Many fans consider IPL as the number one franchise T20 league in the world. The competition level, the monetary factor, the talent, the glitz and glamor surrounding the IPL is next level. Every year, the best players from across the planet gather at one place to compete against each other in the IPL.
In every IPL season, there is an auction, where the team management of every franchise aims to form a perfect combination. Many times, the franchises invest in uncapped and lesser-known players. They often get these players at cheaper prices. However, once these players get proper opportunities, they become match-winners for the team.
Thanks to the nature of IPL retention, there is a mega-auction in every three or four years. Due to this, the deserving players get a massive hike in their salary. Also, sometimes, it happens that a team lets go of a certain player and then other franchises show interest in him. As a result, his salary increases a lot. In this article, we will look at five such players.
5. Chris Morris gained massive contract from the Jaipur-based IPL franchise
Chris Morris made his IPL debut in 2013. The Chennai Super Kings signed him for INR 3.3 crore in 2013. However, CSK released him and then RR bought him for INR 1.4 crore in 2014.
Like CSK, RR kept Morris in the squad for one season only. After that, he became a game-changer while playing for Delhi and Bangalore. In the IPL 2021 Auction, Rajasthan bought Morris again, but this time, the price was 16.25 crore.
4. Pat Cummins
Australian speedster Pat Cummins bagged his maiden IPL contract from the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014. At that time, Kolkata signed him for INR 1 crore.
KKR released him after 2015. Cummins then performed brilliantly in the international arena. As a result, KKR bought him again for a whopping INR 15 crore in IPL Auction 2020.
3. The Mumbai-based IPL franchise gave an 11 crore contract to Hardik Pandya in 2018
Hardik Pandya made his IPL debut in 2015. The Mumbai Indians had signed him for INR 10 lakh at that auction. Hardik became a match-winner by the 2018 mega-auction.
MI decided to retain his services. However, this time, they offered him a massive contract worth INR 11 crore. Thus, Hardik gained big because of the mega auction rules.
2. Rishabh Pant
The Delhi-based IPL franchise bought Rishabh Pant for INR 1.9 crore in the 2016 IPL Auction. Pant had impressed everyone with his performance at the U-19 level.
He continued in the same way at the grander stages. Delhi paid him INR 8 crore in 2018, and in 2021, they have retained him for a whopping INR 15 crore.
1. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has been a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team since the first day of the IPL. In 2008, RCB signed Virat for INR 12 lakh in the U-19 draft.
Kohli had the same contract until 2010, but in 2011, his salary increased to INR 8.2 crore. Currently, he is the highest-paid player in IPL with a record INR 17 crore salary. Looking at the way franchises have bid in the recent auctions, it seems someone could break Kohli’s record soon.
