Sam Curran headlines most expensive buys at Indian T20 League 2023 mini auction

The much-anticipated Indian T20 League 2023 mini auction took place on Friday, December 23 in Kochi. 

A total of 405 players, including 273 Indians and 132 international cricketers went under the hammer and learnt their fate for the upcoming edition of the tournament.

Interestingly, the record for the most expensive player in the Indian T20 League history was broken twice through the course of the auction. The record was previously held by Chris Morris, who was sold to Rajasthan for INR 16.25 crores in 2021.

Out of all the participants who found their suitors, five of them crossed the INR 10 crore mark, with England all-rounder Sam Curran fetching INR 18.5 crore from Punjab, the highest among them all.

Most expensive players at Indian T20 League 2023 mini auction

Sam Curran - INR 18.5 crore (Punjab)

England all-rounder Sam Curran was sold for the highest price at the Indian T20 League 2023 mini auction, getting a huge sum of INR 18.5 crore from Punjab.

With a base price of INR 2 crore, Mumbai entered into a bidding war with Bangalore. At INR 6.75 crore mark, Bangalore backed out as Rajasthan began the tussle with Mumbai to acquire the services of the 24-year-old.

Thereafter, the proceedings became intense as Chennai, Punjab and Lucknow too joined the bidding war. Finally, Curran was sold to Punjab for INR 18.5 crore.

Sam Curran's hefty price tag is owed to his brilliant form in recent months, where he also clinched the player of the tournament award in England’s maiden T20 World Cup title last month, bagging 13 wickets in six matches at an economy of 6.52.

Cameron Green - INR 17.5 crore (Mumbai)

Young Australian Cameron Green is another rising star who fetched an astronomical sum of money at the auction.

After missing out on Sam Curran, Mumbai went all out for the Aussie all-rounder in a three-way race as they fended off advances from Bangalore and Delhi to acquire Green's services for a whopping fee of INR 17.5 crore.

The 23-year-old came into the limelight during the Australia tour of India in September earlier this year, when he scored 118 runs in three T20Is, including two half-centuries.

Ben Stokes - INR 16.25 crore (Chennai)

The second Englishman to get past the INR 15 crore mark is Ben Stokes. After the initial offers from Rajasthan and Punjab, Lucknow and Hyderabad entered the fray.

Chennai's first bid came in late at INR 15.25 crore and they eventually snapped him up for INR 16.25 crore. 

This will be Stokes’ second stint alongside MS Dhoni after the two previously played together for the now-defunct Pune franchise.

Photo credit: Alamy