Five most expensive uncapped buys in the history of the IPL Auction

Before the IPL started, only 20-25 players yearly got a chance to play at the highest level and make a career out of cricket. Since 2008, more than 100 players get an opportunity to play at the highest level, through the IPL and make a lot of money. The Indian Premier League is the perfect platform for the uncapped players who haven’t played at the international level and the IPL Auction is the first place where we hear about them.

We have seen many franchises bid for unknown or uncapped players and buy them for high prices. There have been many instances where an uncapped Indian player has got a lot more than an international star. So on that note let us have a look at the five most expensive uncapped buys in the history of the IPL Auction.

Note: All the players mentioned in this article are now capped but were uncapped at the time when they were bought in the Auction.

5. Riley Meredith – 8 CR

Overseas fast bowlers are always in demand but very few overseas uncapped players get an amount that Riley Meredith got in IPL Auction 2021. Punjab Kings who were in desperate need of overseas fast bowlers got the Australian quick for 8 CR. 

With that Meredith became the fifth most expensive uncapped buy in the history of the IPL and the only overseas player in this list. It didn’t quite work out for Punjab Kings as Riley Meredith was in and out of the playing XI and wasn’t able to make an impact in IPL 2021. 

4. Varun Chakravarthy – 8.4 CR

Varun Chakravarthy who started performing well in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders was first picked by the Punjab Kings for a whopping 8.4 CR. In the 2019 IPL Auction, Chakravarthy was the joint most expensive buy with Jaydev Unadkat. In fact, Kolkata Knight Riders were the other team who were in a bidding war with Punjab Kings, and eventually, Punjab Kings bought him for 8.4 CR.

Chakravarthy was injured for most of the season and played only one game in which he didn’t look threatening at all. In the next auction, Kolkata Knight Riders bought him, and the rest as they say is history.

3. Pawan Negi – 8.5 CR

Pawan Negi the left-arm orthodox spinner from Delhi is the third most expensive uncapped player in the history of the IPL Auction. Delhi Capitals bought him for 8.5 CR in the 2016 IPL Auction. He had been part of the Chennai Super Kings squad in previous IPL seasons.

Pawan Negi couldn’t return the faith shown in him by the Delhi franchise, as he couldn’t make an impact with the bat or ball in the whole season. He was released before the next IPL Auction.

2. Krunal Pandya – 8.8 CR

Another left-arm spinner made a lot of money on the auction day in 2018 when Mumbai Indians bought Krunal Pandya for 8.8 CR. Many teams were interested when Krunal’s name came up in the auction and after a fierce bidding war, Royal Challengers Bangalore had bought Krunal Pandya for 8.8 CR. 

But Mumbai Indians used the Right to Match card and bought him at the same price. Krunal Pandya has been an integral part of the MI franchise from 2018 till 2021 when they won 2 trophies in a row. Krunal was released before the Mega Auction in 2022.

1. Krishnappa Gowtham – 9.25 CR

Krishnappa Gowtham the off-spinner from Karnataka is the most expensive uncapped buy in the history of the IPL Auction. Gowtham played his first IPL game for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018 and after two decent seasons, he went to Punjab Kings in IPL 2020. He played only two games in that season and was released in the auction. 

In the IPL 2021 Auction, Chennai Super Kings bought Gowtham for a whopping 9.25 CR. The most unusual thing about this buy was that Gowtham didn’t play a single game for Chennai Super Kings in the whole 2021 IPL season. With only four retentions allowed, Gowtham was released in the Mega Auction before the 2022 edition.