IPL 2018 auction: Highest paid cricketers at the auction every year and how they fared in that year

2017

Ben Stokes (14.5 crore) – Rising Pune Supergiant

Ben Stokes was the Player of the Tournament last year.

When Benjamin Stokes decided to enter his name in the players' list in the 2017 auction, a lot of teams would’ve wanted him in their side purely on the basis of the fact that he is a genuine match-winner. His ability to turn the game with both bat and ball was known world-wide.

Thus, Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) broke the bank to get Stokes and the signing was made at a mind-boggling price of 14.5 crore (INR). This made the Durham allrounder the highest paid foreigner in the history of the IPL.

And he had a wonderful maiden IPL stint. He delivered with both bat and ball and was the key player for RPS as he stood up at key junctures of the game. With the bat, he scored 316 runs in 12 innings at an average of 31.60 and a strike-rate of 142.99. With the ball, he took 12 wickets at an economy of 7.18. He helped RPS reach the playoffs.

However, RPS missed his services in the knockout games as Stokes left the team as he was on England duty. But he had repaid the faith of the team owners and management.