Top 5 Most expensive benched players in IPL history

The auction of the Indian Premier League often witnesses franchises spending a big sum of money to secure players. However, not every expensive signing finds a regular place in the playing line-up. Over the years, many cricketers have surprisingly warmed the bench despite their hefty pay cheques. Factors such as poor form, constant injuries, and team combination frequently lead franchises to sideline these players.

In some cases, big overseas names struggle to fit into the four-foreign-player rule, while at times Indian stars fail to deliver the expected impact after being bought for massive sums. As a result, teams prefer more in-form options, leaving marquee signings watching from the dugout. 

Here are 5 most expensive players in IPL history who were benched

5. Tim David: 2022

Australian all-rounder Tim David, who was bought by the Mumbai Indians for INR 8.25 crore in the IPL 2022 auction, played in only two of their first seven matches. With scores of 12 and 1, the Australian power-hitter was dropped early as MI had the worst start to an IPL season with seven straight losses.

With the likes of Kieron Pollard, overseas fast bowlers, and South African teen Dewald Brevis in the fray, David was kept out of the XI despite his solid PSL form, where he hit 278 runs at a strike rate of 194. He eventually ended the season, featuring in eight games and scoring 186 runs. His absence had surprised former players like Wasim Jaffer and Graeme Swann, who questioned Mumbai’s decision to bench such an expensive recruit.