CSK’s most expensive players in every IPL Auction: Ravindra Jadeja to Ben Stokes

This Indian Premier League (IPL) The auction is a theater of thrilling strategy and bidding wars with every franchise including big spenders. Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, aims to perfect the list. This Chennai Super Kings (CSK) A smart, often conservative, spender, but when they raise their cushion the highest, it’s for a player they consider central to their plans. This approach has led to some monumental, season-defining acquisitions, with the most expensive player since 2008 often becoming a key component of the ‘yellow army’.

Chennai Super Kings’ most expensive player bought in every IPL auction

Here’s a season-by-season Rundown of CSK’s most expensive player bought in every IPL auction:

1) 2008 to 2012: Fund withdrawal

• 2008: MS DHONI (INR 6 Crore) – In the opening auction, CSK made the then most expensive young player in the world, the most expensive young player in the world. This unprecedented investment of INR 6 crore was the foundation of the franchise, which would captain them for nearly two decades and set the culture of the team.
• 2009: Andrew Flintoff (INR 7.5 Crore) – CSK went big again for the Englishman who made him the joint costliest player in the 2009 auction. The franchise wanted a world-class pace bowler but was unfortunately cut short due to injury.
• 2010: Justin Kemp (INR 46 Lakh) – The mini-auction year, which is a minimum spend mini-auction year, reflects a season where CSK’s comprehensive, Core squad is already settled and retained for intr 46 lakhs.
• 2011: Ravichandran Ashwin (INR 3.7 crore) – After rebidding many stars after the mega auction, CSK used a significant part of their purse to re-acquire home talent, off-spinner Ravichandran ashwinrecognizing its value as a blow.
• 2012: Ravindra jadeja (INR 9.72 crore) – Fought fiercely against CSK in one of the most famous auction moments Deccan chargerswho eventually won the initial India comprehensively bid proposal with secret tie. The high price provided a very utility player who has become an absolute legend and an invaluable 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 bidder in the mini-auction where CSK aimed to collect their foreign pace bowling attack at a lower price.
• 2014: FAF du Plessis (INR 4.75 Crore) – CSK is strategically investing in reliable South African prospects who are seen as future leadership prospects and versatile contributors. It was another major fixture for the team.
• 2015: Michael Husey and Irfan Pathan (1.5 crore each) – In a low-key auction, CSK re-signed veteran Australian caddy Michael Hussain and India picked up Irfan Pathan of Indian Theater who split the highest spend between the experienced player.
• 2016 & 2017: CSK did not participate in the IPL due to a two-year postponement.

Read: IPL 2026: Ravichandran discusses Ashwin Sanju Samson’s captaincy chances and top 3 of CSK’s potential

3) 2018 to 2025: Reversal and big spending

• 2018: Kedar Jadhav (INR 7.8 crore) – To mark their return, CSK have used their top bids in the versatile Indian Middle Order Batsman and part-time Spinner to add an experienced Indian key player to the new squad.
• 2019: Mohit Sharma (INR 5 Crore) – The franchise successfully signed a former Indian fast bowler to add depth and death experience to the existing PACE unit.
• 2020: Piyush Chawla (INR 6.75 Crore) – In a push for more experienced spin options, the leg spinner has been taken as a built-in partner for the existing spinning condition.
• 2021: Krishnappa Gowtham (INR 9.25 Crore) – CSK made a surprise high bid for the Indian opener, aiming to strengthen their lower-order batting and add an off-spin option.
• 2022: Deepak Chahar (INR 14 Crore) – In the mega auction, CSK made their intentions clear by bidding heavily to buy back their trusted Indian Powerplay fast bowler and secure their most expensive Indian buy ever and maintain their core bowling strategy.
• 2023: Ben Stokes (INR 16.25 Crore) – This was CSK’s highest auction purchase, the auction involving Star English. The monumental spending was a dual strategy: to secure the consideration and grooming of a world-class match-winner and a potential leader to succeed Ms Dhoni.
• 2024: Daryl Mitchell (INR 14 Crore) – Speaking after the ODI World Cup campaign, the New Zealand batsman was a high-priority target bought to strengthen and stabilize the middle-order batting.
• 2025: Noor Ahmad (INR 10 Crore) – In a massive bid for the young Afghan left-arm arm-spinner

Read: Suresh Raina reveals IPL 2026 catching options for CSK; Ravindra gives a great verdict on Jadeja and Ms. Dhoni