IPL Auction 2020: The most expensive players from each auction and how they fared

The 13th auction in the history of the Indian Premier League is all set to take place on 19th December 2019 in Kolkata. Once again, the 8 teams will battle to clinch the IPL title as the fans await the next season. All the respective franchises have released their list of retained players and would look to sign some worthy players in the upcoming auction.

971 players have registered themselves for the upcoming auction and from them, 713 belong to India. 55 players from this list belong to Australia, which is the highest number for any overseas country. However, there are a few stars who will not take part in this auction. Mitchell Starc, Liam Livingstone and Joe Root are some stars who have not registered for this mega-event leaving many in the cricketing fraternity dismayed.

Also see – Ranji points table

The fans always have their eyes on the most expensive player of the auction as he emerges as the biggest winner of the auction. This article features the list of most expensive players from each IPL auction and how they fared in the succeeding season. They are:

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MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings, 2008)

MS Dhoni is still a part of Chennai Super Kings.

The year 2008 was when the first IPL auction happened. MS Dhoni became the show stopper in that edition as he emerged as the most expensive player. Chennai Super Kings signed him for a staggering $1.5 million.

The amount invested in him did not go in vain as he led his side from the front. He aggregated 414 runs in that season at a strike-rate of 133.54. He smashed 38 fours and15 sixes in that edition and took his team to the final where they lost against Rajasthan Royals. His highest individual batting score came in the game against the Royal Challengers Banglore side, where he smashed 65 runs from just 30 balls.

Andrew Flintoff (Chennai Super Kings, 2009)

Andrew Flintoff was a part of the CSK army in IPL 2009

The 2nd edition of IPL Auction saw 2 players emerge as the most expensive signings. Compatriots Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen were the 2 stars who shared this record. Chennai Super Kings signed Flintoff at an expensive price of $1.55 million.

However, the decision proved to be wrong as the star player played 3 games for his franchise in that season. An injury during the tournament ruled Flintoff out of the IPL and he never returned to the tourney again. He scored 62 runs in the competition while his highest score with the bat was 24 runs. His best bowling figures were 1/11. The all-rounder could never justify his price tag. This resulted in a huge loss for the franchise.

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Kevin Pietersen (Royal Challengers Banglore, 2009)

Kevin Pietersen was the joint most expensive player of IPL 2009.

Kevin Pietersen was also signed for the same amount as of Andrew Flintoff in the 2nd edition of IPL which took place in the year 2009. The Royal Challengers signed him Banglore side because of his ability to change the game. It was his maiden IPL season but he could not live up to the expectations.

He smashed 93 runs from 6 matches, with his highest score being 37 runs. The Englishman smashed only 8 fours and 2 sixes in the 2009 season. His bowling performance was also average as he bagged 4 wickets by conceding 85 runs in the 13 overs which he bowled. His best bowling figures were 2/31.

Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians, 2010)

Keiron Pollard is still associated with the Mumbai based franchise.

History repeated itself in the year 2010 as once again two players emerged as the most expensive signings from IPL Auction. This time the duo comprised a West Indian and a New Zealander. Kieron Pollard earned a whopping bid of $750,000 from Mumbai Indians.

It proved to be a magical signing for the franchise as the all-rounder smashed 273 runs from 14 matches at a fantastic strike-rate of 185.71. He smashed the bowlers all around the park. His bowling performance was also up to the mark as he grabbed 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.40 runs per over. This signing proved to be blockbuster one for the Mumbai Indians side as Kieron Pollard is still associated with the franchise and will represent them in IPL 2020.

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Shane Bond (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2010)

Shane Bond was signed by KKR for $0.75 million in IPL 2010.

The best fast bowler in the history of New Zealand cricket, Shane Bond was the joint most expensive player of IPL 2010 Auction. Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for the same amount as Kieron Pollard. His fast bowling skills were the main reason he was signed for such a big amount by the Shah Rukh Khan owned franchise.

Shane Bond got to play 8 matches for his side where he scalped 9 wickets at an economy rate of 7.22. Even though he conceded 224 runs, his average of 24.88 was quite an ideal one especially in terms of T20 cricket. He never played an IPL season after that as IPL 2010 was the last season for him.

Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2011)

Gautam Gambhir joined Kolkata Knight Riders in the year 2011.

The 4th edition of Indian Premier League brought some changes in the auction format as the teams could keep a maximum of 4 players from their previous squads. Hence, all the teams had time to rebuild their squads. Kolkata Knight Riders did not keep any of the players and used the whole amount in forming a new side.

Kolkata Knight Riders used a whopping amount of $2.4 million in signing India’s star batsman, Gautam Gambhir. He was a part of the Delhi based franchise before he made his debut for KKR in IPL 2011. This proved to be a game changing bid as Gambhir altered the scenario of the whole KKR side.

He smashed 378 runs in that season at an average of 34.36. The new KKR skipper led his side from the front. Later, Kolkata Knight Riders lifted the IPL title twice under his captaincy. Apart from that, the side also qualified for the playoffs in IPL 2016 and 2017 but failed to lift the title.

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Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings, 2012)

Ravindra Jadeja is India's best spin-bowling all-rounder.

The 5th auction in the history of Indian Premier League mainly involved the players who were a part of the disbanded Kochi Tuskers Kerala team. Each side was allowed to spend a maximum of $2 million in that auction.

Chennai Super Kings utilised all of their funds in signing Ravindra Jadeja which proved to be a historical bid. There was a massive bidding war between CSK and Deccan Chargers but, Chennai grabbed the all-rounder.

In that edition, the left-handed batsman scored 191 runs despite batting lower down the order. His bowling performance was also an exceptional one as he grabbed 12 wickets with his best bowling figures being 5/16. Ironically, he had won the Man of the Match award for his match-winning knock of 48 runs and a 5 wicket-haul with the ball in a match against Deccan Chargers.

Glenn Maxwell (Mumbai Indians, 2013)

Glenn Maxwell played for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2013.

The 6th auction of Indian Premier League which took place in the year 2013 was an economical one. Only 1 player got a million-dollar contract and that was none other than the Australian star, Glenn Maxwell. Mumbai Indians signed him for a whopping amount of $1 million. However, the decision did not prove to be a beneficial one for the franchise.

Glenn Maxwell just got the chance to play 3 matches in that season where he smashed 36 runs. His highest score was 23 runs while he smashed 5 boundaries in that season. Besides, his batting strike rate was 133.33. His bowling performance was also a poor one as he got no wickets and leaked 23 runs in that 3 matches.

The decision of investing such a huge amount didn’t go in favour of the side as Maxwell’s form was never up to the mark. Hence, Mumbai released him before the next edition of IPL and Kings XI Punjab bought him in IPL 2014.

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Yuvraj Singh (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2014)

Yuvraj Singh was signed by RCB for ₹14 crores in IPL 2014.

IPL 2014 Auction featured a few historic moments as this was the first time in the history where the prices were recorded in ₹ rather than $. One player which kept all the franchises on the edge of their seat during the 7th IPL auction was Yuvraj Singh.

After some tough years at Pune Warriors, Yuvraj was looking to make a roaring comeback to the IPL. Since he was a rare talent, all the franchises entered a bidding war for him in IPL Auction 2014. Eventually, he was signed by the Royal Challengers Banglore side for a massive amount of ₹14 crore.

Even though the initial matches suggested that he would have a good IPL season, the team could not realise the full amount invested in him. He smashed 376 runs from 14 matches with his highest score being 83 runs. He smashed 22 fours and 28 sixes besides recording 3 half-centuries. RCB released him before the next IPL season.

Yuvraj Singh (Delhi Daredevils, 2015)

Yuvi was bought for ₹16 crore by Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2015

Delhi Daredevils’ decision to sign Yuvraj Singh for a whopping amount of ₹16 crore in IPL Auction 2015 backfired. The entire cricketing fraternity had a lot of expectations from him however, Yuvraj had lost his golden touch. This edition proved to be worse than 2014 for the Indian batsman as he failed to perform under pressure.

