
| 07 | Sam Curran | 2023 | Punjab Kings | ₹18.50 crore | £1,813,000£1.8m |
| 08 | Gautam Gambhir | 2011 | Kolkata Knight Riders | $2,400,000 | £1,804,511£1.8m |
| 09 | Arshdeep Singh | 2025 | Punjab Kings | ₹18 crore | £1,764,000£1.8m |
| 09 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 2025 | Punjab Kings | ₹18 crore | £1,764,000£1.8m |
| 09 | Matheesha Pathirana | 2026 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹18 crore | £1,764,000£1.8m |
| 12 | Cameron Green | 2023 | Mumbai Indians | ₹17.50 crore | £1,715,000£1.7m |
| 13 | Chris Morris | 2021 | Rajasthan Royals | ₹16.25 crore | £1,592,500£1.6m |
| 13 | Ben Stokes | 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | ₹16.25 crore | £1,592,500£1.6m |
| 15 | Robin Uthappa | 2011 | Pune Warriors India | $2,100,000 | £1,578,947£1.6m |
| 15 | Yusuf Pathan | 2011 | Kolkata Knight Riders | $2,100,000 | £1,578,947£1.6m |
| 17 | Yuvraj Singh | 2015 | Delhi Daredevils | ₹16 crore | £1,568,000£1.6m |
| 17 | Nicholas Pooran | 2023 | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹16 crore | £1,568,000£1.6m |
| 19 | Jos Buttler | 2025 | Gujarat Titans | ₹15.75 crore | £1,543,500£1.5m |
| 20 | Pat Cummins | 2020 | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹15.50 crore | £1,519,000£1.5m |
| 21 | Rohit Sharma | 2011 | Mumbai Indians | $2,000,000 | £1,503,759£1.5m |
| 21 | Ravindra Jadeja | 2012 | Chennai Super Kings | $2,000,000 | £1,503,759£1.5m |
| 23 | Ishan Kishan | 2022 | Mumbai Indians | ₹15.25 crore | £1,494,500£1.5m |
| 24 | Kyle Jamieson | 2021 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹15 crore | £1,470,000£1.5m |
| 25 | Irfan Pathan | 2011 | Delhi Daredevils | $1,900,000 | £1,428,571£1.4m |
Gautam Gambhir's $2,400,000 in 2011 is the only price from the dollar auctions in the top ten.
The top price at each auction
The most paid for one player at each auction from 2009 to 2026, converted to one currency
In dollars the highest price was Gautam Gambhir's $2,400,000 in 2011. Since the first rupee auction in 2014, when Yuvraj Singh went for ₹14 crore, the rupee record has been broken five times: ₹16 crore for Yuvraj Singh in 2015, ₹16.25 crore for Chris Morris in 2021, ₹18.50 crore for Sam Curran in 2023, ₹24.75 crore for Mitchell Starc in 2024 and ₹27 crore for Rishabh Pant in 2025.
Every IPL auction from 2009 to 2026
When and where each was held, how many players were sold and for how much, latest first. Each year opens the full list.
