The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the defending champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. They clinched the title through bold decisions made at the auction table. Notably, KKR released half of their team ahead of the auction to rebuild under the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir, who has since left to coach the Indian national team. KKR has taken a daring approach during the auction, and here are the top five most expensive purchases in the franchise’s auction history.
5 most expensive buys of KKR
| Player | Purchased for (INR) | Year |
| Mitchell Starc | 24.75 crore | 2024 |
| Pat Cummins | 15.5 crore | 2020 |
| Shreyas Iyer | 12.25 crore | 2023 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 11.04 crore | 2011 |
| Yusuf Pathan | 9.66 crore | 2011 |
| Chris Lynn | 9.6 crore | 2018 |
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc was not only the most expensive purchase for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024 auction, but he also became the costliest player in IPL history, having been acquired for ₹24.75 crore. Unfortunately, his performance during the season was less than ideal, as he struggled to add value to the game and was unable to find his form throughout the tournament.
Pat Cummins
Another Australian player, Pat Cummins, was the second-highest purchase for KKR when they acquired him for ₹15.5 crore in the IPL 2020 auction. He performed decently that season, taking 12 wickets in 14 matches. Interestingly, in the 2024 auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) picked him as the second-highest paid player in IPL history.
Shreyas Iyer
KKR’s captain, Shreyas Iyer, was bought by the franchise in the 2023 auction for ₹12.25 crore. He missed the 2023 IPL season due to a back injury but returned the following season and led the team to the title.
Gautam Gambhir
KKR’s champion player, Gautam Gambhir, has also been their most expensive pick, as they signed him for ₹11.04 crore in the IPL 2011 auction. He could be considered one of their best acquisitions, as he led the team to its maiden victory. Furthermore, as a mentor in IPL 2024, he guided the team to championship glory once again.
Yusuf Pathan
Yusuf Pathan was a match-winner for KKR, having been picked by the franchise for ₹9.66 crore. He contributed with both bat and ball during his time with the team. Pathan was part of KKR’s winning seasons in 2012 and 2014.
Chris Lynn
Kolkata signed him for ₹9.6 crore in the IPL 2018 auction. He proved to be a valuable acquisition for the team, having scored 1,274 runs at an average of 34.43 and a strike rate of 141.40 in 40 matches.
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