The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest property of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). By conducting the tournament that lasts around seven weeks, the BCCI fills its coffers as fans pay for the tournament through their nose and throng IPL arenas. Not just that, even Star India struck a whopping deal worth INR 16347 Crores and bought the broadcast rights of the T20 extravaganza for a period of 5 years.

Not just the board, most of the players earn massive amounts by playing the tournament for a few weeks. Indian skipper Virat Kohli draws an annual sum of Rs 17 Crores from the Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB), while MS Dhoni is paid a sum of Rs 15 Crores for rendering his services to the Chennai Super Kings(CSK).

However, there were a few players over the history of the IPL, who did not go for the amount they would have deserved, and can be termed as ‘steals’.

In this article, let us take a look at the five steal deals in the history of the IPL:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-456561" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers-2.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456561" class="wp-caption-text">AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Even when he signed up for the inaugural edition of the IPL way back in the year 2008, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ab-de-villiers-started-crying-during-the-asian-test-championship-while-facing-mohammad-asif-shoaib-akhtar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AB De Villiers</strong></a> was a name to reckon with. The batting genius had announced his arrival to the world in the 2007 World Cup, and it was his exploits with the willow that played a crucial role in the South African side reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.

The right-hander plundered 372 runs during the tournament and scored his runs at a stunning strike rate of 100.81. In fact, in the 2007 World Cup, De Villiers had scored a sensational 146 against hosts West Indies and scored his runs off just 130 deliveries. And, just a year later, in the 2008 IPL auction, the Delhi Daredevils pouched the South African for just Rs 1.2 Crores.

In the 2008 edition, De Villiers could play only 6 innings and did not get many opportunities to express himself. From there on, the graph has only been upwards for the South African. While he would go on to become the second-highest run-scorer for South Africa in ODI cricket and amass 25 hundreds, he left his mark in the whites as well, scoring 8765 runs at an average of 50.66.

As far as the IPL is concerned, De Villiers has etched his name in the annals of IPL history as one of the greatest willow wielders. The right-hander is the sixth highest run-scorer in the history of the league and has amassed 4849 runs at an average of 40.40 and a strike rate of 151.91. Currently, De Villiers is drawing a sum of Rs 11 Crore from the Bangalore outfit.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-479977" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Brett-Lee.jpg" alt="Brett Lee" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479977" class="wp-caption-text">Brett Lee. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

By the time the 2011 IPL dawned, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-bowled-at-around-165-kmph-and-he-just-smacked-me-for-a-four-brett-lee-recalls-his-face-off-with-sachin-tendulkar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brett Lee</strong></a> had already established himself as all-time bowling great for Australia. A sneak peek into Lee’s statistics before the 2011 IPL edition will help us understand his stature in the cricketing world. Before the first match of the 2011 IPL edition, the pacer had already picked up 348 wickets in ODI cricket and was already a part of two World Cup-winning Australian squads.

And that is why the price at which he was sold to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2011 IPL auction comes as a huge surprise. Lee was pocketed by Kolkata for just Rs 1.8 Crores. Also, in the three previous IPL editions (from 2008 to 2010), Lee had drawn amounts of Rs 3.6 Crores, 4.4 Crores, and 4.1 Crores respectively. But, the Kolkata side managed to pouch Lee during the 2011 auctions for less than half the salary he received in the year 2010.

Lee eventually retired from the IPL in the year 2013 and played his last IPL match for the Kolkata side. As far as his international career is concerned, he is the joint highest wicket-taker for the Aussies in ODIs (alongside Glenn McGrath), with 380 scalps to his name. In Tests, Lee took 310 wickets for the Aussies.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-328470" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-328470" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption>

The kind of entertainment that <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/dwayne-bravo-feels-that-t10-can-replicate-the-success-of-t20-cricket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dwayne Bravo</strong></a> provides to the fans makes him an instant hit in the IPL. The all-rounder is an extremely good dancer, a lively character, and above all, an asset in every department of the game. And, he surely deserves the big bucks.

