IPL: Top 5 expensive overseas players in auction history

Quality overseas players have always been a key factor in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the upcoming 2026 season is not going to be an exception. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) broke the bank and bagged two of the biggest overseas signings for the next season — Australia’s all-rounder Cameron Green for a record-breaking INR 25.20 crore and Sri Lanka’s young pacer Matheesha Pathirana for INR 18 crore. With this, Green became the most expensive overseas player ever in the history of the competition.

Previously, the record belonged to his Australian teammate, veteran pacer Mitchell Starc, for whom KKR spent INR 24.75 crore at the IPL 2024 auction. He played a crucial role in that season as KKR were crowned champions in IPL 2024. 

Starc now moves to second place, followed by another Australian, Pat Cummins, in third. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) went all guns blazing for the current Australian skipper at the IPL 2024 auction and eventually secured him for a mammoth INR 20.50 crore.

In fourth place is England all-rounder Sam Curran, whom Punjab Kings (PBKS) bought for INR 18.50 crore at the IPL 2023 auction. Curran had won the Player of the Tournament award at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022 in Australia, where he played a pivotal role in helping England lift the title. PBKS showed faith in him by spending that massive amount.

The fifth spot now belongs to Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana. After spending four seasons with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), KKR has become the new home for the pacer. Under Dwayne Bravo’s guidance, Pathirana will look to regain his best rhythm, as he looked a bit off colour in terms of economy rate (10.13) despite taking 13 wickets in 12 games. He already has the experience of playing 32 matches over the last four seasons.  

Here are the top 5 expensive overseas players in IPL auction history

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