Top 10 Most Expensive Players in IPL History

As of 2026, Rishabh Pant holds the record of the most expensive player in IPL at ₹27 crore — but that’s just part of the story. From Dhoni’s ₹9.5 crore deal in 2008 to the ₹25+ crore era, IPL auction records have evolved dramatically.

The IPL is not merely a cricketing event — it is the most lucrative T20 franchise league in the world, where the player auction is more dramatic and costly than the premiere of a blockbuster movie. Each year, ten franchises battle to assemble the most competitive squad possible, and the price tags attached to marquee players tell the story of just how far this league has come.

This article covers the list of top 10 expensive players in IPL history along with IPL auctions and the reason behind these prices. 

Top 10 Most Expensive Players in IPL History (All Time List)

The following table lists the ten costliest player purchases across all IPL auctions and retention events. All figures are in Indian Rupees (₹ Crore).

Cameron Green (2026) is the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. Rishabh Pant (2025) remains the all-time costliest buy. The bidding war for Shreyas Iyer in 2025 lasted 103 rounds, with three franchises fighting till the very end

Most Expensive Retained Players

The most expensive retained player in IPL history is Heinrich Klaasen, held back by Sunrisers Hyderabad at ₹23 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 season. Before each IPL mega auction, franchises can hold back a set number of players by paying them a BCCI-defined tiered salary, deducted from their auction purse.

For IPL 2025, teams could retain up to 6 players from a total purse of ₹120 crore. This differs from auctions where price is driven purely by competing bids — retentions are pre-negotiated at structured rates, almost always below open-market value. Teams not retaining a full quota receive Right-to-Match (RTM) cards, allowing them to reclaim a released player by matching the final auction bid.

The IPL 2025 mega auction saw franchises collectively retain 46 players before the Jeddah auction in November 2024. The following table lists the highest-value retentions from that cycle — which set a new benchmark for what franchises are willing to commit to their core players.

MS Dhoni was retained by CSK for ₹4 crore under the uncapped player provision, despite being arguably worth ₹10–15 crore on the open market. The rule was informally called the ‘Dhoni Rule’ by the media.

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1. Heinrich Klaasen — ₹23 Crore (SRH, 2025)

Klaasen holds the distinction of being the most expensive retained player in IPL history. Sunrisers Hyderabad redistributed salary from their lower-ranked retentions to push his fee beyond the standard ₹18 crore first-pick ceiling.

The decision was backed by his IPL 2024 numbers, 479 runs at a strike rate above 171 across 16 matches, with a particular ability to accelerate in the death overs, often hitting at 200+ in the final four. His performances helped SRH reach the 2024 final. His open auction value was estimated at ₹24–26 crore, meaning SRH saved approximately ₹1–3 crore through retention.

2. Virat Kohli — ₹21 Crore (RCB, 2025)

Kohli’s retention by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for IPL 2025 stands as one of the most significant in the league’s history. He has been with RCB since the franchise’s inception in 2008, is the all-time leading run-scorer with over 8,000 runs, and remains the most prominent example of player-franchise continuity in the IPL.

The ₹21 crore fee was the highest ever paid to an Indian player through retention at that point and only the second instance of a retention exceeding ₹18 crore after Klaasen.

His retention history — ₹17 crore in 2018, ₹15 crore in 2022, ₹21 crore in 2025 — tracks his growing stature in the league. With an estimated open auction value of ₹25–30 crore, the retention represented a saving of ₹4–9 crore for RCB, making it arguably the most financially efficient retention in IPL history.

3. Rohit Sharma — ₹16.30 Crore (MI, 2025)

Mumbai Indians retained Rohit Sharma at ₹16.30 crore, but the more notable aspect of the deal was his position in MI’s retention order. Despite being a five-time IPL-winning captain and the third-highest run-scorer in league history, he was ranked fourth among MI’s retentions, behind Jasprit Bumrah (₹18 crore), Hardik Pandya (₹16.35 crore), and Suryakumar Yadav (₹16.35 crore).

A below-par 2024 IPL season and the leadership transition at MI under Hardik Pandya were contributing factors. His retention fees have remained largely static,  ₹16 crore ahead of the 2022 auction and ₹16.30 crore ahead of 2025, even as the broader salary environment has risen considerably. His estimated open auction value of ₹12–16 crore suggests MI paid close to market rate.

4. Jasprit Bumrah — ₹18 Crore (MI, 2025)

Jasprit Bumrah‘s retention at ₹18 crore placed him at the standard first-pick ceiling, a figure that most analysts considered well below his true market value. Widely regarded as the best fast bowler in world cricket, his ability to take wickets across all phases of an innings, powerplay, middle overs, and death, makes him one of the most complete bowlers in T20 cricket.

His estimated open auction value of ₹22–26 crore points to a saving of ₹4–8 crore for MI, placing this among the most undervalued retentions of the 2025 cycle.

5. Ravindra Jadeja — ₹18 Crore (CSK, 2025)

Ravindra Jadeja‘s association with Chennai Super Kings is one of the longest running player franchise partnerships in the IPL. Retained at ₹18 crore for 2025, he has been a consistent contributor across batting, bowling, and fielding for over a decade.

His retention history at CSK, ₹9.72 crore at the 2012 auction, ₹16 crore ahead of 2022, and ₹18 crore ahead of 2025, reflects steady salary growth, though one that has generally trailed what an open auction might have generated, given his all-round value.

