Every year, IPL franchises break the bank to bag the most sought-after players who they believe will make a difference to their fortunes. But teams who get the most expensive player of the auction might want to pause before uncorking the bubbly.
With the sole exception of 2013, when Mumbai Indians got Glenn Maxwell for 1 million dollars, the team that bought the most expensive player in an auction has never won the IPL title the same year.
But first, a caveat. We have not looked at 'icon players' or retained players, only the players who came up for auction each year.
IPL saga: Big expense, low return
Now, let's look at the records. In the very first auction, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was the most expensive player and his team Chennai Super Kings finished as the tournament's runner-up.
In 2009, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen were the most expensive players as both fetched 1.55 million dollars each – even higher than Dhoni who had been sold for 1.5 million dollars. Flintoff's CSK lost in the semis while Pietersen's Royal Challengers Bangalore was that year's runner-up.
In 2010, Shane Bond and Kieron Pollard were the most expensive players but Bond's Kolkata Knight Riders ended the season in 6th place on the points table while Pollard's Mumbai Indians were the runner-up.
In 2011, Kolkata Knight Riders paid 2.4 million dollars to buy Gautam Gambhir but their season ended in the elimination final. The team was placed fourth in the final points table.
In 2012, CSK bought Ravindra Jadeja for 2 million dollars and ended as the tournament's runner-up. The year 2013 was the only exception when a team buying the most expensive player also emerged as the winner. Since 2014 the auction is being done in Indian rupees instead of dollars and Yuvraj Singh was the most expensive buy for both 2014 and 2015 – firstly by RCB and later by Delhi Daredevils. Both teams ended the 7th.
Shane Watson was the most expensive player of 2016 and his team RCB finished as the tournament's runner-up. In 2017, Ben Stokes was the most expensive player and his team Rising Pune Supergiants was the runner-up.
1/10:Most expensive buys of IPL 2023 auction
2/10:Sam Curran: (PBKS - Rs 18.5 crore; Base Price Rs 2 crore)
<p>England all-rounder Sam Curran became the most expensive player in the history of IPL auctions after fetching a whopping Rs 18.5 crore bid from Punjab Kings.</p>
3/10:Sam Curran: (PBKS - Rs 18.5 crore; Base Price Rs 2 crore)
<p>The man of the tournament of the 2022 T20 World Cup surpassed Chris Morris’s Rs 16.25 crore which were shelled out by Rajasthan Royals in 2021.</p>
4/10:Sam Curran: (PBKS - Rs 18.5 crore; Base Price Rs 2 crore)
<p>An intense bidding followed for Curran with MI, RCB, RR, CSK, LSG and PBKS raising their paddles frantically to secure the services of Curran.</p>
5/10:Cameron Green: (MI - Rs 17.5 crore; Base Price Rs 2 crore)
<p>Cameron Green has become an instant highlight around the world after becoming the most expensive Australian to be bought in the history of the IPL.</p>
6/10:Cameron Green: (MI - Rs 17.5 crore; Base Price Rs 2 crore)
<p>Australia all-rounder Green was the second-highest earner, fetching Rs 17.5 crore bid from Mumbai Indians.</p>
7/10:Cameron Green: (MI - Rs 17.5 crore; Base Price Rs 2 crore)
<p>This will be Green’s first IPL journey and he will make sure he makes it worth it for the MI side.</p>
8/10:Ben Stokes: (CSK - Rs 16.25 crore; Base Price Rs 2 crore)
<p>England Test skipper Ben Stokes was the third-highest gainer, fetching Rs 16.25 crore from CSK who pipped Lucknow Super Giants in another intense bidding war.</p>
9/10:Ben Stokes: (CSK - Rs 16.25 crore; Base Price Rs 2 crore)
<p>Stokes is the most explosive all-rounder and the most reliable player in the modern-day game.</p>
