5 costliest Australian players in the IPL

As far as top-level cricket is concerned, no other nation has produced as many outstanding cricketers as Australia and it is only natural that their players have almost always been in high demand in the IPL.

Right from the time that the IPL started in 2008, Australians have commanded huge prices at the auctions and that trend has continued to this day.

Here is a look at 5 of the most expensive Australian cricketers to have played in the IPL.

#5 Shane Watson - Rs 9.5 crore ($1.46 million)

Watson was the man of the tournament back in 2008 when Rajasthan Royals went on their incredible run in the inaugural edition of the IPL and since then, he has been one of the hottest properties in the IPL. It is common knowledge that older players fetch lower bids but that was not the case with the Australian all-rounder back in the 2016 auctions.

Although he was 34 years old at the time, Mumbai Indians, Rising Pune Supergiant and the Royal Challengers Bangalore vyed for his services. After a furious round of bidding, Watson was snapped up by the RCB for a whopping Rs. 9.5 crore or approximately $1.46 million.

#4 Chris Lynn - Rs 9.60 crore ($1.47 million)

Chris Lynn

Back in the 2014 IPL auctions, the Kolkata Knight Riders bought Australia’s swashbuckling opening batsman Chris Lynn for Rs.1.3 crore (just over $200,000). Over the course of the next few years, Lynn turned into one of the world’s finest T20 openers and his monstrous power hitting at the top of the order made him a batsman that bowlers perhaps wanted to avoid.

So, when the 2018 IPL auction came along, there was no doubt that Lynn was going to attract bids from plenty of teams and that is exactly what happened. After a round of frenetic bidding, the Kolkata Knight Riders outlasted the Royal Challengers Bangalore by coming up with a Rs. 9.6 crore bid (around $1.47 million), making Lynn one of the most expensive Australian players in IPL history.

#3 Shane Warne- $1.8 million

Shane Warne (3rd from right)

The former Australian great will forever be known as one of the most innovative captains in the history of the IPL and Shane Warne’s role in masterminding Rajasthan Royals’ young turks to victory in 2008 made him an icon for the franchise. Hence, when the 2011 IPL auction came along, the leg-spin legend was promptly retained by the Rajasthan Royals for a salary of $1.8 million.

Although age was quickly catching up to him, his inputs as a captain and his obvious skills as a bowler were still held in high esteem by the team management. What is interesting to note is that Warne had been picked up by the Royals for $450,000 in 2008 and in 3 years' time, his value had risen fourfold.

He is back this year at the Rajasthan Royals as a mentor and the team would expect him to weave his magic again as they find their bearings after a two-year suspension.

#2 Steve Smith- $2.4 million

Steve Smith

The former Australian captain might not have had the best of times over the past few weeks but there is no question that Steve Smith still remains one of the best batsmen in the world.

He was a part of the Rising Pune Supergiant when the RR franchise were suspended and this year he was all set to return, for a salary of $2.4 million. It is the joint-highest salary ever commanded by an Australian player in the history of the IPL. Even though he will not be a part of the IPL this year, he will be back next year.

#1 David Warner- $2.4 million

David Warner

The Sunrisers Hyderabad are one of the newest franchises in the IPL but they have become one of the most important ones in the competition in the past few years. A large part of their success is attributed to David Warner.

In 2014, he was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 5.5 crores (around $ 847000). His performances with the bat and his captaincy made him one of the most valuable players in the IPL. Earlier this year, the Australian left-hander was retained by SRH for a whopping $2.4 million. Although he won’t see any of that money this year due to his suspension, he is all set to be back in the saddle next year.