The Indian Premier League (IPL) has today transformed itself from a mere sports event to showcasing cultural significance as we Indian follow cricket as a religion. Since the first IPL season, the tournament has brought the need for innovation in the world of cricket. And for Indians, cricket is religion where it transcends boundaries and brings together players from diverse backgrounds to compete at the highest level.
So, as a yearly event, we are nearing yet another season of IPL, wherein, we’ll look into the most expensive players in IPL this time.
It is also worthy to note that IPL has always been the breeding ground to showcase players’ expertise in the world of cricket. Here, especially in India, talent is valued the most, wherein, the auction room becomes the stage for high-stakes battles among franchises who are looking to onboard the most coveted players to increase their chances of winning the overall tournament.
These players are more than just a professional. They are themselves brands who possess the ability to turn the conclusion of a match single-handedly. With this, the focus of the IPL auctions have always lied in pursuing these cricketing maestros, where price tags often soar to new heights in the quest for supremacy on the field.
Let’s read more about these most expensive IPL players and understand why they are valued so much along with the teams they have joined and the fees they command. We will present all the key information at a glance:
Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders - INR 24.75 Crore)
Total wickets in IPL: 34
Nationality: Australian
The most valuable player tag for the 2024 IPL season has been taken by Mitchell Starc. He is a well known Australian fast bowler who brings sheer pace and precision to any team he represents. Today, Mitchell is globally known for his lethal yorkers and the ability to swing the ball both ways. And with this capability at his disposal, Starc is a nightmare for batters, especially in the death overs.
Furthermore, having been part of cricket for numerous years now, he has garnered both the needed experience and skill; thus making him a valuable asset for any franchise. This hefty price tag really showcases his reputation as one of the most feared bowlers in the world; thereby making his presence in any team bolsters their bowling attack significantly.
Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad - INR 20.50 Crore)
Total wickets in IPL: 45
Nationality: Australian
Another Australian player who has made to the list is Pat Cummins. Bring an all-rounder, he is a prized asset for any given team. Currently at the age of 30, Cummins brings versatility and experience because of which he is capable of generating pace and contributing with the bat down the order. Additionally, his ability to perform under pressure makes him a valuable addition to any lineup. He delivers his promises. For instance, we saw when he won the 2023 Cricket World Cup Final against India.
So, whether delivering fiery spells with the ball or scoring crucial runs for the team, Cummins can turn the game around single-handedly, thereby making him an indispensable player in the T20 format.
Daryl Mitchell (Chennai Super Kings - INR 14 Crore)
Total runs in IPL: 33
Nationality: New Zealander
Now, if we talk about the third highest paid player in this year’s IPL season, Daryl Mitchell is one of the most sought-after New Zealand all-rounders. Over the years, this player has built a robust reputation for carrying out explosive batting sessions while also being a handy medium-pace bowling.
Providing depth to the batting order and offering crucial overs with the ball as well, Mitchell's flexibility and adaptability across different scenarios has also made him one of the most valuable assets in the IPL tournament. Therefore, his presence can strengthen any team; thereby adding balance and firepower to their lineup.
Harshal Patel (Punjab Kings - INR 11.75 Crore)
Total wickets in IPL: 111
Nationality: Indian
In fourth position we have our Indian player - Harshal Patel. As the medium-pacer, Harshal is one of the most handy bowlers to spearhead the bowling attack for his IPL team. Also, Patel is known for his variations and ability to pick up wickets in a consistent manner. This makes him a key player, especially in the T20 format. In addition, Harshal’s unfettered knack of delivering this expertise during the pressure situations undoubtedly make him a valuable asset.
Alzarri Joseph (Royal Challengers Bengaluru - INR 11.50)
Total wickets in IPL: 20
Nationality: West Indies
The fifth position is taken up by Alzarri Joseph, a West Indies speedster who brings raw pace and aggression to his IPL team.
He is known for troubling the batsman with his pace and bounce; thereby adding potency to his team's bowling attack. He always focuses on creating crucial breakthroughs which makes him a valuable asset. His team will be on the lookout and expects Alzarri to come in handy and provide early breakthroughs and contain runs in the powerplay overs.
Spencer Johnson (Gujarat Titans - INR 10 Crore)
Total runs in IPL: NA
Nationality: Australian
As an emerging all rounder Spencer Johnson, who is positioned at 6th, is expected to make his mark in IPL 2024 with his explosive batting and useful medium-pace bowling. Spencer is the sixth biggest; his ability to perform under pressure while contributing across various aspects of the game makes him an ideal and exciting prospect for any IPL team franchise. The team bank on him to deliver match-winning performances in this 2024 IPL season.
Sameer Rizvi (Chennai Super Kings - INR 8.40 Crore)
Total runs in IPL: NA
Nationality: Indian
Earning his spot on his IPL team, a young talent who is the 7th most expensive player in IPL 2024 is Sameer Rizvi. His impressive performances in domestic cricket has given him this needed push. Rizvi's hard-hitting batting style coupled with useful spin bowling can greatly add depth to his team's squad. Therefore, this potential to excel on the big stage makes him a valuable addition to the lineup. Looking at his capability, his team will be definitely looking to groom him into a match-winner for the future.
Rilee Rossouw (Punjab Kings - INR 8 Crore)
Total runs in IPL: 262
Nationality: South African
Rilee Rossouw has booked his place at the 8th position due to the needed experience and firepower he brings to support his IPL team's batting lineup. As a right handed batsman, he is well known for his aggressive stroke play with the ability to anchor the innings. This really makes him a valuable asset, especially in the middle order. And in addition to this, Rilee’s consistency in putting up runs in the board and the capability he garners to accelerate when needed is expected to make him a noteworthy player in the IPL tournament.
Rovman Powell (Rajasthan Royals - INR 7.40 Crore)
Total runs in IPL: 257
Nationality: Jamaican
Rovman Powell smashed his way to the 9th most expensive player in the IPL tournament 2024. Rovman is a Jamaican all-rounder who brings an explosive batting capability along with a handy medium-pace bowling. He is known to be a big-hitter, coupled with being athletic on the field. This greatly adds firepower to his team's middle order. Furthermore, his ability to change the course of the game single-handedly also makes him a valuable asset for any given team in the IPL 2024 season.
Shahrukh Khan (Gujarat Titans - INR 7.40 Crore)
Total runs in IPL: 426
Nationality: Indian
The 10th player who has made the list of most expensive players in the IPL season 2024 is Shahrukh Khan. Shahrukh of the cricket world, is a promising young Indian batsman whose aggressive batting style and ability to clear the ropes has made his name shine out in the crowd. With his ability, Shahrukh can significantly add the needed firepower to his team's batting lineup. He is said to have a knack for scoring quick runs in the middle overs so as to finish games in a more comprehensive manner.