He played 14 matches in that season, aggregating mere 248 runs. His highest individual batting score was 57 while his average of 19.07 shows how much he struggled in IPL 2015.

His bowling performance was also not impressive as he just got 1 wicket by leaking 72 runs at an economy rate of 8 runs per over. Signing Yuvraj for ₹16 crore turned out to be a wrong decision from the Delhi franchise that year.

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#5 Shane Watson (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2016)

Shane Watson was bought by the RCB side for ₹9.5 crore in IPL 2016.

The 9th edition of Indian Premier League was a heart-breaking one from the fans point of view as BCCI suspended the 2 most popular teams, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for 2 years. Two new sides, Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiants joined the league that year, and they got the right to sign a maximum of 5 players from the CSK and RR’s squads. Surprisingly, none of the teams picked Shane Watson from RR.

He entered the IPL Auction 2016 and emerged as the most expensive signing from the auction. Royal Challengers Bangalore signed him for a massive amount of ₹9.5 crore. Once again the decision from the team proved wrong as Watson did not justify his price tag.

He scored 179 runs from 16 matches at a below-par average of 13.76. He failed to register even a single half-century under his name with his highest individual score being 36. His bowling performance was quite promising as he bagged 20 wickets with his best bowling figures being 4/29.

Ben Stokes (Rising Pune Supergiant, 2017)

Ben Stokes was signed for ₹14.5 crore by the Pune based franchise in IPL 2017.

The English all-rounder Ben Stokes entered the IPL Auction for the first time in 2017. Rising Pune Supergiant acquired his services for a whopping amount of ₹14.5 crore in the 10th edition of IPL. The decision proved to be a masterstroke as Stokes shined for his franchise in that season.

He dominated the opposition side in both the departments. He scored 316 runs from 12 matches at a noteworthy strike-rate of 142.98. The all-rounder even recorded a century. Besides, his bowling performance justified his worth as he grabbed 12 wickets while conceding runs at a very economical rate of 7.18. For his mind-blowing performance, he also got the award of Most Valuable Player of the season.

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Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals, 2018)

Ben Stokes played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018

A team rebuilding took place once again in the year 2018 as the 2 suspended franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals made their comeback in IPL 2018. The teams could keep only 3 players from their previous squads. Ben Stokes returned to the auction pool and earned the most expensive contract for the 2nd consecutive season.

This time the Rajasthan Royals side signed him for ₹12.5 crore. However, he could not repeat his IPL 2017 performance. While playing 13 matches for his side, he aggregated 196 runs. His bowling stats also declined as he just grabbed 8 wickets besides leaking 303 runs at an economy rate of 8.18. Although he is yet to fire for the Rajasthan Royals, the franchise has kept him in their IPL 2020 squad.

Jaydev Unadkat (Rajasthan Royals, 2019)

Jaydev Unadkat was signed by Rajasthan Royals for ₹8.4 crore in IPL 2019

Two Indian domestic stars made history by finishing the auction as the most expensive players in IPL 2019. Co-incidentally, both the players specialized in the bowling department. One of them was Jaydev Unadkat who was signed by the Rajasthan based franchise for a massive amount of ₹8.4 crore.

Unadkat had earned an even better contract in 2018 but because of his disappointing performance, RR considered buying him back at a lower price in 2019. The statistics did not improve though as he scalped 10 wickets in that season while giving away 398 runs.

His economy rate of 10.66 shows how easily the batsmen dominated him. Besides, he never took over two wickets in any match.

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Varun Chakravarthy (Kings XI Punjab, 2019)

Varun Chakravarthy just played 1 match in IPL 2019.

It is a rare sight to see the most expensive player of the auction getting to play just 1 match for his franchise. This thing had happened in the year 2019 where Varun Chakravarthy who was signed by the Kings XI Punjab side for a massive amount of ₹8.4 crore played only 1 match. The reason behind it was the finger injury that he picked up during his debut against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Varun got a solitary wicket while conceding 35 runs against KKR in that league encounter. Since KXIP has released him ahead of the next edition, it would be exciting to see which side buys him this year and at what price.