| YEAR | HELD | WHERE | SOLD | SPENT | CONVERTED | MOST EXPENSIVE BUY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 December 2025 | Abu Dhabi | 77 | ₹215.45 crore | £21,114,100£21.1m | Cameron Green ₹25.20cr |
| 2025 | 24 and 25 November 2024 | Jeddah | 182 | ₹639.15 crore | £62,636,700£62.6m | Rishabh Pant ₹27cr |
| 2024 | 19 December 2023 | Dubai | 72 | ₹230.45 crore | £22,584,100£22.6m | Mitchell Starc ₹24.75cr |
| 2023 | 23 December 2022 | Kochi | 80 | ₹167 crore | £16,366,000£16.4m | Sam Curran ₹18.50cr |
| 2022 | 12 and 13 February 2022 | Bengaluru | 204 | ₹551.70 crore | £54,066,600£54.1m | Ishan Kishan ₹15.25cr |
| 2021 | 18 February 2021 | Chennai | 57 | ₹145.30 crore | £14,239,400£14.2m | Chris Morris ₹16.25cr |
| 2020 | 19 December 2019 | Kolkata | 62 | ₹140.30 crore | £13,749,400£13.7m | Pat Cummins ₹15.50cr |
| 2019 | 18 December 2018 | Jaipur | 60 | ₹106.80 crore | £10,466,400£10.5m | Jaydev Unadkat and Varun Chakravarthy ₹8.40cr |
| 2018 | 27 and 28 January 2018 | Bengaluru | 169 | ₹431.70 crore | £42,306,600£42.3m | Ben Stokes ₹12.50cr |
| 2017 | 20 February 2017 | Bengaluru | 66 | ₹91.15 crore | £8,932,700£8.9m | Ben Stokes ₹14.50cr |
| 2016 | 6 February 2016 | Bengaluru | 94 | ₹135.80 crore | £13,308,400£13.3m | Shane Watson ₹9.50cr |
| 2015 | 16 February 2015 | Bengaluru | 67 | ₹87.60 crore | £8,584,800£8.6m | Yuvraj Singh ₹16cr |
| 2014 | 12 and 13 February 2014 | Bengaluru | 154 | ₹265.60 crore | £26,028,800£26.0m | Yuvraj Singh ₹14cr |
| 2013 | 3 February 2013 | Chennai | 37 | $11,885,000 | £8,936,090£8.9m | Glenn Maxwell $1m |
| 2012 | 4 February 2012 | Bengaluru | 25 | $10,995,000 | £8,266,917£8.3m | Ravindra Jadeja $2m |
| 2011 | 8 and 9 January 2011 | Bengaluru | 127 | $62,775,000 | £47,199,248£47.2m | Gautam Gambhir $2.4m |
| 2010 | 19 January 2010 | Mumbai | 11 | $3,650,000 | £2,744,361£2.7m | Kieron Pollard and Shane Bond $750k |
| 2009 | 6 February 2009 | Goa | 17 | $7,650,000 | £5,751,880£5.8m | Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen $1.55m |
What the franchises spent at each auction
The five tallest columns are the five mega auctions, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2025, each held at the start of a new cycle of player contracts. At those each franchise kept only a handful of its players and bought the rest of its squad; at the auctions between them it filled the gaps.
What each franchise has spent at IPL auctions
Every franchise that has bought at an auction from 2009 to 2026, under the name it last played under, added up in sterling
| FRANCHISE | AUCTIONS | PLAYERS | SPENT | MOST EXPENSIVE BUY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab Kings | 18 | 175 | £51,498,634£51.5m | Shreyas Iyer ₹26.75cr · 2025 |
| Delhi Capitals | 18 | 194 | £48,141,904£48.1m | Yuvraj Singh ₹16cr · 2015 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 18 | 175 | £46,556,940£46.6m | Kyle Jamieson ₹15cr · 2021 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 18 | 170 | £44,784,526£44.8m | Cameron Green ₹25.20cr · 2026 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14 | 156 | £35,705,769£35.7m | Pat Cummins ₹20.50cr · 2024 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 16 | 145 | £35,674,462£35.7m | Ben Stokes ₹16.25cr · 2023 |
| Mumbai Indians | 18 | 163 | £32,359,480£32.4m | Cameron Green ₹17.50cr · 2023 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 16 | 152 | £31,634,932£31.6m | Chris Morris ₹16.25cr · 2021 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 5 | 59 | £17,473,400£17.5m | Rishabh Pant ₹27cr · 2025 |
| Gujarat Titans | 5 | 60 | £17,321,500£17.3m | Jos Buttler ₹15.75cr · 2025 |
| Pune Warriors India | 2 | 19 | £8,097,744£8.1m | Robin Uthappa $2.1m · 2011 |
| Deccan Chargers | 4 | 20 | £6,515,038£6.5m | Dale Steyn $1.2m · 2011 |
| Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 1 | 16 | £5,706,767£5.7m | Mahela Jayawardene $1.5m · 2011 |
| Rising Pune Supergiant | 2 | 27 | £3,773,000£3.8m | Ben Stokes ₹14.50cr · 2017 |
| Gujarat Lions | 2 | 30 | £2,038,400£2.0m | Praveen Kumar ₹3.50cr · 2016 |
The most spent by any franchise is £51,498,634, by Punjab Kings, on 175 players at 18 auctions. The most players bought by any franchise is 194, by Delhi Capitals.
