IPL 2026 Auction: The countdown has begun for the IPL 2026 auction and it is set to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Whether it’s fierce bidding wars or unexpected picks by franchises, IPL auctions never fail to captivate Indian cricket fans. And with this year’s mini-auction now just four days away, it’s the perfect moment to look back at some of the most iconic and extravagant buys that have shaped the league since its inaugural edition in 2008.
Top 5 buys of all time
Even though it may not ring true to the ears of many cricket fans, there are more Indians in the list of the most expensive players in the history of the tournament than Australians. The top 5 biggest buys made by IPL clubs in the 17 year history of the tournament have been listed as follows:
1 Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 cr, LSG)
Dubbed by many cricket fans as the Indian Mr. 360, India’s explosive middle order batsman and wicketkeeper, Rishabh Pant tops the list with a valuation of Rs 27 crore. Pant became the most expensive player in IPL auction history in 2025 when IPL club Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) won a bidding war to secure the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter for Rs 27 crore.
2 Shreyas Iyer (Rs 26.75 cr, PBK)
One of the top performers for his club, Shreyas Iyer lines just behind Pant as the second most expensive player in IPL history with a 2025 valuation of Rs 26.75 crore. His leadership qualities, middle-order batting strength, and consistency in IPL seasons made him one of the hottest properties in last year’s mega auction.
3 Mitchell Starc (Rs 24.75, KKR)
Often labeled as one of Australia’s most dangerous fast bowlers, Mitchell Starc ranks as third most expensive player in IPL history. Stark set a new benchmark in 2024 IPL auctions, when he was acquired by SRH for Rs 24.75 crore. This deal set up Stark to become the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, a record he has held ever since.
4 Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 23.75 cr, KKR)
A breakout all-rounder, Venkatesh Iyer made waves in the 2025 auction, fetching ₹23.75 crore. As per sports analyst, Iyer’s ability to accelerate the scoring and contribute with useful bowling made him a highly sought after player in last year’s auction where he was acquired by SRK owned KKR.
5 Pat Cummins (Rs 20.5 cr, SRH)
Australia’s Test and limited-overs captain who’s famously known all over India for silencing an all Indian crowd on the day of the last Men’s ICC ODI world Cup Final in Ahmedabad ranks at the 5th spot in this list. Cummins was bought for Rs 20.50 crore in the 2024 auction, making him one of the most expensive overseas buys ever.
IPL Auction 2026
With 4 days remaining for next season’s auction, all ten franchises have already published the list of their retained and released players.
Many analysts expect high bids for top talents like Sanju Samson, Vaibhav Suryanshi and KL Rahul who will form a part of the player pool for the upcoming auction. Together all 10 franchises possess a combined purse of Rs 237.55 crore to bid on 350 shortlisted players to fill 77 available slots.