most expensive foreign players in IPL history

By Ravi - Dec 21, 2025 11:22 AM
Last updated on Dec 21, 2025 11:29 AM

During the IPL auction, all the attention is focused on foreign players. Most of the big Indian players are retained by their teams even before the auction begins. Therefore, foreign players are the main topic of discussion during the auction, and they often attract huge bids. In the last few years, a lot of money has been spent on several foreign players in the IPL auction. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and many other big names are on this list. The IPL 2026 auction also saw fierce bidding for foreign players. So, let's take a look at the top 5 most expensive foreign players in IPL history.

1. Cameron Green – ₹25.2 Crore (KKR, 2026)

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has now become the most expensive foreign player in IPL history. He received a massive bid in the IPL 2026 auction. Kolkata Knight Riders bought Cameron Green for ₹25.2 crore. No other foreign player had previously received a bid of ₹25 crore. Green has previously played for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians. In his IPL career so far, Green has played 29 matches, scoring 707 runs and taking 16 wickets.

2. Mitchell Starc – ₹24.75 crore (KKR, 2024)

Mitchell Starc is the second most expensive foreign player in IPL history. He was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a staggering ₹24.75 crore in the IPL 2024 mega auction. Starc justified his hefty price tag, taking 17 wickets in 14 matches and playing a crucial role in KKR's title win. However, due to his high price, KKR released him the following season, and he later joined Delhi Capitals. Mitchell Starc has played a total of 52 matches in the IPL and taken 65 wickets.

3. Pat Cummins – ₹20.5 crore (SRH, 2024)

In the IPL 2024 mega auction, several foreign players attracted huge bids, including Australian captain Pat Cummins. Cummins had led Australia to victory in the 2023 World Cup in India, which significantly increased his demand in the IPL. Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired him for a staggering ₹20.5 crore. Pat Cummins also captained Sunrisers Hyderabad and will continue to lead the team in IPL 2026. Cummins made his IPL debut in 2014 and has so far taken 79 wickets in 72 matches, while also scoring 612 runs.

4. Sam Curran – 18.5 crore (Punjab Kings, 2023)

In the IPL 2023 auction, Punjab Kings placed a massive bid for England all-rounder Sam Curran. The franchise acquired him for a staggering sum of ₹18.5 crore. He played 14 matches that season, scoring 276 runs and taking 10 wickets. Overall, Sam Curran has played 64 matches in the IPL, scoring 997 runs at a strike rate of 136 and taking 59 wickets.

5. Matheesha Pathirana – ₹18 crore (KKR, 2026)

Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has become the fifth most expensive foreign player in IPL history. He was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹18 crore in the IPL 2026 auction. Pathirana was previously part of Chennai Super Kings and had performed very well for them. He has played a total of 32 matches so far and taken 47 wickets. In the last season, he took 13 wickets in 12 matches. CSK had released him, and he will now be seen playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026.

Most Expensive Players in IPL History (2008–2026)

Also Read: Five most expensive uncapped players in IPL history

« Previous Five most expensive uncapped players in IPL history

Next » REN vs HUR Dream11 Team, Vision11, Match Prediction, Live Streaming