The IPL 2024 auction threw up plenty of surprises with teams splurging on the experienced, international stars – here are the most expensive overseas players in the auction.

IPL 2024 auction: Most expensive overseas players

Mitchell Starc: INR 24.75 crore (Kolkata Knight Riders)

The left-arm seamer will lead the KKR attack, joining the side after going for a whopping INR 24.75 crore. He is the most expensive player in IPL auction history, with KKR and Gujarat Titans involved in an intense bidding war. Starc last played a T20I in the 2022 T20 World Cup and has taken 73 wickets in 58 T20Is for Australia.

Pat Cummins: INR 20.5 crore (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Pat Cummins became the second-most expensive player in IPL auction history and became the first cricketer to be bought for over INR 20 crore. Under him, Australia won the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup, which makes him a good captaincy option in a team that has often struggled for leadership in the past. However, his IPL records do not back the big bucks spent on him: Cummins has picked up 45 wickets in 42 games in the tournament, conceding over 8.5 runs an overs. In his last two seasons with KKR, Cummins gave away 8.83 and 10.69 runs, respectively. His big hitting, however, is an asset.

Daryl Mitchell: INR 14 crore (Chennai Super Kings)

Mitchell scored two hundreds against India in the 2023 World Cup and has recently been a consistent performer across formats for New Zealand. Mitchell is an excellent player of spin and could thrive on the slow wickets that are usually produced at Chepauk in Chennai. He has scored 1,062 T20I runs with a strike rate of 137.22 and has picked up eight wickets in 10 innings.

Alzarri Joseph: INR 11.50 crore (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Given RCB’s persistent bowling challenges, acquiring a fast bowler to complement Mohammed Siraj was a necessity. Therefore, it came as no shock when they went all out to secure the services of the West Indies quick. Joseph’s performance in nine T20Is this year reflects his impact, with 16 wickets at an average of 21.06. However, his economy rate stands at 10.36, an aspect that needs consideration.

Rovman Powell: INR 7.4 crore (Rajasthan Royals)

West Indies’ Powell was the first player to go under the hammer in the 2024 IPL auction, with KKR, seemingly looking for a replacement for Andre Russell, pushing the price up. He was eventually purchased by Rajasthan Royals. Powell is a big hitter, with a strike rate of 143.26 in T20I and can also be a handy bowler.

Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.