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IPL 2024: The Most Expensive and the Most Valuable Players

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The IPL 2024 auction will go down in history as one of the most controversial and jaw-dropping in the history of the tournament. The player auction held on 19th December 2023 in Dubai saw teams splurge their money on many high-profile cricketers. The INR 20 crore mark was crossed twice, and the tag of the most expensive player in IPL history was also broken not once, but twice. 

World-cup-winning Australian captain Pat Cummins broke the record of the most expensive player in the IPL when he was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad(SRH) for a whopping INR 20.50 crores. However, this record was soon broken by Australian pacer Mithcell Starc after being sold to Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) for INR 24.75 crores. 

This makes Mithcell Starc one of the most expensive players in IPL history. Apart from international players, many domestic talents also managed to secure good bids at the 2024 IPL auction. 

This blog will look at the top 10 most expensive players in IPL history. Let’s get started. 

Top 10 Most Expensive Players in IPL 2024

PlayerTeamBase PriceFinal Price
Mitchell Starc(AUS)Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR)INR 2 croreINR 24.75 crore
Pat Cummins(AUS)Sunrisers Hyderabad(SRH)INR 2 croreINR 20.50 crore
Daryl Mithcell(NZ)Chennai Super Kings(CSK)INR 1 croreINR 14.00 crore
Harshal PatelPunjab Kings(PBKS)INR 2 croreINR 11.75 crore
Alzarri Joseph(WI)Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB)INR 1 croreINR 11.50 crore
Spencer Johnson(AUS)Gujarat Titans(GT)INR 50 lakhsINR 10 crore
Sameer RizviChennai Super Kings(CSK)INR 20 laksINR 8.40 crore
Rilee Rossouw(SA)Punjab Kings(PBKS)INR 2 croreINR 8 crore
Shahrukh KhanGujarat Titans(GT)INR 40 lakhsINR 7.40 crore
Rovman Powell(WI)Rajasthan Royals(RR)INR 1 croreINR 7.40 crore

#1. Mitchell Starc(Rs. 24.75 crore)

Mitchell Starc

The Australian pacer Mitchell Starc was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders(KKR) for a whopping sum of Rs 24.75 crores, making him the most expensive player in IPL history, largely due to his performance in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023. Starc was last seen in the 12016 edition of the Indian Premier League where he took 24 wickets in 27 matches in his brief career. Many franchises were interested in Starc and Kolkata Knight Riders had to compete with Delhi Capitals(DC), Gujarat Titans(GT), and Mumbai Indians(MI) to acquire Starc and seal the deal. 

#2. Pat Cummins(Rs 20.50 crore)

Pat Cummins

The World-cup-winning Australian skipper Pat Cummins demanded a hefty sum as Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired him for Rs. 20.50 crores, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history. Cummins withdrew from the last IPL season to focus on his international cricket commitments. This move paid well as the captain was able to lead Australia to the World Cup Test Championships(WTC) and ODI World Cup Titles, increasing his value to monumental heights. 

#3. Daryl Mitchell(Rs 14 crore)

Daryl Mitchell

The New Zealand batter was overall number 4 in the recently concluded World Cup 2023, where he scored 552 runs at an average of 69. He also scored centuries in both matches against India. His firm hold of the middle order and impeccable outings caught the attention of Chennai Super Kings who bought the Kiwi batter at INR 14 crore. 

#4. Harshal Patel(Rs. 11.75 crore)

Harshal Patel

While the medium pacer was released by Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB), Punjab Kings(PBKS) recognised his potential and bought him for INR 11.75 crores. Harshal Patel was the Purple Cap holder in the 2021 edition of the IPL tournament and has a wide array of variations that can topple batsmen and partnerships. His bowling attack can be a handy tool in the broad boundaries of Mohali. 

#5. Alzarri Joseph(Rs. 11.50 crore)

Alzarri Joseph

The West Indies pacer was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB) to reinforce their bowling attack after releasing Australian pacer Josh Hazelwood. Previously, Joseph played for Gujarat Titans(GT) and has taken 20 wickets in 19 games at an economy rate of 9.19. 

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#6. Spencer Johnson(Rs. 10 crore)

Spencer Johnson

Australian left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson was bagged by Gujarata Titans for a hefty price of INR 10 crores. In his short career, Johnson has played 20 T20 matches and taken 17 wickets at an economy of 7.84. The pacer can be a good option for early innings, extracting movements off the surface and could be equally efficient with an older ball by using his wide range of variations. However, Spencer Johnson still needs to make an impact and stands as an unproven commodity in the IPL. It remains to be seen whether he is worth the price for GT or not. 

