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

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.