5 most expensive players in IPL auctions who justified their price tag

There have been many million dollar men in the 10-year history of the IPL. While some have failed miserably, a few of them have grabbed the headlines both on and off the pitch.

Let us now look at the five costliest players who made valuable contributions to their respective franchises over the years.

Ben Stokes (Rising Pune Supergiant)

The 2017 IPL was Stokes’s first season in the league. The Rising Pune Supergiant bought him for a mammoth Rs.14.5 crores in the auctions, making him the most expensive player of the tenth edition.

Stokes scored 316 runs and took 12 wickets in the 12 matches he played for the Pune franchise. In the game against the Gujarat Lions, he scored a century and single-handedly won the match for Pune.

His rich experience in the shortest format was of great help to the Pune side. RPS reached the finals where they lost to the Mumbai Indians by one run.

He was adjudged the ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the 2017 edition for his all-round performance.

Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings)

Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja played three seasons for the Rajasthan Royals, from 2008-2011. He was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for $2 million (Rs.9.8 crores) during the 2012 auctions, making him the costliest player of the fifth season.

Dhoni showed immense faith in his abilities, making the ‘Rockstar’ a regular fixture in the CSK side. In the 2012 season, he scored 191 runs and took 12 wickets for CSK. Dhoni’s men lost in the finals against the Knight Riders.

Jadeja has scored 670 runs and taken 55 wickets in the four seasons for CSK. With his all-round abilities, he was an ideal player for the Chennai Super Kings and was part of the squad that reached the finals on three occasions (2012, 2013, 2015).

After CSK’s suspension from the IPL, Jadeja played for the Gujarat Lions in the 2016 and 2017 editions. For the 2018 season, he will be making a comeback to the CSK squad after being retained as one of the three players.

Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir played for the Delhi Daredevils in the first three seasons. He was the most expensive player during the 2011 auctions after being bought by the Knight Riders for $2.4 million. He was made their captain for the 2011 season.

In his first year at Kolkata, Gambhir led them to the Playoffs where they lost to the Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator. He scored 378 runs in 15 matches in the 2011 season.

The Shah Rukh Khan-owned side won the title in 2012, defeating the Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. The captain once again played his part, scoring 590 runs in the fifth season. In 2014, he became the second ever skipper to lift the trophy twice. KKR won the title for the second time, defeating the Kings XI Punjab in the finals.

It was another feather in the cap for the Delhi batsman. KKR have been extremely consistent under Gambhir, who has scored 3035 runs in seven seasons for the franchise.

Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

Kieron Pollard

The Trinidadian announced his arrival at the inaugural Champions League T20 in 2009. He scored 146 runs in five innings in that tournament and exhibited his big-hitting capabilities. The Mumbai Indians bought him in the 2010 IPL auctions for an undisclosed amount above $750,000.

He was the joint most expensive player along with Shane Bond during the auctions. He helped Mumbai Indians to the finals in the inaugural season where they lost to the Chennai Super Kings.

In that season, the Trinidadian scored 273 runs and took 15 wickets in 14 matches for Mumbai. He played an integral part during Mumbai’s title win in the 2013 season, scoring 420 runs and collecting 10 wickets.

He has won three titles so far with MI, in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Pollard has been a genuine all-rounder and a big match player for his side, having scored 2343 runs and taken 56 wickets in 123 matches. Mumbai could use their RTM to buy back Pollard after retaining Rohit, Hardik and Bumrah for the 2018 season.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

MS Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the most expensive player during the inaugural IPL auctions. All the franchise owners were desperate to buy the former Indian skipper. In the end, it was the Chennai Super Kings who bought MS Dhoni for a record $1.5 million. He took his team to the finals in the inaugural season where they lost to the Rajasthan Royals.

He has scored 2987 runs for CSK and captained them in 129 matches over the eight seasons (2008-2015). CSK have reached the knockouts in all the editions they have participated in.

They have reached the finals on six out of eight occasions and have won the title twice - in 2010, 2011. Dhoni is the only captain in IPL history to win successive titles.

interestingly, Dhoni has scored at least one half-century in all the eight seasons, with his highest score being 70*.