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The IPL 2026 auction saw franchises spend record amounts to secure some of the biggest names in international cricket and promising Indian youngsters. Cameron Green headlined the auction with a Rs 25.20 crore deal, while Matheesha Pathirana and uncapped duo Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer also attracted massive bids.
However, the season demonstrated that auction price does not necessarily translate into performances. While some expensive acquisitions justified their investment, others struggled to make an impact. As the IPL 2027 auction is just around six weeks away, here is a look at how the top ten most expensive buys performed last season.
Green finished with 322 runs and seven wickets in 14 matches. Although he did not completely justify his record-breaking price, his ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him one of the more productive expensive purchases.
Pathirana played just one match, conceding nine runs in 1.2 overs without taking a wicket. Fitness problems prevented him from making a meaningful contribution.
The young wicketkeeper-batter showed promise, scoring 295 runs in 11 matches. While he could not produce a spectacular season, his contribution offered CSK encouragement for the future.
Veer managed 90 runs in six matches without taking a wicket. His performances were modest compared with his auction price, although his limited opportunities make a definitive assessment difficult.
Livingstone had a disappointing campaign, scoring just 15 runs in two matches without claiming a wicket. His expensive acquisition failed to deliver the expected impact.
Mustafizur did not feature in IPL 2026 after KKR released him following a BCCI instruction before the season. Consequently, he recorded no appearances or statistics for the franchise.
Inglis was among the most effective purchases, scoring 266 runs in just five matches at a strike rate of 186.01. His explosive batting made him an outstanding value-for-money acquisition.
Auqib scored 14 runs in five matches and failed to take a wicket. His economy rate of 11.46 reflected a difficult introduction to the IPL.
Bishnoi claimed 11 wickets in nine matches. However, his economy rate of 9.88 indicated that he was not consistently able to control opposition batters.
Holder emerged as the standout performer among the expensive acquisitions. He collected 17 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 7.57, alongside 65 runs with the bat.
Although Green contributed across departments and Inglis impressed with his explosive batting, Holder delivered the strongest overall return relative to his auction price. His 17 wickets at a considerably lower cost made him the most successful purchase among the top 10. Inglis deserves an honourable mention for his outstanding batting impact, while Green remains the most expensive player with a substantial contribution.
Story first published: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 14:20 [IST]
Other articles published on Nov 3, 2026
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