After taking out the T20 World Cup in Australia, English players were huge winners at the 2023 IPL auction, with Sam Curran earning the biggest paycheck in the competition's history.
Whilst not on the same scale of the mega auction last year, there were several selections that turned heads in the cricketing world, as life-changing figures were thrown around for the game's best.
Off the back of strong T20 World Cups and other performances in the T20 game, players from all over the globe cashed in.
All prices listed are in US Dollars.
Afghanistan
There was little to write home about for Afghanistan at the auction, with Naveen-ul-Haq signed by Lucknow Super Giants at a base price in the only noteworthy move.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Izharulhaq Naveed and Mohammad Nabi went unsold, while Rashid Khan was already retained by the Gujarat Titans.
paycheck to represent the Mumbai Indians, with Jhye Richardson also picked up by the team. They join Jason Behrendorff and Tim David, the former being traded into the team ahead of the auction. Green has big shoes to fill, replacing Kieron Pollard, who was a cornerstone player in Mumbai’s successful era.
It was a rollercoaster auction for Adam Zampa, who could well have watched on after defeat in the BBL earlier in the day.
Zampa went unsold as his name came up on the first occasion, though was scooped up later in the evening by the Rajasthan Royals at $182,000.
Daniel Sams ($91,000) moved to Lucknow.
Bangladesh
International fixture congestion next year made prospects tough for Bangladesh players, though Kolkata Knight Riders took a chance with a double signing, picking up Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das.
The pair will both face stiff competition for places in the playing XI however, with N Jagadeesan another keeper at the Knight Riders up against Das, and a number of international all-rounders tussling with Shakib.
It became clear early that teams were eager to add members of England’s T20 World Cup side off the back of their trophy-winning campaign.
Sam Curran’s Player of the Tournament achievement bumped his price up, with Punjab Kings, desperate for a world-class all-rounder, winning the bidding war for his services. His $2.25m makes him the most expensive player in IPL history.
Harry Brook earned a big paycheck, going to Sunrisers as the highest-paid international batter ever at $1.6m, while Joe Root is all set to be a Rajasthan Royal.
Chennai Super Kings forked out $1.98m for Ben Stokes, upgrading in the all-important all-rounder spot, and he should provide them with two or three overs alongside his imperious batting.
Adil Rashid managed to nab a deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad, in a competition known for not throwing money at international spinners, given the relative quality across the Indian domestic game. Rashid is an ideal fit for the side, needing to fill the void left by Rashid Khan.
There was good news for Reece Topley who missed the T20 World Cup through injury but was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore, and joined by Will Jacks.
Phil Salt was signed by the Delhi Capitals, but will go against David Warner, Prithvi Shaw and India U19 World Cup hero Yash Dhull at the top of the order.
India
While mainstays of the India T20I team mostly stayed put, there were a couple of noteworthy moves, namely Manish Pandey and Mukesh Kumar to Delhi Capitals, and Mayank Agarwal heading to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla is heading to Mumbai Indians, Ajinkya Rahane moved to Chennai Super Kings, while former U19 international Shivam Mavi earned a healthy pay packet as a Gujarat Titans pick. N Jagadeesan heads to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Back in the Test setup, Jaydev Unadkat has a new in Lucknow alongside Amit Mishra.
Ireland
Josh Little created history overnight by becoming the first Ireland international to be picked up in an auction, pocketing $536,000 to join the reigning IPL champions, the Gujarat Titans. Eoin Morgan had already represented England when he was picked up.
Namibia
Continuing in his career renaissance since switching international allegiance, David Wiese became the first Namibian international to be signed in the competition’s history, going to Kolkata Knight Riders for $121,000.
Wiese will likely back up Andre Russell, and joins a select few as players picked up while representing an Associate nation: Ryan ten Doeschate, Chirag Suri, plus the pair of Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi before Afghanistan became a Full Member.
New Zealand
A number of Black Caps went unsold, though despite an indifferent T20 World Cup campaign, Kane Williamson was picked up for $243,000 by Gujarat.
Kyle Jamieson, who missed the T20 World Cup through injury, was picked up by Chennai Super Kings for $121,000.
South Africa
Heinrich Klaasen ($640,000) earned a big payday for Sunrisers in spite of a lean T20 World Cup, though perhaps off the back of a solid ODI series in India. He provides insurance on the keeping front for the team, with Kiwi Glenn Phillips likely to take the gloves. Klaasen joins compatriots Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen, retained by Sunrisers ahead of the auction.
Rilee Rossouw (Delhi Captials) also cashed in after a strong spell internationally, including a ton at the T20 World Cup in Sydney.
Uncapped wicket-keeper Donovan Ferreira was a surprise selection, picked up by Rajasthan Royals.
Sri Lanka
A stacked international calendar in the same period as next year's competition made things difficult for Sri Lankan players at the IPL auction. Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka all went unsold.
West Indies
In spite of a poor T20 World Cup, a number of West Indies’ stars earned huge deals for next year’s tournament.
Nicholas Pooran’s power sparked a bidding war, with Lucknow Super Giants eventually paying $1.96m for the left-hander in a spending blitz by the franchise. Romario Shepherd will join Pooran at the Super Giants.
Jason Holder was a big winner at the auction, earning $700,000 at the Rajasthan Royals, a team desperate for a world-class all-rounder. Akeal Hosein, one of the few West Indies players with a respectable record in recent times, earned $121,000 at Sunrisers.
Odean Smith was picked up at base price as backup to marquee all-rounder Hardik Pandya at Gujarat.
Zimbabwe
Even after breaking the bank for Sam Curran, Punjab Kings picked up a steal in spinning all-rounder Sikandar Raza, picked up at a base $60,000 price off the back of a stellar T20 World Cup.
It ends a long absence of Zimbabwean representation in the competition, with Ray Price and Tatenda Taibu the only players to appear over ten years ago. Sunrisers Hyderabad signed Brendan Taylor in 2014, though never snuck into the playing XI.
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