Year-Wise Most Expensive Buys In IPL History

Indian Premier League is a cash-rich cricket tournament. The T20 tournament offers handsome salaries to the players and it is one of the reasons why almost every player is eager to be part of IPL. So far, there have been 14 editions of the Indian Premier League. The current season IPL 2021 has witnessed its first leg and the 2nd leg of the tournament will conclude in September-October later this year.

Since the very first season, the Indian Premier League has offered huge sums of money to many cricketers. IPL auction is another crucial event of the tournament, where players bag high-paying IPL contracts from different franchises. In the past seasons, some Indian and foreign players have bagged expensive contracts in the tournament. Here, we take a glance at year-wise most expensive buys in IPL history.

Year-Wise Most Expensive Buys In IPL History

IPL 2008: MS Dhoni (Rs. 9.5 Crore)

Back in the maiden season in 2008, MS Dhoni was the most expensive buy. After leading India to T20I World Cup 2007 title, Dhoni was in high demand due to his batting and captainship abilities. Chennai Super Kings bought the former Indian skipper for Rs. 9.5 crore.

Dhoni scored 414 runs in 14 innings in the first edition and his team were the runners-up in the tournament. Since the first season, the wicket-keeper batsman has been associated with CSK and has captained the team in every season they played.

IPL 2009: Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff (Rs. 9.8 Crore)

Former England cricketers Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff were the most expensive buys in the 2009 edition. Both were bought for Rs. 9.8 crore by different franchises. Right-handed batsman Pietersen was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore while Chennai Super Kings signed Andrew Flintoff.  The former England skipper Pietersen could only score 93 runs in 6 matches.

RCB were the runners-up in the tournament and lost the final to Deccan Chargers. On the other hand, all-rounder Flintoff played just 3 games for CSK and scored 62 runs. He also picked 2 wickets.

IPL 2010: Shane Bond and Kieron Pollard (Rs. 4.8 Crore)

In the 3rd season, former New Zealand cricketer Shane Bond and West Indies cricketer Kieron Pollard were the most expensive buys. Both were picked for Rs. 4.8 crore each. While pacer Shane Bond was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders, Kieron Pollard made way to Mumbai Indians.

Bond had a decent outing in bowling, picking 9 wickets in 8 matches at an economy of 7.22. Kieron Pollard hit 273 runs in 14 games at an average of 22.75. He had a brilliant strike rate of 185+ during the tournament. Since then, the West Indies all-rounder has been a core member of the Mumbai Indians franchise and also the vice-captain of the team.

IPL 2011: Gautam Gambhir (Rs. 14.9 Crore)

In the 2011 edition, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir emerged as the most expensive buy in the tournament. The left-handed batsman was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders. Gambhir was also nominated as the new skipper of the team.

As a skipper, he did a good job for the team as KKR reached the playoffs after finishing 4th on the points table. However, they lost to Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator match. Gambhir smashed 378 runs in 15 matches along with 2 half-centuries.

IPL 2012: Ravindra Jadeja (12.8 Crore)

Ravindra Jadeja became the most expensive player in the 2012 season after Chennai Super Kings shelled out a whopping Rs. 12.8 crore for the all-rounder. The left-handed batsman scored 191 runs in 14 innings at an average of 15.91 and a strike rate of 126+.

The left-arm spinner emerged very useful as a bowler, picking 12 wickets in 14 innings. He had an economy of 7.80. The all-rounder also accounted for a 5-wicket haul in a match.

IPL 2013: Glenn Maxwell (Rs. 6.3 Crore)

In the 2013 season, Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell became the costliest player at Rs. 6.3 crore. He was bought by Mumbai Indians. However, Maxwell was not given many opportunities to appear on the field.

He played just 3 games in the tournament and scored 36 runs at an average of 18. He had a strike rate of 133+. Maxwell also hit 4 sixes in the 3 matches he played.

