The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is a thrilling theatre of strategy and bidding wars, with every franchise, including big spenders like Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, aiming to perfect their roster. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have built a dynasty on shrewd, often conservative, spending, but when they do raise their paddle highest, it’s for a player they deem central to their plans. This approach has led to some monumental, season-defining purchases, with their most expensive player at each auction since 2008 often becoming a core component of the ‘Yellow Army.’
Chennai Super Kings’ most expensive player bought at each IPL auction
Here is the season-by-season rundown of CSK’ most expensive player bought at each IPL auction:
1) 2008 to 2012: Laying the foundation
- 2008: MS Dhoni (INR 6 Crore) – In the inaugural auction, CSK made the then-young World T20-winning captain the most expensive player overall. This unprecedented investment of INR 6 crore was the foundation of the franchise, securing the iconic leader who would go on to captain them for nearly two decades and define the team’s culture.
- 2009: Andrew Flintoff (INR 7.5 Crore) – CSK went big again for the English all-rounder, making him the joint most expensive player in the 2009 auction. The franchise sought a world-class pace-bowling all-rounder, but his stint was unfortunately cut short due to injury.
- 2010: Justin Kemp (INR 46 Lakh) – A mini-auction year with minimal spending saw CSK pick up the South African all-rounder for INR 46 lakh, reflecting a season where the core squad was already settled and retained.
- 2011: Ravichandran Ashwin (INR 3.7 Crore) – After the mega auction required re-bidding on many stars, CSK used a significant chunk of their purse to re-acquire their homegrown talent, the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, recognizing his value as a strike bowler.
- 2012: Ravindra Jadeja (INR 9.72 Crore) – In one of the most famous auction moments, CSK fought fiercely with Deccan Chargers, ultimately winning the prized Indian all-rounder through a secret tie-breaker bid. The high price secured a multi-utility player who became an absolute legend and an indispensable asset to the franchise.
2) 2013 to 2017: Consolidation and suspension
- 2013: Chris Morris (INR 3.42 Crore) – The South African pacer was the top buy in a mini-auction where CSK aimed to beef up their overseas pace bowling attack for a lower price.
- 2014: Faf Du Plessis (INR 4.75 Crore) – CSK strategically invested in the reliable South African batter, who was seen as a future leadership prospect and a versatile top-order contributor. He became another key long-term fixture for the team.
- 2015: Michael Hussey & Irfan Pathan (INR 1.5 Crore Each) – In a modest auction, CSK re-signed their veteran Australian batter Michael Hussey and bought Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan, splitting the highest spend between two experienced players.
- 2016 & 2017: CSK did not participate in the IPL due to a two-year suspension.
Also READ: IPL 2026: Ravichandran Ashwin discusses Sanju Samson’s captaincy chances and CSK’s potential Top 3
3) 2018 to 2025: The comeback and big spends
- 2018: Kedar Jadhav (INR 7.8 Crore) – Marking their return, CSK used their highest bid on the versatile Indian middle-order batsman and part-time spinner, adding an experienced Indian core player to the new squad.
- 2019: Mohit Sharma (INR 5 Crore) – The franchise successfully re-signed their former Indian fast bowler to add depth and death-over experience to their existing pace unit.
- 2020: Piyush Chawla (INR 6.75 Crore) – In a push for more experienced spin options, the leg-spinner was bought as an established partner for the existing spin contingent.
- 2021: Krishnappa Gowtham (INR 9.25 Crore) – CSK made a surprise high bid for the uncapped Indian all-rounder, aiming to strengthen the lower-order batting and add an off-spin option.
- 2022: Deepak Chahar (INR 14 Crore) – In the mega auction, CSK made their intent clear by bidding heavily to buy back their trusted Indian powerplay fast bowler, making him their most expensive Indian purchase ever and ensuring the retention of their core bowling strategy.
- 2023: Ben Stokes (INR 16.25 Crore) – This was CSK’s highest-ever auction purchase, securing the star English all-rounder. The monumental spend was a dual strategy: acquiring a world-class match-winner and grooming a potential future leader to succeed MS Dhoni.
- 2024: Daryl Mitchell (INR 14 Crore) – Following a standout ODI World Cup campaign, the New Zealand batter was a high-priority target, purchased to solidify the middle-order batting and provide stability.
- 2025: Noor Ahmad (INR 10 Crore) – In a massive bid for the young Afghan left-arm wrist-spinner, CSK prioritized strengthening their spin attack for the future, demonstrating their commitment to securing high-potential overseas bowling talent.
Also READ: Suresh Raina reveals his IPL 2026 retention picks for CSK; gives big verdict on Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni
