IPL 2025: How Have the Most Expensive Players at the IPL Auction Performed?
Rishabh Pant - Lucknow Super Giants (₹27.00 crore)
Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant made history at the IPL auction in the Middle East in November, as he became the most expensive player in the history of the IPL, with the Lucknow Super Giants splurging a staggering ₹27.00 crore to secure his services.
However, LSG have yet to be repaid for their faith (or funds), with the 27-year-old struggling to find top gear over the early stages of the competition. In five games, he has managed just 19 runs, 15 of which came in a single innings against SRH on March 27.
One of the main reasons the LSG skipper has not come under massive criticism is due to the performances of his teammates, particularly Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, who have been incredible at the top of the order and sit first and third in the orange cap standings, respectively.
The Super Giants will host the Titans this weekend, and our LSG vs. GT prediction is available online right now!
Shreyas Iyer - Punjab Kings (₹26.75 crore)
The biggest shock at the IPL auction was the sale of Shreyas Iyer to the Punjab Kings. Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title last season and was widely expected to captain the team in their title defence in 2025.
The Kings shelled out a whopping ₹26.75 crore to bring him to Punjab and handed him the captain's armband in the process. So far, he has come good, currently on 168 runs in four matches, which places him 11th in the race for the orange cap.
Iyer’s best knock in the competition came against the Gujarat Titans on March 25, when he blasted GT’s bowlers to all parts, finishing on 97* in just 42 deliveries. While he has not hit the same kind of heights since then, his leadership has been vital to PBKS’s impressive start to the season.
The Punjab Kings will face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, so be sure to check out our SRH vs. PBKS prediction ahead of the toss!
Venkatesh Iyer - Kolkata Knight Riders (₹23.75 crore)
After seeing Shreyas Iyer depart for Punjab, the Kolkata Knight Riders prioritised the re-signing of his namesake, Venkatesh, who was one of the standout all-rounders in the 2024 edition of the IPL.
KKR shocked onlookers by forking over ₹23.75 crore for Venkatesh, but he has yet to find the type of form he delivered in past seasons. The defending champs have used him as a specialist batter so far in the competition, but he has managed just 116 runs in six matches.
However, to give credit where it’s due, Venkatesh has looked much better in his last two innings, notching up a quick-fire 60 off 29 deliveries against the Sunrisers and 45 off 29 versus LSG, suggesting that he could be on the verge of a big knock.
Arshdeep Singh - Punjab Kings (₹18.00 crore)
The most expensive bowler at the IPL auction was Arshdeep Singh, who the Punjab Kings retained using their Right to Match card (RTM). Still, he cost the Kings a massive chunk of change - ₹18.00 crore to be exact.
The IPL rocketed Singh to fame over the last four seasons, as he became renowned for his immaculate death bowling. Over the last two seasons of the IPL, the left-arm pacer has racked up 36 wickets in 28 games at a strike rate of around 17.00.
This season, though, he has made a lukewarm start to the competition, currently on six wickets in four games at an average of 25.50. While he is PBKS’s highest-wicket taker in the tournament, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Yuzvendra Chahal - Punjab Kings (₹18.00 crore)
Rounding out the top five highest-paid players at the 2025 Indian Premier League is Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. The 34-year-old is one of the most successful spin bowlers in the history of the IPL, with 206 wickets to his name since his debut in 2013.
However, in keeping with the trend of the highest-paid players so far, Chahal is struggling to find his best form and has only managed one wicket in four matches at an economy rate of 10.09, which is the worst in his IPL career.
Fair to say then, the unpredictable nature of the IPL is evident once again this year, where big money players have largely not lived up to their price tags (as yet), but all of that can still change as we head toward the midway point of the competition.
Don’t forget, SportyTrader will be providing our in-depth cricket predictions for every match throughout the 2025 IPL!