However, during the 2011 IPL edition, Bravo was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for a sum of just Rs 92 lakh. By that time, Bravo was already an established West Indian cricketer in the limited-overs format and had also played 3 full seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He had also represented the West Indies in two 50-over World Cups, and had also played 3 T20 World Cups as well.

And, a price of just Rs 92 lakh even at that point of time in Bravo’s career should be considered an absolute steal. Bravo has continued to render his services for the CSK franchise till date (except in the two years where the franchise was banned), and is one of the all-time greats of the IPL.

He is one of the two players (the other being Bhuvneshwar Kumar) to have won the Purple Cap on two occasions, and has been a part of two IPL triumphs with the Chennai side (When Chennai won the IPL in 2010, Bravo was playing for Mumbai.). All in all, Bravo is a legend of T20 cricket. The Chennai Super Kings paid Bravo Rs 6.4 Crore in the 2020 edition of the IPL.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-457735" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-2.jpg" alt="Kane Williamson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-457735" class="wp-caption-text">Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

The way he goes about his business, irrespective of the format is a sight to behold. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-bj-watling-interrupts-kane-williamsons-press-conference-for-an-autograph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kane Williamson</strong></a> is an epitome of calmness and a valuable weapon in the armory of his side. And, that is why, for a batsman of his class and stature, the amount that was paid to him in the 2015 IPL auction comes as a massive surprise.

In the 2015 edition of the IPL, Williamson was paid a paltry sum of just Rs 60 Lakh by the Sunrisers Hyderabad side. The Kiwi batsman had been a regular member of the New Zealand side in both ODIs as well as T20I cricket by that time, and had represented the Blackcaps in two 50-over World Cups, and 2 T20I World Cups. He had scored over 2500 runs in ODIs by then and was a name to reckon with in the cricketing world.

Another interesting fact is that even in the subsequent editions (2016 and 2017), Williamson was paid the same amount (60 lakh). It was only in the year 2018 that Williamson’s fee was increased and he was paid 3 Crore.

And, as if to silently remind his franchise of his value, the New Zealander won the Orange Cap in that edition, plundering 735 runs at an average of 52.5, and scored his runs at a strike rate of 142.44. The Kiwi batsman, till date, continues to render his services for the &#8216;Orange Army&#8217;.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-449604" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/David-Miller.jpg" alt="David Miller" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449604" class="wp-caption-text">David Miller. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>

Another buy that should be termed as an absolute jackpot is that of David Miller. Before the 2020 edition of the IPL, Rajasthan Royals bought the left-hander for a sum of just Rs 75 Lakh. Now, consider this. In the 2014 edition of the IPL, Miller was paid an amount of 12.5 Crore by the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/maxi-ko-hatao-fan-demands-preity-zinta-to-remove-glenn-maxwell-from-kxip-during-her-instagram-live-with-kl-rahul/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kings XI Punjab</strong></a> side. He continued to receive that amount from the Punjab franchise for the next 3 years.

In the 2018 edition, he was retained by the Punjab side for Rs 3 Crore. And, before being traded to the Rajasthan side, Miller’s last drawn IPL salary was the same as well. And, it is in this context that Rajasthan managed to pouch him for just Rs 75 Lakh. And what’s worse was the fact that he managed to play just a single game in the whole of IPL 2020 for the Rajasthan side.

Miller also stands third in the list of batsmen with the fastest centuries in IPL history. He plundered a century off just 38 balls against the Bangalore outfit in the year 2013. The swashbuckling left-hander is also the fourth-highest run scorer for the Proteas in the T20 format and has aggregated 1368 runs in the international arena. Also, he has scored his T20I runs at a strike rate of close to 140 (139.30). What a buy for the Royals, isn’t it?

