IPL 2026 Auction: KKR’s Most Expensive Player Season-wise (2008–2025)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League. The team has won the title three times so far, in 2012, 2014, and most recently in 2024, when the team performed brilliantly under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer and the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir.
KKR's success has depended not only on the field but also on its strategic think tank. The team management has always shown prudence in its player selection process.
On several occasions, they have placed their trust in players who later became the cornerstones of the team. Veteran players like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine did not perform as well as expected in some seasons, yet KKR maintained their faith in them. This is a prime example of the team's loyalty policy.
Interestingly, an incident involving Ajinkya Rahane also garnered attention. Rahane played for KKR in 2022, but only got a chance in seven matches. In 2023, when he played for Chennai Super Kings and scored a half-century against KKR at Eden Gardens, he said, "How could I score runs when I wasn't even playing?" Many fans took this as a dig at KKR. However, the team management didn't take it personally and reinstated him in the team the following season, even making him captain.
Regarding auction history, KKR has relied on a big name in every season. In 2008, Ishant Sharma was bought for ₹3.8 crore, while in 2011, Gautam Gambhir became the most expensive player at ₹11.04 crore. In 2020, Pat Cummins was bought for ₹15.5 crore, and in 2024, Mitchell Starc was bought for ₹24.75 crore, the highest bids in KKR history.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) most expensive players in every IPL auction season
| Year | Player | Price (in ₹) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ishant Sharma | 3.8 crore |
| 2009 | Mashrafe Mortaza | 2.9 crore |
| 2010 | Shane Bond | 4.8 crore |
| 2011 | Gautam Gambhir | 11.04 crore |
| 2012 | Brendon McCullum | 4.4 crore |
| 2013 | Sachithra Senanayake | 3.3 crore |
| 2014 | Jacques Kallis | 5.5 crore |
| 2015 | KC Cariappa | 2.4 crore |
| 2016 | Jaydev Unadkat | 1.6 crore |
| 2017 | Trent Boult | 5 crore |
| 2018 | Chris Lynn | 9.6 crore |
| 2019 | Carlos Brathwaite | 5 crore |
| 2020 | Pat Cummins | 15.5 crore |
| 2021 | Shakib Al Hasan | 3.2 crore |
| 2022 | Shreyas Iyer | 12.25 crore |
| 2023 | Shakib Al Hasan | 1.5 crore |
| 2024 | Mitchell Starc | 24.75 crore |
| 2025 | Venkatesh Iyer | 23.75 crore |