Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The IPL 2024 Auction will take place today in Dubai, which will witness bidding on 333 players, as 10 teams aim to strengthen their squads by securing a total of 77 players. Before the auction begins, let's take a look at the history of every IPL auction and most expensive players that were sold in each year, since the inception of the cricket league in 2008.
Former India skipper MS Dhoni became the most expensive player in the inaugural IPL auction, securing a Rs 9.50 crore deal with Chennai Super Kings, a team he went on to lead to five IPL titles.
Royal Challengers Bangalore spent Rs 9.80 crore each on former England skipper Kevin Pietersen and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, adding substantial firepower to their squad in the 2009 auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders secured the services of former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond for Rs 4.80 crore, while Mumbai Indians made a wise investment, acquiring West Indies' Kieron Pollard for the same amount.
India opener Gautam Gambhir set a new record as the most expensive player in the 2011 auction, fetching a staggering Rs 14.90 crore bid from Kolkata Knight Riders, eventually leading them to two IPL titles.
Chennai Super Kings spent Rs 12.80 crore on India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the 2012 auction, solidifying their squad and reaping the rewards with three IPL titles during his tenure.
Mumbai Indians secured the hard-hitting Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell for Rs 6.30 crore in the 2013 auction, a move that marked the beginning of Maxwell's impactful IPL career.
Royal Challengers Bangalore broke the bank in 2014, acquiring former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh for a record Rs 14 crore, although the team's overall performance fell short.
Yuvraj Singh moved from RCB to Delhi Daredevils in 2015 for an eye-watering Rs 16 crore, marking one of the costliest transfers in IPL history.
Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson fetched Rs 9.50 crore from RCB in the 2016 auction, becoming a valuable asset with both bat and ball during his tenure.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes became the costliest player in the 2017 IPL auction, joining Rising Pune Supergiants for Rs 14.50 crore.
Following their return after a two-year ban, Rajasthan Royals again went big on Ben Stokes and shelled out Rs 14.50 crore on him in the 2018 auction.
Left-arm India pacer Jaydev Unadkat fetched a bid of Rs 8.40 crore from Rajasthan Royals, while Kings XI Punjab spent the same amount on spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
Kolkata Knight Riders secured the services of Australia all-rounder Pat Cummins in the 2020 auction for a whopping Rs 15.50 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player.
Former South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris was sold for a whopping amount of Rs 16.50 crore to Rajasthan Royals in the 2021 auction, becoming the most expensive player that season.
Mumbai Indians went all out to sign wicket-keeping batter Ishan Kishan in the 2022 auction, spending Rs 15.25 crore for his services.
Punjab Kings made history in the 2023 auction, securing Sam Curran for a staggering Rs 18.50 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history, despite the team finishing eighth in the points table.