<p>The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest property of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). By conducting the tournament that lasts around seven weeks, the BCCI fills its coffers as fans pay for the tournament through their nose and throng IPL arenas. Not just that, even Star India struck a whopping deal worth INR 16347 Crores and bought the broadcast rights of the T20 extravaganza for a period of 5 years.</p>
<p>Not just the board, most of the players earn massive amounts by playing the tournament for a few weeks. Indian skipper Virat Kohli draws an annual sum of Rs 17 Crores from the Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB), while MS Dhoni is paid a sum of Rs 15 Crores for rendering his services to the Chennai Super Kings(CSK).</p>
<p>However, there were a few players over the history of the IPL, who did not go for the amount they would have deserved, and can be termed as ‘steals’.</p>
<h3>In this article, let us take a look at the five steal deals in the history of the IPL:</h3>
<h3>5. AB De Villiers</h3>
<figure id="attachment_456561" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456561" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-456561" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers-2.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456561" class="wp-caption-text">AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Even when he signed up for the inaugural edition of the IPL way back in the year 2008, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ab-de-villiers-started-crying-during-the-asian-test-championship-while-facing-mohammad-asif-shoaib-akhtar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AB De Villiers</strong></a> was a name to reckon with. The batting genius had announced his arrival to the world in the 2007 World Cup, and it was his exploits with the willow that played a crucial role in the South African side reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.</p>
<p>The right-hander plundered 372 runs during the tournament and scored his runs at a stunning strike rate of 100.81. In fact, in the 2007 World Cup, De Villiers had scored a sensational 146 against hosts West Indies and scored his runs off just 130 deliveries. And, just a year later, in the 2008 IPL auction, the Delhi Daredevils pouched the South African for just Rs 1.2 Crores.</p>
<p>In the 2008 edition, De Villiers could play only 6 innings and did not get many opportunities to express himself. From there on, the graph has only been upwards for the South African. While he would go on to become the second-highest run-scorer for South Africa in ODI cricket and amass 25 hundreds, he left his mark in the whites as well, scoring 8765 runs at an average of 50.66.</p>
<p>As far as the IPL is concerned, De Villiers has etched his name in the annals of IPL history as one of the greatest willow wielders. The right-hander is the sixth highest run-scorer in the history of the league and has amassed 4849 runs at an average of 40.40 and a strike rate of 151.91. Currently, De Villiers is drawing a sum of Rs 11 Crore from the Bangalore outfit.</p>
<h3>4. Brett Lee</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479977" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479977" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-479977" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Brett-Lee.jpg" alt="Brett Lee" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479977" class="wp-caption-text">Brett Lee. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>By the time the 2011 IPL dawned, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-bowled-at-around-165-kmph-and-he-just-smacked-me-for-a-four-brett-lee-recalls-his-face-off-with-sachin-tendulkar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brett Lee</strong></a> had already established himself as all-time bowling great for Australia. A sneak peek into Lee’s statistics before the 2011 IPL edition will help us understand his stature in the cricketing world. Before the first match of the 2011 IPL edition, the pacer had already picked up 348 wickets in ODI cricket and was already a part of two World Cup-winning Australian squads.</p>
<p>And that is why the price at which he was sold to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2011 IPL auction comes as a huge surprise. Lee was pocketed by Kolkata for just Rs 1.8 Crores. Also, in the three previous IPL editions (from 2008 to 2010), Lee had drawn amounts of Rs 3.6 Crores, 4.4 Crores, and 4.1 Crores respectively. But, the Kolkata side managed to pouch Lee during the 2011 auctions for less than half the salary he received in the year 2010.</p>
<p>Lee eventually retired from the IPL in the year 2013 and played his last IPL match for the Kolkata side. As far as his international career is concerned, he is the joint highest wicket-taker for the Aussies in ODIs (alongside Glenn McGrath), with 380 scalps to his name. In Tests, Lee took 310 wickets for the Aussies.</p>
<h3>3. Dwayne Bravo</h3>
