The IPL 2008 auctions were the first time when the mega auctions happened. It changed the game of cricket forever. Players going under the hammer was a hitherto unknown concept. Cricketing stalwarts like Rahul Dravid found it strange to be going under the hammer. But the Inaugural IPL auction itself was a big runaway hit. Here Are Our Costliest Overall Buys In The Auctions.
MS Dhoni being sold for INR 6 crores in the 2008 auctions was a watershed moment. It showed the tremendous potential of the IPL Auctions. They certainly did help the teams to reset but importantly changed the lives of players.
Costliest Overall Buys In The Auctions :
We look at 5 top cumulative purchases in the auctions:
#5 Jaydev Unadkat (32.26 crores) [9 auctions]
Jaydev Unadkat is one cricketer who trends the most on the day of the auctions. Rajasthan Royals’ love-affair with him during the auctions has been a subject of severe trolls. Unadkat had a standout season in 2017 wherein he finished second in the wicket-takers list. This prompted the Royals to shell out INR 11.5 crores for him in the auctions in 2018 mega auctions.
Unadkat failed to justify the high price tag. He was released ahead of the 2019 auctions only to be bought back at INR 9 crores. Unadkat has now accumulated a cumulated sum of INR 32.26 crores from the auction table itself. He has been part of 9 auctions prior to the 2022 mega auction.
#4 Chris Morris (37.52 crores) [5 auctions]
Chris Morris was an unknown quantity when he made his IPL debut in 2013. CSK showed a lot of faith in picking him in the auctions. Morris then switched sides to the Royals first then Delhi later. He was so good at the Delhi setup that they had retained him ahead of the 2018 mega auctions. Morris had a forgettable couple of seasons.
He went into auctions in 2020 where Bangalore shelled out INR 10 crores for him in the auctions. Morris went one better in 2021 auctions to end up being the most expensive player bought in the auctions ever with a price tag of INR 16.25 crores. The allrounder has earned a cumulative sum of INR 37.52 crores from the auctions.
#3 Dinesh Karthik (38.94 crores) [6 auctions]
Dinesh Karthik is one of those few Indian Cricketers who has almost played for all the franchises. He had a breakthrough IPL season in 2013 with Mumbai Indians. Karthik was sensational that year. Delhi were hence prompted to pay INR 12.5 crores for him in the following season. Karthik had middling few seasons until the 2018 season. He led KKR with aplomb in 2018 and 2019. Karthik has amassed INR 38.94 crores across the auctions right from 2008.
#2 Glenn Maxwell (44.60 crores) [5 auctions]
Glenn Maxwell has always been an IPL auction favourite. He was a million dollar purchase in 2013. But he came into his own in 2014 when he ended up winning the MVP. Maxwell made a splash in 2018 auctions hitting INR 9 crores. He went one better the next season with 10 crores salary playing for Punjab. Maxwell received a huge windfall in 2021 with INR 14 crores paycheque. He has earned a cumulative sum of INR 44.60 crores through the IPL Auctions.
#1 Yuvraj Singh (48.28 crores) [6 auctions]
Yuvraj Singh is the most decorated IPL auction player. He made his debut with Punjab in 2008. Singh moved to Pune in 2011 mega auctions. But it was in 2014 when he received a major fillip in his IPL salary. RCB paid Yuvraj a whopping INR 14 crores. Delhi overtook RCB in 2015 when they paid him a humungous INR 16 crores. This two seasons itself made Yuvraj accumulate an earth-shattering amount. He has netted a total of INR 48.28 crores from 6 IPL Auctions.
