IPL: 5 Instances when expensive players in auction failed miserably

2. Ben Stokes – INR 12.5 crore, IPL 2018 (RR)

Even before bagging such a huge amount, Ben Stokes was the most expensive player in the previous auction. During his debut in IPL 2017, Stokes was signed by the Pune team of the RPSG group. The all-rounder had bagged INR 14.5 crore in his maiden IPL season. In response, Stokes had a remarkable outing.

However, when the cricketer made his first association with RR, it was sadly very down heartening. The franchise in the 2018 IPL had picked him for INR 12.5 crore but Stokes had a mediocre season. With the bat, the 30-year-old just scored 196 runs from 13 games. Both his average (16.33) and strike rate (121.73) were significantly less impoverished than what he was paid.

Comprehensively, the all-rounder also just scalped eight wickets and neither even registered a single fifty. But eventually, the Rajasthan management persisted with him and provided the same salary till IPL 2021.