IPL 2026 Auction: RCB’s Most Expensive Player Season-wise (2008–2025)
Over the years, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have seen many highs and lows in the IPL auctions. Every season, they’ve been one of the most active and bold teams, never afraid to spend big money on famous players. From the very first season in 2008 to finally winning their first IPL trophy in 2025, RCB’s auction journey has been full of drama and big decisions.
Nearly every year, the Bengaluru outfit made at least one significant acquisition. On three occasions their highest acquisition actually ended up being the most expensive player in the league that season. As the years went on, their auction methodologies shifted, some acquisitions were incredibly successful, others weren't successful, and in many cases the team was back to an off-season of rebuilding the following year.
The franchise frequently chose to invest heavily in batting firepower but lacked bowling stability. Despite possessing some of the biggest names, the coveted IPL trophy came to them after nearly two decades. The face of this team has been Virat Kohli. The batter is the only cricketer to represent a single franchise for 18 straight years. Notably, in 18 seasons, the franchise has spent INR 1450 crore on player salaries and auctions, while in the 2025 season, the splurged INR 82.25 crore.
RCB’s Most Expensive Player Season-wise (2008–2025)
| Year | Player | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Jacques Kallis | ₹3.8 crore |
| 2009 | Kevin Pietersen | ₹9.8 crore |
| 2010 | Eoin Morgan | ₹1.1 crore |
| 2011 | Saurabh Tiwary | ₹7 crore |
| 2012 | Vinay Kumar | ₹5.3 crore |
| 2013 | Jaydev Unadkat | ₹2.83 crore |
| 2014 | Yuvraj Singh | ₹14 crore |
| 2015 | Dinesh Karthik | ₹10.5 crore |
| 2016 | Shane Watson | ₹9.5 crore |
| 2017 | Tymal Mills | ₹12 crore |
| 2018 | Chris Woakes | ₹7.4 crore |
| 2019 | Shivam Dube | ₹5 crore |
| 2020 | Chris Morris | ₹10 crore |
| 2021 | Kyle Jamieson | ₹15 crore |
| 2022 | Wanindu Hasaranga | ₹10.75 crore |
| 2023 | Will Jacks | ₹3.2 crore |
| 2024 | Alzarri Joseph | ₹11.50 crore |
| 2025 | Josh Hazlewood | ₹12.50 crore |
ALSO SEE: IPL 2026 Auction: DC’s Most Expensive Player Season-wise (2008–2025)