<figure id="attachment_328470" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-328470" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-328470" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-328470" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The kind of entertainment that <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/dwayne-bravo-feels-that-t10-can-replicate-the-success-of-t20-cricket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dwayne Bravo</strong></a> provides to the fans makes him an instant hit in the IPL. The all-rounder is an extremely good dancer, a lively character, and above all, an asset in every department of the game. And, he surely deserves the big bucks.</p>
<p>However, during the 2011 IPL edition, Bravo was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for a sum of just Rs 92 lakh. By that time, Bravo was already an established West Indian cricketer in the limited-overs format and had also played 3 full seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He had also represented the West Indies in two 50-over World Cups, and had also played 3 T20 World Cups as well.</p>
<p>And, a price of just Rs 92 lakh even at that point of time in Bravo’s career should be considered an absolute steal. Bravo has continued to render his services for the CSK franchise till date (except in the two years where the franchise was banned), and is one of the all-time greats of the IPL.</p>
<p>He is one of the two players (the other being Bhuvneshwar Kumar) to have won the Purple Cap on two occasions, and has been a part of two IPL triumphs with the Chennai side (When Chennai won the IPL in 2010, Bravo was playing for Mumbai.). All in all, Bravo is a legend of T20 cricket. The Chennai Super Kings paid Bravo Rs 6.4 Crore in the 2020 edition of the IPL.</p>
<h3>2. Kane Williamson</h3>
<figure id="attachment_457735" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-457735" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-457735" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-2.jpg" alt="Kane Williamson" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-457735" class="wp-caption-text">Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The way he goes about his business, irrespective of the format is a sight to behold. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-bj-watling-interrupts-kane-williamsons-press-conference-for-an-autograph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kane Williamson</strong></a> is an epitome of calmness and a valuable weapon in the armory of his side. And, that is why, for a batsman of his class and stature, the amount that was paid to him in the 2015 IPL auction comes as a massive surprise.</p>
<p>In the 2015 edition of the IPL, Williamson was paid a paltry sum of just Rs 60 Lakh by the Sunrisers Hyderabad side. The Kiwi batsman had been a regular member of the New Zealand side in both ODIs as well as T20I cricket by that time, and had represented the Blackcaps in two 50-over World Cups, and 2 T20I World Cups. He had scored over 2500 runs in ODIs by then and was a name to reckon with in the cricketing world.</p>
<p>Another interesting fact is that even in the subsequent editions (2016 and 2017), Williamson was paid the same amount (60 lakh). It was only in the year 2018 that Williamson’s fee was increased and he was paid 3 Crore.</p>
<p>And, as if to silently remind his franchise of his value, the New Zealander won the Orange Cap in that edition, plundering 735 runs at an average of 52.5, and scored his runs at a strike rate of 142.44. The Kiwi batsman, till date, continues to render his services for the ‘Orange Army’.</p>
<h3>1. David Miller</h3>
<figure id="attachment_449604" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449604" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-449604" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/David-Miller.jpg" alt="David Miller" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449604" class="wp-caption-text">David Miller. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Another buy that should be termed as an absolute jackpot is that of David Miller. Before the 2020 edition of the IPL, Rajasthan Royals bought the left-hander for a sum of just Rs 75 Lakh. Now, consider this. In the 2014 edition of the IPL, Miller was paid an amount of 12.5 Crore by the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/maxi-ko-hatao-fan-demands-preity-zinta-to-remove-glenn-maxwell-from-kxip-during-her-instagram-live-with-kl-rahul/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kings XI Punjab</strong></a> side. He continued to receive that amount from the Punjab franchise for the next 3 years.</p>
<p>In the 2018 edition, he was retained by the Punjab side for Rs 3 Crore. And, before being traded to the Rajasthan side, Miller’s last drawn IPL salary was the same as well. And, it is in this context that Rajasthan managed to pouch him for just Rs 75 Lakh. And what’s worse was the fact that he managed to play just a single game in the whole of IPL 2020 for the Rajasthan side.</p>
<p>Miller also stands third in the list of batsmen with the fastest centuries in IPL history. He plundered a century off just 38 balls against the Bangalore outfit in the year 2013. The swashbuckling left-hander is also the fourth-highest run scorer for the Proteas in the T20 format and has aggregated 1368 runs in the international arena. Also, he has scored his T20I runs at a strike rate of close to 140 (139.30). What a buy for the Royals, isn’t it?</p>

