Top 5 Most expensive benched players in IPL history
Over the years, several cricketers have surprisingly warmed the bench despite their hefty pay cheques.
4. T. Natarajan: 2025
Left-arm seamer T. Natarajan in IPL 2025 was bought by Delhi Capitals for a whopping INR 10.75 crore, but they used him in only one match. DC began the season well under Axar Patel, winning six of their first eight games, but a poor second half saw them finish fifth. Throughout the slump, many repeatedly questioned Natarajan’s absence, especially given his death-overs skills.
Head coach Hemang Badani later clarified that the left-arm pacer was not benched but injured, still recovering from shoulder and fitness issues that had kept him out of competitive cricket since 2024. Despite limited game time and bowling just three overs all season, the Delhi Capitals decided to retain the 34-year-old ahead of IPL 2026. With a lack of quality Indian pacers available in the mini auction and the potential of forming a strong death-overs duo with Mitchell Starc, DC continue to back Natarajan.
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