Most expensive buys in each team’s IPL Auction history

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction is just around the corner, and teams are already strategizing to strengthen their core while releasing a few players to increase their purse and make a strong impact at the auction. Every IPL auction produces headlines with a marquee player fetching a staggering price, reflecting the fierce competition among franchises to secure top talent.

Each season, teams spend big money to acquire players who can make a difference, leading to some record-breaking bids over the years. The auction has always been a spectacle where franchises go all out to build the most balanced and powerful squads possible.

One of the most memorable examples is Indian veteran all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, who grabbed headlines for two consecutive seasons when he became one of the costliest buys in IPL history. His value at the auction underscored the premium placed on experienced and impactful players.

In the IPL 2025 auction, Lucknow Super Giants created history by acquiring Rishabh Pant as the most expensive player of the season, making him the centre of attention across the cricketing world. Each franchise has its own list of players they’ve gone all in for, those who they believed could become game-changers and help them dominate the tournament.

Over the years, the IPL auction has not just been about team building but also about the spectacle of high-value bids and intense bidding wars that keep fans and franchises on the edge of their seats. Here, let us have a look at the most expensive buys in each team’s IPL auction history and how these big-money moves shaped the fortunes of their respective franchises.

Here are the most expensive buys in each team's IPL auction history

Note:

• The above table lists only those highest-paid players picked in the auction, excluding those retained, traded, or part of the icon players from the 2008 to 2010.