<p>The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest property of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). By conducting the tournament that lasts around seven weeks, the BCCI fills its coffers as fans pay for the tournament through their nose and throng IPL arenas. Not just that, even Star India struck a whopping deal worth INR 16347 Crores and bought the broadcast rights of the T20 extravaganza for a period of 5 years.</p>
<p>Not just the board, most of the players earn massive amounts by playing the tournament for a few weeks. Indian skipper Virat Kohli draws an annual sum of Rs 17 Crores from the Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB), while MS Dhoni is paid a sum of Rs 15 Crores for rendering his services to the Chennai Super Kings(CSK).</p>
<p>However, there were a few players over the history of the IPL, who did not go for the amount they would have deserved, and can be termed as ‘steals’.</p>
<h3>In this article, let us take a look at the five steal deals in the history of the IPL:</h3>
<h3>5. AB De Villiers</h3>
<figure id="attachment_456561" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-456561" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-456561" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers-2.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-456561" class="wp-caption-text">AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Even when he signed up for the inaugural edition of the IPL way back in the year 2008, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ab-de-villiers-started-crying-during-the-asian-test-championship-while-facing-mohammad-asif-shoaib-akhtar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>AB De Villiers</strong></a> was a name to reckon with. The batting genius had announced his arrival to the world in the 2007 World Cup, and it was his exploits with the willow that played a crucial role in the South African side reaching the semi-finals of the tournament.</p>
<p>The right-hander plundered 372 runs during the tournament and scored his runs at a stunning strike rate of 100.81. In fact, in the 2007 World Cup, De Villiers had scored a sensational 146 against hosts West Indies and scored his runs off just 130 deliveries. And, just a year later, in the 2008 IPL auction, the Delhi Daredevils pouched the South African for just Rs 1.2 Crores.</p>
<p>In the 2008 edition, De Villiers could play only 6 innings and did not get many opportunities to express himself. From there on, the graph has only been upwards for the South African. While he would go on to become the second-highest run-scorer for South Africa in ODI cricket and amass 25 hundreds, he left his mark in the whites as well, scoring 8765 runs at an average of 50.66.</p>
<p>As far as the IPL is concerned, De Villiers has etched his name in the annals of IPL history as one of the greatest willow wielders. The right-hander is the sixth highest run-scorer in the history of the league and has amassed 4849 runs at an average of 40.40 and a strike rate of 151.91. Currently, De Villiers is drawing a sum of Rs 11 Crore from the Bangalore outfit.</p>
<h3>4. Brett Lee</h3>
<figure id="attachment_479977" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-479977" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-479977" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Brett-Lee.jpg" alt="Brett Lee" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-479977" class="wp-caption-text">Brett Lee. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>By the time the 2011 IPL dawned, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/i-bowled-at-around-165-kmph-and-he-just-smacked-me-for-a-four-brett-lee-recalls-his-face-off-with-sachin-tendulkar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Brett Lee</strong></a> had already established himself as all-time bowling great for Australia. A sneak peek into Lee’s statistics before the 2011 IPL edition will help us understand his stature in the cricketing world. Before the first match of the 2011 IPL edition, the pacer had already picked up 348 wickets in ODI cricket and was already a part of two World Cup-winning Australian squads.</p>
<p>And that is why the price at which he was sold to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2011 IPL auction comes as a huge surprise. Lee was pocketed by Kolkata for just Rs 1.8 Crores. Also, in the three previous IPL editions (from 2008 to 2010), Lee had drawn amounts of Rs 3.6 Crores, 4.4 Crores, and 4.1 Crores respectively. But, the Kolkata side managed to pouch Lee during the 2011 auctions for less than half the salary he received in the year 2010.</p>
<p>Lee eventually retired from the IPL in the year 2013 and played his last IPL match for the Kolkata side. As far as his international career is concerned, he is the joint highest wicket-taker for the Aussies in ODIs (alongside Glenn McGrath), with 380 scalps to his name. In Tests, Lee took 310 wickets for the Aussies.</p>
<h3>3. Dwayne Bravo</h3>
<figure id="attachment_328470" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-328470" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-328470" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-328470" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The kind of entertainment that <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/dwayne-bravo-feels-that-t10-can-replicate-the-success-of-t20-cricket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dwayne Bravo</strong></a> provides to the fans makes him an instant hit in the IPL. The all-rounder is an extremely good dancer, a lively character, and above all, an asset in every department of the game. And, he surely deserves the big bucks.</p>
