Top 5 Highest Bids in IPL History: What to Expect From the IPL 2026 Auction?

From being a domestic Twenty20 rivalry, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has developed into the most expensive cricket league in the world. The auction table has produced epic bidding wars, unheard-of price tags, and enormous surprises over the course of 17 seasons. The IPL 2026 Auction will happen on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. 

Expectations are quite high as the 2026 mega auction cycle comes near, particularly in light of the historic 2025 auction that reset all IPL expenditure benchmarks.

This article provides an in-depth review of what to expect in the 2026 IPL auction and discusses the Top 5 highest bids in IPL history.

Top 5 Highest Bids in IPL History

Rishabh Pant – ₹27.00 Crore (Lucknow Super Giants, 2025):

At the 2025 super auction, Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL auction ever. He was the most popular player due to his explosive batting style, left-handed versatility, leadership potential, and capacity to win games on his own. A tug-of-war broke out between several teams to get him, but Lucknow Super Giants made an incredible bid of ₹27 crore.

The sale of Pant is a tribute to the importance placed on Indian key players, particularly those who can perform well under duress and provide wicketkeeping support.

Shreyas Iyer – ₹26.75 Crore (Punjab Kings, 2025):

Shreyas Iyer became the second-most expensive purchase in IPL history, falling only ₹0.25 crore short of the record. Iyer was the ideal fit for Punjab Kings, who were in dire need of a reliable middle-order hitter and a possible captain. His value was increased by his calm leadership, ability to anchor chases, and consistency.

A major shift was evident in the 2025 auction: teams were prepared to spend a lot of money on Indian hitters rather than foreign talent, a trend that is likely to continue.

Venkatesh Iyer – ₹23.75 Crore (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2025):

KKR's high bid for Venkatesh Iyer was one of the major surprises of the 2025 auction. In T20 cricket, Venkatesh offers the ideal flexibility as a potent left-handed top-order batsman with seam-up bowling ability.

His impressive ₹23.75 crore acquisition by KKR was justified by his recent games in India, great local performances, and finishing abilities. He became the most expensive all-rounder among Indians and the third-highest auction purchase.

Mitchell Starc – ₹24.75 Crore (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2024):

Mitchell Starc held the record in the 2024 auction till Indian players began to dominate the charts. The elite Australian pacer became the most expensive overseas player ever when KKR spent ₹24.75 crore for him.

Starc was a premium match-winner because of his experience, left-arm angle, and ability to take wickets in powerplay and death overs. Even though he only played in a few IPL seasons, his strike rate and brand value drew a lot of notice.

Pat Cummins – ₹20.50 Crore (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2024):

In 2024, SRH made a huge proposal of ₹20.50 crore for Pat Cummins, another Australian pacer and World Cup-winning skipper. This was the second-highest price tag ever at the time.

Teams were willing to make major expenditures because of Cummins' clutch bowling, lower-order hitting, and leadership qualities. The bidding figures were also greatly influenced by his leadership role.

Key Highlight

• Rishabh Pant is the most expensive player in IPL auction history, with a record of ₹27.00 cr (2025).
• The significant purchases made by Shreyas and Venkatesh Iyer in the same 2025 auction highlight how franchises have started investing heavily in Indian talent (not just international talent).
• Before 2025, foreign players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc dominated the top bids, but with the emergence of Indian talents, the situation has changed.

What to Expect From the IPL 2026 Auction?

Indian players will continue to dominate big bids:

Given that three Indian players (Pant, Shreyas, and Venkatesh) secured the top three spots in 2025, teams seem at ease making significant investments in Indian core players rather than well-known international players. There is likely to be more of the same in 2026: domestic hitters or all-rounders who have recently performed well could fetch bids of more than ₹20 crore.

Indian Players Will Dominate the Top Bracket:

Indian match winners are becoming more valuable to franchises because:

• There is no overseas limit, thus they are always eligible for selection.
• They form the core of the team.
• Any condition—spin, pace, or slow decks—is suitable for them.

It also means that the most sought-after players will be wrist-spinners, seam-bowling all-rounders, and Indian hitters.

Huge Demand for All-Rounders:

The basis of T20 strategy is its all-rounders.

In 2026, plan to:

• Bidding wars will be sparked by seam bowling all-rounders.
• powerful finishers who can earn huge profits by bowling two to three overs.
• Young domestic all-rounders can easily pay between ₹8 and ₹15 crore.

Overseas Stars Will Still Make an Impact:

Given the dominance of Indian players, international stars will observe:

• High bids are drawn to the top fast bowlers.
• There is a demand for explosive openers.
• A lot of attention is being paid to utility all-rounders, such as those with profiles similar to Rashid Khan.

However, until a generational T20 talent joins the pool, they are unlikely to cross the ₹27+ crore level.

Uncapped Indian Talents Could Become Millionaires:

Breakout tales are produced at every big auction.

Young, uncapped players may receive unexpected bids in 2026 because of:

• Outstanding achievements for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
• Growing opportunities in India A
• Significant impact of domestic tournaments

These players can quickly increase their basic price from ₹20 lakh to ₹5–10 crore.

 

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