Stage is set for IPL 2023 mini auctions scheduled for Friday. All the 10 franchises of the premier league have geared up to bid for the most suited players for their respective teams, but with a limited purse left with them and teams would be going all the way to the battle but sensibly.
Also, the IPL 2023 auctions, though touted to be mini, can prove a catalyst in the future course of action for all the teams. This time around, there are fewer chances for a single player to sign a pricey contract, yet the bidding can go as high as one can expect.
As many as 61 batters, 155 allrounders, 58 wicket keepers and 131 bowlers will be trying their luck in the IPL 2023 auction. As we have seen in the past every season a player surprises emerging as the highest bidding player.
Let’s have a look at the all-time highest bidding players:
1) IPL 2022 – Ishan Kishan (Rs 15.25 crore)
The pocket dynamo, Ishan Kishan, grabbed a lot of attention in the auctions as it was expected. Playing for Mumbai Indians, he had been a runaway match winner. Mumbai Indians brought him back at a whopping sum of 15.25 crore after a tough bidding. With this, he also became the 4th most expensive player in the history of IPL.
2) IPL 2021- Chris Morris (Rs.16.25 crore)
The Proteas star all-rounder, Chris Morris was the highest bid in the auction for IPL 2021. He is still the most expensive purchase in the history of IPL. Rajasthan Royals bought Morris for a sum of Rs 16.25 crore. Morris couldn’t live up to his price tag as throughout the season managing to score only 67 runs at an average of 13.40. With bowl, he grabbed just 15 wickets from the 11 matches that he played at a decent economy of 9.17.
3) IPL 2020- Pat Cummins (Rs.15.5 crore)
The Australian spearhead Pat Cummins has become the most expensive player to go under the hammer in IPL 2020. Kolkata Knight Riders bought him after an intense bidding war. He went on to prove his worth by taking 12 wickets in the season with an economy of 7.86. He made the contribution in the lower order by scoring quick valuable runs when the team needed. Cummins turned out to be a steal deal for KKR.
4) IPL 2019- Jaydev Unadkat, Varun Chakravarthy (Rs.8.4 crore)
IPL 2019 mini auctions took everyone by surprise as an uncapped Indian player grabbed all the spotlight. Varun Chakravarthy, an Indian mystery spinner, became the top bid in this season. He was purchased by Kings XI Punjab at 8.4 crore after an aggressive bidding war.
Moreover, Jaydev Unadkat, who was a big fish in the previous year’s IPL Auction, got the highest price tag in this season too. Rajasthan Royals brought him back at a big amount of Rs 8.4 crore.
However, Varun played just one match with a single wicket to his name in the entire tournament whereas Unadkat also had an ordinary season as he snatched 10 wickets in 11 matches with an economy of 10.66.
5) IPL 2017, 2018- Ben Stokes (Rs.14.5 crore, Rs. 12.5 crore)
English destructive all-rounder Ben Stokes was the highest bidding player in the auctions for 2 consecutive seasons of IPL. In IPL 2017, the new franchise Rising Pune Supergiants went after Stokes and got him in IPL 2017 at a whopping amount of Rs 14.25 crore. In the next season, Rajasthan Royals stole the deal as they brought Stokes at a huge sum of Rs 12.5 crore. He has been magnificent in the IPL with both bat and ball.
6) IPL 2016- Shane Watson (Rs.9.5 crore)
Shane Watson snatched the highest deal in IPL 2016 auction. The legendary Australian all-rounder was at his peak at that time and was a steal deal for Royal Challengers Bangalore. RCB bought at the highest price money of 8.5 crore. Although his performance with the bat was an ordinary one as he scored 179 runs from 16 matches averaging 13.76. But he was the best bowling option for RCB as he grabbed 20 wickets in the season at a magical economy of 8.58.
7) IPL 2014, 2015- Yuvraj Singh (Rs.14 crore, Rs.16 crore)
Yuvraj Singh, the man who needs no introduction, was the most expensive player in two consecutive seasons of the IPL. The explosive Indian all-rounder was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 14 crore in IPL 2014 auction. He scored 376 runs in 14 matches averaging 34.18. In 2015 auctions, Delhi Daredevils bought the India all-rounder with the record price tag of Rs.16 crore. He played a total of 14 matches for DD, scoring just 248 runs at a decent average of 19.07. In 2 seasons, he took just 6 wickets.
8) IPL 2013- Glenn Maxwell (Rs.6.3 crore)
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was the biggest fish in the IPL auctions of 2013. He was purchased by IPL’s most decorated franchiser Mumbai Indians after an intense bidding war with Hyderabad. But he didn’t play consistently and appeared in only three matches in the whole season. The destructive all-rounder could score just 36 runs with his bat.
9) IPL 2012- Ravindra Jadeja (Rs.12.8 crore)
The left-handed all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja stole the show in 2012 IPL auctions as he was the player with the highest price tag. Chennai Super Kings went after Jadeja, as they won the bidding after a fierce battle. He had a good season as he scored 191 runs in the 19 matches, he appeared, while he took 12 wickets at a good economy of 7.80.
10) IPL 2011- Gautam Gambhir (Rs.14.9 crore)
India’s 2011 World Cup final Man of the Match, and legendary left-handed opener was the highlight of 2011 IPL auctions. He won the highest bidding as KKR bought him at a huge price worth Rs 14.9 crore. Kolkata Knight Riders saw him as the captain of their team. In his first season with KKR, Gambhir smashed 378 runs with a great average of 34.36 in the 15 matches he played.
11) IPL 2010- Kieron Pollard, Shane Bond (Rs. 4.8 crore)
Caribbean explosive all-rounder Kieron Pollard and New Zealand legend Shane Bond were the highest bidding players in the IPL 2010 auctions. Pollard smashed a total of 273 runs in the 14 matches he played for Mumbai Indians at an exceptional strike rate of 185.71. Whereas Shane had an average season for KKR as he could just take 9 wickets from 8 that he played at an economy of 7.22.
12) IPL 2009- Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff (Rs.9.8 crore)
IPL 2009 comprised several legendary cricketers. The auctions hogged the limelight when former England captain Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff grabbed the highest bid in the auction of IPL 2009 season. Royal Challengers Bangalore went after Kevin Pietersen while Chennai Super Kings brought Andrew Flintoff at a huge price of Rs 9.8 crore.
13) IPL 2008- MS Dhoni (Rs.9.8 crore)
Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni, who is touted as one of the all-time great players, was the most expensive player in first and inaugural season of IPL 2008. The wicket keeper batsman just led the Indian side to a t20 victory in the previous year’s T20 World Cup. Dhoni was bought by Chennai Super Kings at a handsome amount of Rs 9.8 crores. He had an amazing debut season with CSK, he scored as many as 414 runs from 16 matches he played. This came at an average of 41.40.