KKR’s most expensive players at each IPL Auction: From Gautam Gambhir to Mitchell Starc

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have usually approached the Indian Premier League (IPL) public sale with a method of securing explosive expertise, resulting in a few of the greatest worth tags of their franchise historical past. From their preliminary mega-investment in a marquee participant to later focuses on match-winning all-rounders and star pacers, KKR’s costliest seasonal buys mirror their steady effort to mix star energy with native expertise to construct a aggressive roster.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ costliest participant purchased at every IPL public sale

1) 2008 to 2012: The marquee and mega public sale spends

• 2008: Sourav Ganguly (INR 2.4 Crore) – Within the inaugural public sale, KKR secured their ‘native hero’ and icon participant, making him their highest spend. This funding was primarily to nominate him because the franchise’s first captain and to cement the crew’s native id and fanbase.
• 2009: Angelo Mathews (INR 2.6 Crore) – KKR made the Sri Lankan all-rounder their costliest buy within the 2009 mini-auction, searching for so as to add depth and an abroad fast-bowling all-rounder choice to their squad.
• 2010: Shane Bond (INR 4.8 Crore) – The franchise efficiently bid for the veteran New Zealand quick bowler. This high-value buy was aimed toward securing a world-class, skilled tempo spearhead for his or her bowling assault.
• 2011: Gautam Gambhir (INR 14.9 Crore) – Within the 2011 mega-auction, KKR made a historic buy, spending a then-record quantity for any participant to safe the Indian opener. The funding was transformative, buying a brand new captain and a real chief who would information them to their first two IPL titles.
• 2012: Brendon McCullum (INR 4.5 Crore) – Having established their core, KKR introduced again their former star and explosive New Zealand batsman by means of the public sale, viewing him as a high-impact opener and an important abroad contributor.

2) 2013 to 2017: Strategic additions and all-rounders

• 2013: Sachithra Senanayake (INR 3.3 crore) – In a 12 months of after getting into public sale as defending champions, the Sri Lankan off-spinner was KKR’s highest buy, aimed toward including a tactical spin choice to their sturdy present bowling line-up.
• 2014: Jacques Kallis (INR 5.5 Crore) – KKR strategically spent large to accumulate the versatile South African allrounder. This buy proved essential as Kallis grew to become an integral a part of their high order, enjoying a pivotal function of their 2014 title run and past.
• 2015: KC Cariappa (INR 2.4 Crore) – In a shocking transfer, KKR invested closely within the uncapped ‘thriller’ spinner, reflecting their ongoing technique of prioritizing potent spin choices and backing high-potential, unknown expertise.
• 2016: Jaydev Unadkat (INR 1.6 Crore) – KKR made the Indian fast-bowler their highest purchase on this mini-auction. The funding was aimed toward including an in-form home left-arm tempo choice to their bowling depth.
• 2017: Trent Boult (INR 5 Crore) – The franchise made a big funding to herald the world-class New Zealand quick bowler. This transfer was supposed to offer KKR a potent, left-arm tempo possibility to enrich their spin assault.

Additionally READ: RCB’s most expensive players at each IPL Auction: From Kevin Pietersen to Yuvraj Singh

3) 2018 to 2025: Investing in tempo and energy

• 2018: Chris Lynn (INR 9.6 Crore) – Within the mega-auction, KKR used their highest bid to purchase again the explosive Australian opener. The excessive price ticket confirmed their religion in his capability to offer speedy begins on the high of the order.
• 2019: Carlos Brathwaite (INR 5 Crore) – KKR spent large on the West Indian all-rounder, recognized for his power-hitting and medium-pace bowling, trying to strengthen their ending capability and add a robust abroad possibility within the lower-middle order.
• 2020: Pat Cummins (INR 15.5 Crore) – This landmark buy made the Australian pacer the costliest abroad participant in IPL historical past on the time. The funding was purely to safe a world-class, pace-bowling spearhead and confirmed worldwide performer.
• 2021: Pat Cummins (INR 15.5 Crore) – The most costly purchase in 2021 for KKR was truly Pat Cummins once more at INR 15.5 Crore (retained worth from 2020) and Shakib Al Hasan was their highest new purchase at INR 3.2 Crore.

NOTE: 2021: Shakib Al Hasan (INR 3.2 Crore) – The most costly new buy noticed KKR deliver again the skilled Bangladeshi all-rounder, aiming so as to add a high quality spin-bowling all-rounder for steadiness.

• 2022: Shreyas Iyer (INR 12.25 Crore) – Within the mega-auction, KKR made a defining funding to accumulate the Indian batsman, who was immediately named the brand new crew captain, symbolizing a serious long-term strategic shift towards new management.
• 2023: Shakib Al Hasan (INR 1.5 Crore) – KKR once more prioritized their trusted Bangladeshi all-rounder within the public sale. Although the worth was modest, he was their highest-priced public sale purchase for the season, introduced in to offer skilled cowl and steadiness to the center order.
• 2024: Mitchell Starc (INR 24.75 Crore) – KKR shattered all public sale information to safe the Australian fast-bowler, making him the costliest participant in IPL historical past and making a transparent assertion of intent to accumulate an elite, match-winning tempo bowler.
• 2025: Venkatesh Iyer (INR 23.75 Crore) – In a important transfer to safe their core Indian expertise, KKR used their highest spend within the public sale (or a key re-bid/RTM mechanism) to retain or re-acquire the explosive Indian opener and fast-medium all-rounder. This excessive worth highlights his indispensable worth to the crew’s top-order and steadiness.

Additionally READ: CSK’s most expensive players at each IPL Auction: From Ravindra Jadeja to Ben Stokes