#7. Sameer Rizvi(Rs. 8.4 crore)

Sameer Rizvi

Chennai Super Kings(CSK) spent a hefty sum to secure the Uttar Pradesh power hitter Sameer Rizvi, 20,  by paying INR 8.4 crores. In the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai, Chennai Super Kings(CSK), Delhi Capitals(DC), and Gujarat Titans(GT) were engaged in a heated struggle to secure the young heavy hitter from Uttar Pradesh. Rizvi will make his debut in the IPL T20 League in the coming season as he rides the waves of his power-packed performance for the Kanpur Superstars in the UP T20 League recently. 

#8. Rilee Rossouw(Rs. 8 crore)

Rilee Rossouw

Surprisingly, the South African heavy hitter was left unsold the first time his name went under the hammer. However, soon after, Punjab Kings came in as a saviour and went all out, paying INR 8 crore for the heavy hitter to strengthen their batting unit. In 24 T20Is, Rossouw has made 624 runs at an average of 36.78 and a strike rate of 156.02. It remains to be seen what role Rossouw will play in Punjab Kings and whether he will be worth the investment for Punjab Kings. 

#9. Shahrukh Khan(Rs. 7.4 crore)

Shahrukh Khan

The Tamil Nadu batter was released by Punjab Kings but found new takers in the form of Gujarat Titans who paid a hefty sum of INR 7.4 crore for Khan. Gujarat Titans were looking for new and reliable additions to the middle-order after the departure of skipper Hardik Pandya. Although Shahrukh has yet to prove himself in the IPL, he certainly has the potential to silence the critics in this IPL season. Gujarat Titans is a team that has brought the best out of many untapped potentials in the last few years, and Shahrukh could prove to be an amazing asset to the team in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League. 

#10. Rovman Powell(Rs. 7.4 crore)

Rovman Powell

Rajasthan Royals who were looking to add more firepower to their batting lineup bought West Indies batter Rovman Powell for INR 7.4 crores. Although Powell’s weakness against spin bowlers is quite evident, he still shines as an amazing heavy hitter against pacers. Royals can capitalize on Powell’s X-factor if they efficiently use him in specific phases of innings. 

These are some of the best players in the IPL 2024 season with the most expensive price tags. While it is still left to be seen how much are they worth given their astronomical price tags, we can be assured that the coming season of IPL will be intense and filled with some great cricketing moments. 

Most Expensive Players of All Time IPL History

PlayerTeamAuction PriceYear
Mitchell StarcKolkata Knight RidersRs 24.75 Crore2024
Pat CumminsSunrisers HyderabadRs 20.50 Crore2024
Sam CurranPunjab KingsRs 18.50 Crore2023
Cameron GreenMumbai IndiansRs 17.50 Crore2023
Ben StokesChennai Super KingsRs 16.25 Crore2023
Chris MorrisRajasthan RoyalsRs 16.25 Crore2021
Yuvraj SinghDelhi DaredevilsRs 16 Crore2015
Nicholas PooranLucknow Super GiantsRs 16 Crore2023
Pat CumminsKolkata Knight RidersRs 15.50 Crore2020
Ishan KishanMumbai IndiansRs 15.25 Crore2022

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Wrap Up

Despite being a mini-auction, the IPL 2024 auction held in Dubai broke the record of the most expensive player in IPL history, not once but twice. Pat Cummins was sold to SRH for a whopping amount of Rs. 20.50 crore but was soon topped by Australian pacer Mitchell Starc who became the most expensive player in IPL with a selling bid of Rs. 24.75 crores. 

72 players were sold in the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai but only two of them made the headlines. The IPL 2024 season is set to start on March 22 and end by the last week of May, just a week before the T20 World Cup in the West Indies gets underway. 

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Q. Who is the best player in IPL history?

Ans. While there have been many legends and great players in IPL, Virat Kohli stands out above the rest as the no.1 player in IPL history with a batting average of 37.24. 

Q. Which is the best IPL team?

Ans. Led by Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians is regarded as the best IPL team with a 55.87 win percentage.

Q. Who is the best bowler in IPL history?

Ans. West Indian pacer Alzarri Joseph has the best bowling figures in IPL history. He took 6 wickets and conceded only 12 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 6th April 2019.