<p>However, during the 2011 IPL edition, Bravo was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for a sum of just Rs 92 lakh. By that time, Bravo was already an established West Indian cricketer in the limited-overs format and had also played 3 full seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He had also represented the West Indies in two 50-over World Cups, and had also played 3 T20 World Cups as well.</p>
<p>And, a price of just Rs 92 lakh even at that point of time in Bravo’s career should be considered an absolute steal. Bravo has continued to render his services for the CSK franchise till date (except in the two years where the franchise was banned), and is one of the all-time greats of the IPL.</p>
<p>He is one of the two players (the other being Bhuvneshwar Kumar) to have won the Purple Cap on two occasions, and has been a part of two IPL triumphs with the Chennai side (When Chennai won the IPL in 2010, Bravo was playing for Mumbai.). All in all, Bravo is a legend of T20 cricket. The Chennai Super Kings paid Bravo Rs 6.4 Crore in the 2020 edition of the IPL.</p>
<h3>2. Kane Williamson</h3>
<figure id="attachment_457735" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-457735" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-457735" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-2.jpg" alt="Kane Williamson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-457735" class="wp-caption-text">Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The way he goes about his business, irrespective of the format is a sight to behold. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/new-zealand-vs-pakistan-bj-watling-interrupts-kane-williamsons-press-conference-for-an-autograph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kane Williamson</strong></a> is an epitome of calmness and a valuable weapon in the armory of his side. And, that is why, for a batsman of his class and stature, the amount that was paid to him in the 2015 IPL auction comes as a massive surprise.</p>
<p>In the 2015 edition of the IPL, Williamson was paid a paltry sum of just Rs 60 Lakh by the Sunrisers Hyderabad side. The Kiwi batsman had been a regular member of the New Zealand side in both ODIs as well as T20I cricket by that time, and had represented the Blackcaps in two 50-over World Cups, and 2 T20I World Cups. He had scored over 2500 runs in ODIs by then and was a name to reckon with in the cricketing world.</p>
<p>Another interesting fact is that even in the subsequent editions (2016 and 2017), Williamson was paid the same amount (60 lakh). It was only in the year 2018 that Williamson’s fee was increased and he was paid 3 Crore.</p>
<p>And, as if to silently remind his franchise of his value, the New Zealander won the Orange Cap in that edition, plundering 735 runs at an average of 52.5, and scored his runs at a strike rate of 142.44. The Kiwi batsman, till date, continues to render his services for the &#8216;Orange Army&#8217;.</p>
<h3>1. David Miller</h3>
<figure id="attachment_449604" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-449604" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-449604" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/David-Miller.jpg" alt="David Miller" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-449604" class="wp-caption-text">David Miller. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Another buy that should be termed as an absolute jackpot is that of David Miller. Before the 2020 edition of the IPL, Rajasthan Royals bought the left-hander for a sum of just Rs 75 Lakh. Now, consider this. In the 2014 edition of the IPL, Miller was paid an amount of 12.5 Crore by the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/maxi-ko-hatao-fan-demands-preity-zinta-to-remove-glenn-maxwell-from-kxip-during-her-instagram-live-with-kl-rahul/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kings XI Punjab</strong></a> side. He continued to receive that amount from the Punjab franchise for the next 3 years.</p>
<p>In the 2018 edition, he was retained by the Punjab side for Rs 3 Crore. And, before being traded to the Rajasthan side, Miller’s last drawn IPL salary was the same as well. And, it is in this context that Rajasthan managed to pouch him for just Rs 75 Lakh. And what’s worse was the fact that he managed to play just a single game in the whole of IPL 2020 for the Rajasthan side.</p>
<p>Miller also stands third in the list of batsmen with the fastest centuries in IPL history. He plundered a century off just 38 balls against the Bangalore outfit in the year 2013. The swashbuckling left-hander is also the fourth-highest run scorer for the Proteas in the T20 format and has aggregated 1368 runs in the international arena. Also, he has scored his T20I runs at a strike rate of close to 140 (139.30). What a buy for the Royals, isn’t it?</p>

These players were a sort of unknown entity at the start and turned out to be the steal deals for their team.

5 Major steal deals of all-time in IPL history

Here we bring you the five players who were absolute steal deals in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).