| 1 | Rishabh Pant – ₹27 crore (IPL All-Time Record) LSG, IPL 2025 Mega Auction – Most expensive ever Rishabh Pant set the all-time IPL auction record at ₹27 crore, signed by Lucknow Super Giants in November 2024. The bidding war was between LSG and Sunrisers Hyderabad. As India's match-winning wicketkeeper-captain and one of the world's most destructive T20 batters, the price reflects his multiple-dimensional value. | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹27 crore | Rishabh Pant | All-time IPL record |
| 2 | Shreyas Iyer – ₹26.75 crore Punjab Kings, IPL 2025 – Best performing big buy Signed by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore, Shreyas Iyer became the second most expensive player in IPL history. He led PBKS to their first-ever IPL final in 2025 and was praised as the best investment from any franchise at ₹15 crore+. A consistent middle-order batter and cool-headed captain. | Punjab Kings | ₹26.75 crore | Shreyas Iyer | — |
| 3 | Cameron Green – ₹25.20 crore (Overseas Record) Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2026 Mini Auction Australian all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history when KKR paid ₹25.20 crore at the 2026 mini auction. His batting at the top of the order, useful pace, and all-round abilities justified the premium for a team seeking balance. | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹25.20 crore | Cameron Green | Most expensive overseas player in IPL history |
| 4 | Mitchell Starc – ₹24.75 crore KKR, IPL 2024 – Overpriced then justified by title win Starc's ₹24.75 crore set the record at the 2024 auction and was initially labelled a massive gamble as he struggled early. But he delivered in the tournament's second half, including a Player of the Match performance in the 2024 IPL final, helping KKR lift their third title. A classic price-vs-performance redemption story. | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹24.75 crore | Mitchell Starc | — |
| 5 | Venkatesh Iyer – ₹23.75 crore KKR, IPL 2025 – Biggest Overpay Relative to Output KKR paid ₹23.75 crore for Venkatesh Iyer — the fourth most expensive in IPL history. He scored just 142 runs in 11 matches (average 20.38, SR 139.21). Widely cited as the most extreme overpay relative to in-season performance of the 2025 auction. | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹23.75 crore | Venkatesh Iyer | — |
| 6 | Pat Cummins – ₹20.50 crore SRH, IPL 2024 – Premium justified by captaincy and wickets SRH paid ₹20.50 crore for Australia captain Pat Cummins in 2024. He led SRH to the final, took 18 wickets in 16 matches, and provided genuine leadership to a young squad. The price was premium but his on and off-field contribution made it defensible. | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹20.50 crore | Pat Cummins | — |
| 7 | Sam Curran – ₹18.50 crore (then record) → ₹2.4 crore PBKS 2023 to CSK 2025 – Biggest value depreciation Sam Curran set a then-record at ₹18.50 crore (PBKS, 2023). He delivered 10 wickets and 276 runs in 14 matches — a solid but not exceptional return. Just two years later, CSK signed him at his base price of ₹2.4 crore in 2025 — an 87% depreciation, the steepest value fall in IPL auction history. | — | — | Sam Curran | Steepest auction value depreciation in IPL history |
| 8 | MS Dhoni – $1.5 million / ~₹6.4 crore (2008) CSK, IPL 2008 – Best ROI in IPL auction history MS Dhoni was signed by CSK for $1.5 million (approximately ₹6.4 crore) at the inaugural 2008 auction. He led CSK to 5 IPL titles and is inseparable from the franchise's identity. With CSK consistently among the most valuable IPL teams, Dhoni's deal represents the greatest return on investment in IPL auction history. | Chennai Super Kings | $1.5 million (~₹6.4 crore) | MS Dhoni | — |
| 9 | Chris Morris – ₹16.25 crore Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2021 – Record at time; mixed return Chris Morris set the then-record at ₹16.25 crore (RR, 2021). He claimed 15 wickets in 11 matches but contributed just 67 runs and struggled with the bat. RR did not make the playoffs that season, making the investment feel incomplete despite his bowling return. | Rajasthan Royals | ₹16.25 crore | Chris Morris | — |
| 10 | Vaibhav Suryavanshi – ₹1.1 crore (Youngest-ever IPL signing) Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2025 – Best value emerging talent buy 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history as the youngest player ever sold at an IPL auction, signed by Rajasthan Royals for just ₹1.1 crore. His U-19 century against Australia (58 balls) made him a sensation. Long-term potential is considered near-priceless, making ₹1.1 crore an extraordinary value. | Rajasthan Royals | ₹1.1 crore | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Youngest-ever IPL auction signing |