Money Spent at Each IPL Auction: How Cricket’s Richest League has Evolved Over its first decade since inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League has grown exponentially in monetary terms. The transformation reflects the rising popularity and the keen competition among franchises to acquire the best talents.
Franchises scrambled to form their teams from scratch as the inaugural IPL auction in 2008 witnessed a total spend of USD 36.43 million. This was the birth of a revolution in cricket, with sports and entertainment amalgamated in a proportion unimaginable before. Skip to 2024, and the story is a tad different. In the auction last year, 10 participating franchises spent a record INR 230.45 crore, underlining the staggering growth of the league.
This spending trend would only go higher in the IPL 2025 mega auction scheduled in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. Analysts predict that money spent at each IPL auction may hit a new high this year with an increased auction purse of INR 120 crore per franchise. Punjab Kings enters the auction with the highest purse of INR 110.50 crore, and Rajasthan Royals go with the lowest balance of INR 41 crore.
The highlight moment in the history of IPL’s auction came in 2024 when Mitchell Starc broke the record, signing with Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 24.75 crore. This epitomized the league’s willingness to spend big bucks to house star players in their setup for gaining a competitive edge.
Historically, the IPL 2022 mega auction was the most spent, with franchises shelling out a total of INR 551.70 crore. It remains to be seen if the IPL 2025 auction will cross this mark. Every fan is now eagerly waiting to witness the revelation of strategies as teams get ready to go after marquee players.
The money spent at each IPL auction has reflected the growth of the league over the years-from a more modest USD 7.65 million in 2009, through INR 431 crore in 2018, and beyond. The numbers tell a fairytale of unprecedented growth. The inclusion of performance pay and match fees in the total salary cap adds another layer to the financial dynamics this year.
Money spent at each IPL auction since 2008
| Year | Money Spent |
|---|---|
| 2008 | USD 36.43 million |
| 2009 | USD 7.65 million |
| 2010 | USD 3.65 million |
| 2011 | USD 62.775 million |
| 2012 | USD 10.995 million |
| 2013 | USD 11.885 million |
| 2014 | INR 262.6 crore |
| 2015 | INR 87.60 crore |
| 2016 | INR 136 crore |
| 2017 | INR 91 crore |
| 2018 | INR 431 crore |
| 2019 | INR 106.80 crore |
| 2020 | INR 140.30 crore |
| 2021 | INR 145.30 crore |
| 2022 | INR 551.70 crore |
| 2023 | INR 167 crore |
| 2024 | INR 230.45 crore |
With the IPL 2025 mega auction just around the corner, one thing has become crystal clear: money spent in each IPL auction sets a new benchmark and rewrites the cricketing world to make it one of the most lucrative sports globally.
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Which players have earned most from IPL auctions?