6. MS Dhoni — ₹4 Crore (CSK, 2025) — The Exception

Dhoni’s 2025 retention stands apart from every other deal on this list. India’s most decorated white-ball captain, and the figure most synonymous with CSK’s identity, was retained at just ₹4 crore — a figure made possible by the BCCI’s uncapped player provision, which applied because Dhoni had not represented India in international cricket for more than five years.

His open market value was estimated at ₹10–15 crore. The provision was widely understood to have been framed with Dhoni’s situation in mind. CSK retained a player of immeasurable brand and cricketing value at a fraction of auction cost, with an estimated franchise saving of ₹6–11 crore.

Retention Price vs. Estimated Auction Value

One of the most revealing aspects of the retention system is the gap between what a franchise pays in retention and what the player might have fetched at open auction. The table below compares the two for the most prominent retained players of the 2025 cycle.

Estimated auction values are based on comparable auction sales (e.g., Rishabh Pant at ₹27 crore, Shreyas Iyer at ₹26.75 crore) and analyst projections. The ‘Dhoni Rule’ note refers to the uncapped player reclassification.

The data reveal a consistent pattern: franchises almost always save money through retention compared to what the same player would cost at auction. Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah represent the two largest franchise savings, with RCB and MI together likely saving between ₹8–17 crore on just these two players versus open-market value.

Historical Timeline: Most Expensive Retentions by Season

Retention prices have grown consistently across IPL cycles, reflecting the league’s rising commercial value and the increasing willingness of franchises to commit to their core players.

The growth from Dhoni’s ₹9.5 crore auction record in 2008 to Klaasen’s ₹23 crore retention in 2025 illustrates how dramatically the IPL economy has expanded. Virat Kohli has featured as the most expensive or joint-most expensive retention in three of the four mega auction cycles he has been eligible for (2018, 2022, 2025).

Year-Wise List of Most Expensive IPL Players (2026–2008)

The evolution of IPL player prices tells the story of the league itself — from cautious early bids to the multi-crore bidding wars of today.

Kevin Pietersen’s 2009 price was recorded in USD, as early IPL auctions conducted some bids in dollars. The all-time peak remains Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 crore deal in 2025. The most recent record, set at the 2026 mini-auction, belongs to Cameron Green at ₹25.20 crore — the highest price ever paid for an overseas player. 

From ₹9.5 Crore to ₹27 Crore: A Decade and a Half of Escalation

When MS Dhoni was signed for ₹9.5 crore in 2008, it felt like an extraordinary sum for a cricket player. It was a signal that the IPL was serious, ambitious, and unlike anything the sport had seen before. Fast forward to 2025, and Rishabh Pant was acquired for ₹27 crore — nearly three times that figure — setting a new benchmark for what a franchise is willing to pay for a match-winner with captaincy potential and box-office appeal.

The jump between those two numbers is not just financial. It reflects the IPL’s transformation from a bold experiment into a global sporting institution, one where star power, leadership credentials, and sheer marketability drive bids as much as on-field statistics ever could.

How the IPL Auction Works

The auction operates on a straightforward but fiercely competitive bidding system. Every player enters with a base price, and franchises outbid each other in real time until one team secures the player. As broadcast revenues have soared and global sponsorship deals have multiplied, franchises have grown increasingly willing to shatter records for the right player. The result is a cycle of jaw-dropping bids every few seasons — each one making the last look almost modest.

What Drives These Price Tags?

Several factors push a player’s price beyond their base value. Match-winning ability in pressure situations is the obvious one, but captaincy potential adds a significant premium. Here are the key factors that push player prices to record highs:

International Cricket Performance

The most important factor in auction value is the recent international form of a player. In 2024, Mitchell Starc’s ₹24.75 crore deal was the result of his contribution to Australia’s 2023 ODI World Cup victory, and Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 crore deal was the result of his heroic comeback after injury and India’s T20 World Cup victory. Franchises are willing to pay a high price to have proven match-winners in the international arena.

General Skills and Leadership Potential

Players who can play with bat and ball or have the credentials of captaincy attract a high premium. The Impact Player rule of the IPL has also increased the price of the all-round cricketer who can play several tactical roles. This all-round premium is reflected in the deal of Sam Curran ₹18.50 crore, the numerous big bids of Pat Cummins, and the deal of Venkatesh Iyer ₹23.75 crore.

Brand Value and Fan Following

The IPL is more of an entertainment and business than a cricket event. Such players as Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma draw audiences, jersey sales, and social media interactions that directly translate into franchise revenue. A player who has a high brand value is worth a greater investment even before he or she has to play a single ball in the IPL.

Franchise Requirement and Auction Dynamics

Occasionally, the price of a player is not inflated based on their absolute quality but rather the demand of a number of franchises that are bidding on the same profile. The 2025 bidding war of Shreyas Iyer consisted of 103 bids among three teams – pushing his price up to ₹26.75 crore out of a ₹2 crore base. Auctions can generate phenomenal figures when a player perfectly fits a strategic void and several teams are willing to bid.

Growth in Revenue and Increased Purse Limits

The broadcast agreement of the IPL with Star Sports and JioCinema, estimated at more than 48,390 crore in 2023-2027, has radically boosted the amount of money in the ecosystem. With increasing franchise revenues, purse limits are increasing, providing teams with the financial strength to bid high and break new price records each cycle.

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FAQs: About IPL’s Most Expensive Players