5 Most Expensive Players in the History of IPL: In the history of IPL, players have made a lot of money. This has prompted many teams to shell out huge bucks for players during the auctions.
It is always a fun time for fans when a player goes under the hammer. But not every player gets their wish fulfilled and some get disappointed.
1. Mitchell Starc
Starc is a left-arm fast bowler who was regarded as one of the most talented bowlers in modern-day cricket. He played a vital role in the Australian team that won the 2015 World Cup and was also adjudged Man of the Tournament.
He was born on 30 January 1990 in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales. He was a wicketkeeper until he was 14 years old and then he decided to switch his career to bowling.
During his early days in professional cricket, Starc had several injuries and was struggling to get a consistent spot on the Australian side. But after a stint in England, where he played county cricket for Yorkshire, he showed that he had something special.
When he returned to Australia, Starc was a different player and was rewarded with his maiden baggy green. He went on to become the Australian’s leading bowler in ODIs.
While playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, he became their fastest bowler to pick up 100 ODI wickets. He also broke the record for most wickets in a single World Cup match.
His total net worth is estimated to be around $18 million. It comes from his salary, auctions, and sponsorships.
He is married to Alyssa Healy, an Australian Women’s Team wicketkeeper since April 15, 2016. The two met at age 9 and started dating.
The couple got married a year after winning the World Cup and haven’t had any children together yet. They are both very health conscious and regularly do exercise and yoga to keep themselves in perfect shape.
Mitchell Starc is a very successful cricketer and has an extensive fan following on social media. He was recently featured on the cover of Rolls Royce’s latest advertising campaign.
2. Kyle Jamieson
During the IPL auction last year, New Zealand’s pace-bowling star Kyle Jamieson sold for an insane amount of 15 crores. RCB’s Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson was confident about the Kiwi all-rounder, as he had shown great performance during his international debut.
The 6 feet 8 inches tall bowler has a knack for extracting awkward bounce from the track. Moreover, he has an excellent release point and can swing the ball a long way. This makes him an intimidating presence on the field.
He has an impressive career record in Tests and ODIs. He has claimed 36 wickets in the longer format and is a part of the Black Caps’ 'Player of the Series award for his impressive 11-wicket haul against the West Indies in December 2018.
His versatility with the bat is also a major plus point. He has scored two five-wicket hauls in his first four Test matches and is an integral member of the Black Caps’ batting line-up.
This young fast bowler is one of the most exciting additions to RCB’s squad in 2021. He will be looking to guide the ViratKohli-led side to their maiden title in the IPL this season.
In the auction, he was one of the most coveted players in the game. Several teams showed interest in him, including Delhi Capitals and the Punjab Kings.
However, he was bought by RCB for an amount of Rs15 crores. This was the biggest amount that a player has ever been paid for an IPL player.
The New Zealand pacer has been a revelation for his country since his debut against India in last year’s home Test series. He has tormented the Indian batsmen in his debut matches and has been a valuable asset for New Zealand across all formats.
3. Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes is a famous England cricketer who has always been one of the most expensive players in ipl. He was paid a whopping Rs 12.5 crore by Rajasthan Royals in 2018 and he was also signed for a whopping amount of money by Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017.
Ben Andrew Stokes was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 4 June 1991. He is a left-handed middle-order batsman and right-arm fast bowler who has played in both Tests and One Day Internationals.
He made his Test debut in 2013 and is a regular member of England's squad. He has been a key player in the team's recent successes, particularly during the 2015-16 tour of South Africa.
His talent was spotted from an early age. He began playing county cricket for Durham in 2009 and took the wicket of Mark Ramprakash with only his third delivery in professional cricket.
Despite being teased over his English accent at school, he was able to excel in several tournaments, including the 2010 U-19 World Cup where he scored a century against India. He then grew into a consistent all-rounder as his career progressed, scoring runs and taking wickets with both bat and ball.
The former Nottinghamshire bowler, who was drafted in by England for the first time in 2016, has been a regular performer in Test matches and T20 Internationals for the past few years. His batting skills are impressive, and he can score big runs at the top of the order.
Stokes is a well-liked player with an impressive fan following and his success in the sport has helped boost his net worth. He has several endorsement deals with popular brands and he owns several luxury cars, including a blue 195 mph Mercedes AMG GT63. He also owns a luxury house and a few real estate properties in his country.
4. Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins is an Australian fast bowler who is considered one of the top players in the world. He is also a co-vice-captain of the Australia national team and has been the leading wicket-taker for the country in Test matches and ODIs.
He is a popular figure in the IPL and has been the recipient of many awards. He has played for the Kolkata Knight Riders for several seasons and is a highly valued player of the franchise. He has earned a considerable sum of money from his lucrative contracts and brand endorsements.
When he was a teenager, he dreamed of becoming a professional cricketer. He was inspired by the famous cricketer, Brett Lee, who had a successful career as a fast bowler.
At the age of 18, he made his Test debut against South Africa. He became the youngest Australian to take five wickets on his debut in November 2011 against South Africa at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg and was awarded Man of the Match.
After this, he started taking more and more wickets for his country and became their leading wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs. He was a key member of Australia’s 2015 World Cup squad and he was named the top bowler in Cricbuzz’s Test XI for 2019.
In his IPL auction history, he became one of the most expensive overseas players. He was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2020 IPL auction for 15.5 crores.
He is currently the co-vice-captain for Australia and has been the leading wicket-taker in Tests and T20 Internationals for the country. He has also received the Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 2020.
5. Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran is a West Indies wicket-keeper batsman. He is a left-handed cricketer and also an off-break bowler. He is a rising star of the West Indies team. He made his ODI debut against England on 20 February 2019.
Nicholas was born in Couva, Trinidad, and Tobago on October 2, 1995. He is a member of the West Indies cricket team, and he plays for the West Indies in domestic matches.
He started his cricket career at Naparima College in San Fernando, Trinidad, and Tobago, where he represented the schoolboys. He also played for the West Indies under-19s in several games against Bangladesh.
Pooran was named the West Indies’ rising star by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the World Cup in 2019 and was named vice-captain of the team in 2020. He scored a century in his first ODI and also led the West Indies in averages during the tournament.
However, he was banned from playing for the West Indies following a ball-tampering incident during the third ODI against Afghanistan in November 2019. The International Cricket Council added 5 demerit points to his record and also suspended him for four T20Is.
Despite this, he was signed up by Kings XI Punjab for a salary of INR 4.2 crores in the 2019 IPL auction. He has since then been paid that amount every year.
In addition, he has earned a large sum of money through brand campaigns. His net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million.
He also owns a white Hyundai Tucson SUV, which costs $35,413. He enjoys jet skiing when he has time off from cricket. He also donates half of his earnings to charities.