IPL 2018: Top 10 most expensive players and their cost per game

Robin Uthappa. (Photo Source: Twitter) The cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) has been among the most dynamic T20 leagues across the globe. Several cricketers grace their presence and lend stardust to the tournament. The extravaganza commences from the Auction and carries on till the final game of the event. The event has also been a witness to some aggressive bidding, both for Indian and overseas cricketers. While some of them were expected to attract lucrative contracts, few of them soar above expectations and bag handsome deals. In our article, we take an insight into the top 10 highest bids in the auction conducted in Bangalore last month and their cost per game. 1. Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals) Ben Stokes has emerged as one of the best all-rounders of the game over the past couple of years. However, he has been going through a turbulent phase owing to mishaps outside the field of play. Nevertheless, he was bagged for a whopping 12.5 crores by the Rajasthan Royals in the auction. Meanwhile, he also became the highest grosser of the auction in consecutive years. The English cricketer will also be earning approximately 89.2 lakhs per game and will be expected to deliver in all departments being the Player of the Tournament in the last edition. 2. Jaydev Unadkat (Rajasthan Royals) Jaydev Unadkat has been plying his trade in the league for many years. However, he has struggled to cement his berth in the teams owing to lackluster performance. Nevertheless, the tenth edition turned out to be fruitful for the Porbandar-born fast bowler as he represented the Rising Pune Supergiants. He emerged as their highest wicket-taker of the season and subsequently, he was bagged for 11.5 crores by the Rajasthan Royals. Meanwhile, he also became the highest ever grosser by an Indian pacer in the history of the auction and will earn approximately 82.14 lakhs per game. 3. KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab) KL Rahul has featured consistently for the Indian team and has rarely flattered to deceive. The Karnataka cricketer has also played some useful knocks in the Indian Premier League over the years. He fetched a staggering 11 crores in the auction as Kings XI Punjab bagged the Indian batsman. He will approximately earn 78.57 lakhs per game in the league stages. The Punjab franchise is among the very few teams to not have the IPL Trophy in their kitty. With Rahul’s introduction at the top of their batting order, Punjab will be looking to turn their fortunes around. 4. Manish Pandey (Sunrisers Hyderabad) Manish Pandey has arguably been of the most consistent performers in the Indian Premier League. He started his career for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and became the maiden Indian cricketer with a century in the tournament. He later moved to the Kolkata Knight Riders and was a stalwart for them. However, the Knights released him ahead of the auction and the Sunrisers Hyderabad bagged him for 11 crores. The Karnataka batsman will also earn nearly 78.57 lakhs per game and is expected to lend solidity to the Sunrisers lineup for the upcoming edition of the tournament. 5. Chris Lynn (Kolkata Knight Riders) Chris Lynn has emerged as one of the cleanest hitters of the cricket ball, an attribute which has made him a hot prospect in T20 leagues across the globe. The Queenslander played for the Kolkata Knight Riders and grabbed eyeballs with some effortlessly lusty hitting. He recently has also notched 100 sixes in the Big Bash League. The Aussie batsman wasn’t retained by the Knights, however, he shelled out 9.6 crores for the swashbuckling batsman and brought him back. He is most likely to open the batting and will earn approximately 68.57 lakhs during the league stages. 6. Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders) Mitchell Starc’s prowess with the leather has bamboozled the best in the business and has been a pivotal factor to Australia’s performances over the years. The pacer has also played a couple of seasons for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, he withdrew his participation ahead of the tenth season. Nevertheless, the Sydney born cricketer has bagged a lucrative deal for the eleventh season as he was bagged for a whopping 9.4 crores by the Kolkata Knight Riders and is most likely to feature their playing XI. The left-arm pacer will earn nearly 67.14 lakhs every game during the league matches. 7. Glenn Maxwell (Delhi Daredevils) Glenn Maxwell’s propensity to smash the leather out of every ball has earned him a status of an outlandish batsman. However, he has shown maturity and has recently notched a T20 International century against England. He has also represented the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. However, he was released by the franchise ahead of the eleventh season and subsequently, he notched a handsome deal of 9 crores by the Delhi Daredevils. The Victorian will earn approximately 64.28 lakhs per game. Delhi Daredevils hasn’t won the IPL yet and Maxwell’s inclusion is expected to boost them as a unit. 8. Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) Rashid Khan, the Afghan leg-spinner, has taken giant strides into international cricket. He has been deceptive with his leggies and has been a tough nut to crack for batsmen across the globe. He forayed into the Indian Premier League last season and represented the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The tweaker hogged the headlines and emerged as the gun bowler for the franchise. The Sunrisers released him ahead of the eleventh season, however, the franchise brought him back for 9 crores using the Right to Match card. The young sensation will earn nearly 64.28 lakhs in the league games. 9. Krunal Pandya (Mumbai Indians) Krunal Pandya has shown efficiency as an all-rounder, playing for the Mumbai Indians. He has been instrumental in all department for the Mukesh Ambani-owned franchise. However, he was released by the franchise as they preferred Hardik Pandya, his younger brother, in the IPL retention ceremony. Nevertheless, Mumbai Indians shelled out 8.8 crores for the Gujarat all-rounder and brought him back using the Right to Match card. Subsequently, he also became the costliest uncapped buy in the history of the tournament. He will earn nearly 62.85 lakhs per game during the league phase of the event. 10. Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals) Sanju Samson emerged as one of the bright prospects for Indian cricket at a tender age. He made his IPL debut for the Rajasthan Royals in 2013 and emerged as a classical stroke-maker. However, following Rajasthan’s two-year suspension, the Trivandrum born cricketer played for the Delhi Daredevils. However, he underperformed for the franchise with the willow. Subsequently, the Daredevils released him ahead of the IPL retentions and he was bagged by Rajasthan Royals for 8 crores in the auction. The wicket-keeper batsman will earn nearly 57.14 lakhs in the round-robin stage of the tournament. For more IPL updates, do follow CricTracker website

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IPL 2018: Top 10 most expensive players and their cost per game

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6. Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders)

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