The most expensive players in the auctions: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has come a long way. Players’ salaries too have skyrocketed over the years. The salary cap for teams has increased multifold. IPL has proven to be not just the richest but the best franchise-driven league in the world.
The participation of who’s who ensures the competition of the league is right up there with the best. As the league has grown with every passing year, so has the valuation of everyone involved. The cricketers who are at the core of the league have stood to gain the most.
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The first cycle of three years: 2008-10:
IPL was an unknown beast when it was first announced in 2007. The league came into existence on the back of India’s famous inaugural T20 World Cup win. Back in 2008, auctions were a completely novel concept. It might be fair to say that nobody knew what they are getting into during the first-ever auction. It was primed to create history.
The most expensive players in the auctions-> 2008-10:
#1 MS Dhoni, 2008 – INR 6 crores
Six out of the eight teams in the auction had an icon player on their list. Notable names such as Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sourav Ganguly were tagged to their state-owned teams. Virender Sehwag was signed as Delhi’s icon player while Punjab signed Yuvraj Singh. There was little doubt that limited-overs captain, MS Dhoni is going to be the biggest name in the auction.
But nobody had an inkling of what price will Dhoni be bought for. As soon as Dhoni’s name cropped up, the paddles of all the teams went up. The Chennai Super Kings eventually managed to buy Dhoni for a whopping INR 6 crores. Dhoni remains the only player to date for whom all the teams vied in an auction.
#2 Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, 2009 – INR 7.5 crores
The Royal Challengers Bangalore had a forgettable IPL 2008. They finished seventh on the points table. RCB was mocked for picking a Test squad in the inaugural auction. Vijay Mallya, the then-owner of RCB was keen to rejig the side around a few marquee players. He had set his sights on maverick English batsman, Kevin Pietersen. RCB shelled out a massive INR 7.5 crores pay cheque to acquire Pietersen.
The Chennai Super Kings for the second successive season paid the most price to acquire a player. They were joint highest bidders along with RCB in the 2009 auction. CSK appeared keen to buy talismanic English allrounder Andrew Flintoff in the auction. They paid him INR 7.5 crores thereby making both the English stars the most expensive ones in the IPL.
#3 Kieron Pollard and Shane Bond, 2010 – INR 3.4 crores
The most expensive team in the IPL, Mumbai Indians joined the bandwagon in 2010. They didn’t have the best seasons in the first two years. Mumbai wanted to set things straight in the third season. They wanted promising all-rounder Kieron Pollard no matter what price he came in for. MI eventually bought Pollard for INR 3.4 crores.
The Kolkata Knight Riders much like Mumbai Indians were nowhere near the team they are now in the first few years. They had finished an agonizing eight on the points table in 2009. KKR wanted to ensure damage control in 2010. They bought star kiwi pacer Shane Bond for INR 3.4 crores in the 2010 auction.
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