Top 5 Most Expensive IPL Auction Bids in History

IPL auctions are held every year so that the teams can pick their players for the upcoming season. These auctions are very fascinating as a lot of work is done before the management actually sits down to bid for the players. Details of each player, their past records, their current performance etc. are analysed so that the right combination can be picked by each franchise. Hence, the IPL auction in itself is a mega event. For the past few years, we are seeing fortunes change as some players are bought at very hefty prices. 

Last updated: October 5, 2026

Today, in this article by ZAP Cricket, we are sharing the five highest winning auction bids in IPL history.

Rishabh Pant: INR 27 Crores- 2025 by LSG

Rishabh Pant is an exceptional wicket keeper batsman and the reason why his bidding went this high is his versatility. He can provide stability in the batting and also attack if needed. He has all the shots in his kitty which help him access each part of the ground. Hence, he is a proven match winner. Over and above his batting and wicket keeping skills, he is a good leader as well. He was the skipper of Delhi Capitals last year. He is a complete package deal. Interestingly, RTM card was used by Delhi Capitals but Lucknow Supergiants were so keen to have him that they proposed a massive price of INR 27 Crores! With this bidding price, Pant's ₹27 crore deal became the highest winning auction bid in IPL history. 

Shreyas Iyer: INR 26.75 Crores- 2025 by PBKS

What makes Iyer special are his batting and leadership skills. Last year, he lifted the silverware as the skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders and that alone says a lot about his credentials as a leader. He is a complete batter, he knows when to attack and when to slow down, depending on the situation. 

Cameron Green: INR 25.20 Crores - 2026 by KKR

Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history when Kolkata Knight Riders bought the Australian all-rounder for INR 25.20 crore at the 2026 auction. Green offers KKR a rare combination of top-order power, height, pace bowling and flexibility across roles, which explains why the bidding climbed well beyond his INR 2 crore base price.

Mitchell Starc: INR 24.75 Crores - 2024 by KKR

Starc is a left arm pacer from Australia. He was the most expensive buy for 2024 IPL. The reason was his record in International cricket. He is one of the best rated bowlers in world cricket and his fame wasn’t any less in the auction room.

He holds tremendous experience as he is the premier bowler for his country. However, his experience in franchise cricket is quite limited as he has only played a handful of matches in IPL and in Big Bash League. 

Venkatesh Iyer: INR 23.75 Crores - 2025 by KKR

Iyer is a strong left-handed batter who can also contribute with medium pace when needed. His ability to play an attacking role, field well and give the team another bowling option added to his value at the auction. His role in KKR's 2024 title-winning season also strengthened his case.

His contributions in all the three departments- batting, bowling and fielding make him a team player. 

Bid figures cross-checked against official IPL records, including Rishabh Pant's INR 27 crore record and Cameron Green's INR 25.20 crore 2026 auction bid. Sources: IPL on Rishabh Pant and IPL on Cameron Green.