In a blockbuster shift for Indian cricket, Rishabh Pant shattered records by fetching a staggering ₹27 crore from Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 mega-auction, eclipsing all previous bids in IPL history. This explosive deal not only crowned the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman as the league’s priciest star but also ignited debates on skyrocketing valuations amid the IPL’s global boom. As franchises splurge amid fierce rivalries, these top 10 single-auction hauls reveal the T20 spectacle’s unbridled financial frenzy.​

Record-Shattering Rankings

Franchises have rewritten the auction playbook, with five newcomers crashing the elite list from the 2025 Jeddah showdown. Below is the definitive top 10, ranked by bid amount, spotlighting players, teams, prices, and pivotal years.

Bidding Wars Reshape the Game

From Yuvraj Singh’s trailblazing ₹16 crore in 2015 to Pant’s landmark haul, auction purses have ballooned over 180%, fueled by IPL’s broadcast riches and international stardom. The 2025 event saw Indian captains like Pant and Iyer dominate, signaling a homegrown power surge over foreign pacers who once ruled. All-rounders continue to thrive, their dual threats justifying the premiums in an era of data-driven franchise gambles.​