IPL 2014: Yuvraj Singh (Rs. 14 Crore)

In the 2014 season, Yuvraj Singh became the most expensive player. The former Indian cricketer was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs. 14 crores. He emerged as the 2nd highest run-scorer for the team with 376 runs in 14 matches.

The left-handed batsman smacked 3 half-centuries with the highest score of 83 in one game.

The all-rounder had an average of 34.18 and a strike rate of 135+. The left-arm occasional spinner also picked 5 wickets in the tournament.

IPL 2015: Yuvraj Singh (Rs. 16 Crore)

In the 2015 season, Yuvraj Singh again emerged as the costliest player. This time, he was bought by Delhi Daredevils for Rs. 16 crores. The left-handed batsman scored 248 runs in 13 innings for the team at an average of 19.07.

He also hit 2 half-centuries and had a strike rate of 118+ while batting. Yuvraj Singh picked 1 wicket in the tournament after bowling in 6 games.

IPL 2016: Shane Watson (Rs. 9.5 Crore)

In the 2016 season of the Indian Premier League, former Australian cricketer Shane Watson emerged as the most expensive buy. The all-rounder was bought for Rs. 9.5 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore. The right-arm pacer scored 179 runs in 15 innings at an average of 13.76 and strike rate of 133+.

The right-arm pacer was quite successful with the ball, scalping 20 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 8.58. He was also the 2nd highest wicket-taker for RCB after Yuzvendra Chahal (21 wickets).

IPL 2017: Ben Stokes (Rs. 14.5 Crore)

In the 2017 edition, England cricketer Ben Stokes became the costliest player. He was bought by Rising Pune Supergiants for Rs. 14.5 crore. The English all-rounder gave an incredible performance for the franchise with the bat and ball. The left-handed batsman scored 316 runs in 11 innings at an average of 31.60 and strike rate of 142+.

He smacked 1 century and 1 half-century in the tournament. In bowling, the right-arm pacer picked wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 7.18.

IPL 2018: Ben Stokes (Rs. 12.5 Crore)

Following his spectacular show in the last season, Ben Stokes again emerged as the most expensive buy in the 2018 edition. This time, the England all-rounder was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs. 14.5 crore.

The left-handed batsman piled up 196 runs in 13 innings for the team an average of 16.33 and a strike rate of 121+. With the ball, Stokes picked 8 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 8.18.

IPL 2019: Jaydev Unadkat and Varun Chakravarthy (Rs. 8.4 Crore)

In the 2019 season, Jaydev Unadkat and Varun Chakravarthy were the two costliest players in the auction. Left-arm medium-pacer Unadkat was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs. 8.4 crore. The franchise released him earlier but bought him back in the auction.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy was bought for the same amount by Kings XI Punjab. Unadkat picked 10 wickets in 11 matches at an economy of 10.66. Chakravarthy just played 1 match for KKR and accounted for 1 wicket.

IPL 2020: Pat Cummins (Rs. 15.5 Crore)

Australian pacer Pat Cummins was the most expensive player in IPL 2020. He was bought for Rs. 15.5 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders. The right-arm pacer picked 12 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 7.86. He was the 2nd highest wicket-taker for his team.

Cummins was also useful for KKR with the bat. He scored 146 runs in 11 innings along with an unbeaten fifty in one game. He batted at a strike rate of 128+ during the tournament.

IPL 2021: Chris Morris (Rs. 16.25)

Chris Morris was the most expensive purchase in IPL 2021. The South African all-rounder bagged a contract of Rs. 16.25 crore from Rajasthan Royals during the auction. With this price, Morris also became the costliest player in IPL auctions history. The right-arm pacer emerged as the joint 2nd highest wicket-taker in the tournament during the 1st leg.

Morris scalped 14 wickets in 7 matches at an economy of 8.61. He also played a fabulous cameo of unbeaten 36 runs to bag victory for Rajasthan Royals in the match against Delhi Capitals.