The players sold at the most auctions
Every player sold at six or more of the 18 auctions from 2009 to 2026, and what they cost in all
| PLAYER | AUCTIONS | FIRST | LATEST | FRANCHISES | COST IN ALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaydev Unadkat | 13 | 2011 | 2025 | 8 | £3,826,507£3.8m |
| Nathan Coulter-Nile | 7 | 2013 | 2022 | 5 | £2,783,446£2.8m |
| Mohit Sharma | 7 | 2014 | 2025 | 4 | £1,871,800£1.9m |
| Amit Mishra | 7 | 2011 | 2023 | 6 | £1,494,664£1.5m |
| Pat Cummins | 6 | 2014 | 2024 | 4 | £5,306,700£5.3m |
| Yuvraj Singh | 6 | 2011 | 2019 | 6 | £5,273,383£5.3m |
| Glenn Maxwell | 6 | 2013 | 2025 | 4 | £5,083,480£5.1m |
| Dinesh Karthik | 6 | 2011 | 2022 | 5 | £4,420,292£4.4m |
| Piyush Chawla | 6 | 2011 | 2023 | 4 | £2,450,492£2.5m |
| Jason Holder | 6 | 2013 | 2026 | 6 | £2,264,138£2.3m |
| Umesh Yadav | 6 | 2011 | 2024 | 4 | £2,092,710£2.1m |
| Aaron Finch | 6 | 2011 | 2020 | 6 | £2,067,964£2.1m |
| Manish Pandey | 6 | 2014 | 2025 | 4 | £2,053,100£2.1m |
| Quinton de Kock | 6 | 2013 | 2026 | 6 | £1,744,738£1.7m |
| Mustafizur Rahman | 6 | 2016 | 2026 | 6 | £1,744,400£1.7m |
| Rahul Tripathi | 6 | 2017 | 2026 | 5 | £1,641,500£1.6m |
| Deepak Hooda | 6 | 2014 | 2025 | 5 | £1,582,700£1.6m |
| Ishant Sharma | 6 | 2011 | 2025 | 5 | £1,357,546£1.4m |
| Karun Nair | 6 | 2014 | 2025 | 4 | £1,249,500£1.2m |
Jaydev Unadkat has been sold at 13 auctions, more than any other player, to eight different franchises: first in 2011, to Kolkata Knight Riders for $250,000, and most recently in 2025, to Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹1 crore.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the most expensive player in IPL auction history?
Rishabh Pant. Lucknow Super Giants paid ₹27 crore at the 2025 auction, which is £2,646,000. Shreyas Iyer is second, at ₹26.75 crore to Punjab Kings at the same auction.
Which IPL auction was the biggest?
By money, 2025's: 182 players were sold for ₹639.15 crore, which is £62,636,700. By players, 2022's, at which 204 were sold.
How many players have been sold at IPL auctions?
1,561 at the 18 auctions from 2009 to 2026. The most at one auction was 204, in 2022.
What is a mega auction in the IPL?
An auction at the start of a new cycle of player contracts, at which each franchise keeps only a handful of its players and buys the rest of its squad. There were mega auctions in 2011, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2025, and they are the five biggest auctions by money spent.
What is a right-to-match card?
It lets a franchise take back a player it had before by matching the winning bid for them. Franchises had the card at the 2014, 2018 and 2025 auctions, and kept 33 players with it.
Which franchise has spent the most at IPL auctions?
Punjab Kings, at £51,498,634 on 175 players across 18 auctions. Delhi Capitals is second, at £48,141,904.
Who has been sold at the most IPL auctions?
Jaydev Unadkat, at 13 auctions, to eight different franchises. Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mohit Sharma and Amit Mishra have been sold at seven each.
Where to next
The rest of the money in the IPL
See every player sold at the latest auction, in 2026, or what each franchise pays its squad now: Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans. For the rest of cricket, see cricket salaries, or what every nation took in Cricket World Cup prize money and T20 World Cup prize money. Kabaddi runs the same kind of auction, and every player the teams have bought since 2021 is on the PKL auction pages, and hockey's, men and women, since the league came back in 2024, on the HIL auction pages and the Women's HIL auction pages. Street cricket has an auction of its own, ten overs a side with a tennis ball, and every price paid since 2024 is on the ISPL auction pages.