While teams occasionally make mistakes by overspending on players after one standout season or based on raw potential, they also hit the jackpot by taking calculated risks on emerging talents. Players whom franchises buy at much lower prices can sometimes work wonders for the team, proving to be match-winners and X-factors for their franchises. Here are five of the biggest steals secured by franchises at past IPL auctions ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction.
3 smartest picks by franchises in IPL auction history
| Player | Team | Price |
| Andre Russell | KKR | 60 Lakh |
| Hardik Pandya | MI | 10 Lakh |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | RCB | 10 Lakh |
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Andre Russell
Kolkata Knight Riders’ match-winner for the season, Andre Russell, was acquired by the franchise for just Rs. 60 lakhs. He has been a key and loyal player for the team ever since. Russell is the second-highest wicket-taker for the franchise and played an impactful role in KKR’s title win in IPL 2024. In the previous season, he scored 222 runs and took 19 wickets for the team.
Hardik Pandya
The young all-rounder was signed by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for Rs. 10 lakh in 2015. Since then, Pandya has climbed to become the 6th highest wicket-taker for the franchise. After spending two seasons with GT, he returned to MI as captain. Currently, Pandya earns Rs. 15 crore, an impressive 150 times his initial contract.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal was Royal Challengers Bangalore’s key bowler. He has been the best spinner for the team, taking 139 wickets, the most for the franchise. Chahal was bought by RCB for just ₹10 lakhs in 2014 and played for Bangalore until 2021 before moving to Rajasthan Royals.
Chahal is the only bowler to have reached the 200-wicket mark in the tournament and holds the record for the highest number of wickets in IPL history.
