The IPL 2026 mini-auction is scheduled to be hosted at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. While the mini-auction might not have as many big names as in the mega-auction, there are several players who can still light up the tournament with their mesmerising skills and add immense value to teams.

When it comes to the purse, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are leading the standings with a whopping INR 64.3 crore at their disposal. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians (MI) are going into the auction with the smallest purse of INR 2.75 crore.

In this article, CricTracker takes a look at the top five most expensive buys in the history of IPL auctions.

Who are the top 5 most expensive buys in the history of IPL auctions? 5. Venkatesh Iyer - 23.75 crore

Venkatesh Iyer was roped in by KKR for INR 23.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega-auction. This move surprised cricket enthusiasts as many felt that the Knights had spent too much on the player instead of trying to re-hire Mitchell Starc or Phil Salt.

During IPL 2025, Iyer had a forgettable outing with the bat. The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder only managed 142 runs from 11 matches at an average of 20.29 and a strike rate of 139.22.

He also wasn't used with the ball at all. Iyer was subsequently released ahead of IPL 2026.

4. Mitchell Starc - 24.75 crore

Mitchell Starc became the highest-paid player in the IPL 2024 mini-auction. He returned to the cash-rich league after a nine-year hiatus. The Australian speedster took some time to hit his straps. However, as the tournament progressed, he got better.

In the playoffs, Starc played a significant role as Shreyas Iyer-led Knight Riders won Qualifier 1 and the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The left-arm pacer won the Player of the Match awards in both instances.

3. Cameron Green - 25.20 crore

Cameron Green was expected to be a hot pick at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. KKR and Chennai Super Kings had huge purses heading into the event and were being considered prime contenders to acquire his services.

The two teams battled hard at the auction table and eventually, KKR roped him in for INR 25.20 crore. This made the Aussie all-rounder the most expensive player in KKR history. Green could be an ideal replacement for Andre Russell, who retired from the IPL after being released by the Knights last month.

2. Shreyas Iyer - 26.75 crore

Shreyas Iyer led KKR to the IPL title in 2024. However, he was released by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction. Punjab Kings acquired the services of the Indian batter at the auction for a whopping amount of INR 26.75 crore.

During IPL 2025, Shreyas led Punjab from the front, as they reached the final for the first time in 11 seasons. The Mumbai batter finished with 604 runs from 17 matches at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07.

1. Rishabh Pant - 27 crore

Rishabh Pantholds the record for being the most expensive player in IPL auction history.

He got the record-shattering bid from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) during the IPL 2025 mega-auction. This was after he was released by Delhi Capitals after an eight-season stint with the franchise.

Pant was appointed captain of LSG. During IPL 2025, the wicketkeeper-batter struggled for runs. However, he finished his campaign with a blistering century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In 14 matches, he scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45 and a strike rate of 133.17. Lucknow finished seventh on the points table under his leadership.