Deepak Chahar, wanindu Hasaranga and Ishan Kishan. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
In the last 15 years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has changed cricket a lot. For players from India’s domestic circuit, the league helps them to raise the standard of their game as playing cricket along with international icons helps them to develop their skills. At the same time, international players also enjoy the perks of knowing Indian conditions and the playing style of Indian players closely.
IPL also gives talented players a chance to get settled financially in their lives. Some players also pulled off lucrative contracts in their IPL careers and received jaw-dropping benefits. IPL often gets criticised for introducing young and uncapped players to stardom and money. However, from the players’ point of view, the league becomes an incredible opportunity to sharpen their cricketing skills and make themselves financially strong as well.
Here are the ten cricketers who became millionaires overnight after getting lucrative IPL contracts
10. Ravindra Jadeja in 2012
Ravindra jadeja IPL 2012. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Ravindra Jadeja is an integral part of the Indian team due to his exceptional all-round skills. Riding on his superb talent, India have won a lot of games in the last 14 years. However, there was also a time when Jadeja was not a regular member of the Indian team. After missing the 2011 World Cup, he made a comeback in the national squad during India’s tour of England.
After returning to the international circuit, he put up a decent show with the ball. Noting his fine performance, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) splurged INR 9.72 crore on Jadeja at the IPL 2012 auction. Ahead of the IPL 2012 auction, Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) got terminated due to their failure to provide a bank guarantee.
Jadeja, who was part of Tuskers in 2011, submitted his name to go under the hammer again. At the event, the all-rounder became the most expensive player as Deccan Chargers and CSK got involved in a fierce bidding battle. Eventually, CSK emerged as winners as they succeeded in signing the Gujarat-born player.
9. Shahrukh Khan in 2022
Sharukh Khan. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Shahrukh Khan became a notable name after his sensational performance in IPL 2021. After getting his match-finishing services, Punjab Kings (PBKS) released Shahrukh ahead of the 2022 IPL auction as they retained only two players- paceman Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Agarwal.
At the auction, Punjab Kings (PBKS) showed interest in Shahrukh again. This time, he went to Punjab for INR 9 crore. Receiving this humongous price, he became the joint-third expensive uncapped player of IPL 2022. Currently, he is an important part of PBKS due to his superb batting talent.
So far, the right-handed batter has scored 426 runs in 33 IPL games at a strike rate of 134.81. In the 2023 edition of the league, Shahrukh smashed 156 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 165.96. So far, the Chennai-born player has failed to justify his price tag in the PBKS squad.
8. Harshal Patel in 2022
Harshal Patel. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Harshal Patel grabbed a lot of eyeballs in IPL 2021, becoming the purple cap winner for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with 32 wickets in 15 games at an economy of 8.14. Following this performance, RCB supporters were expecting their team to retain the pacer for the 2022 season. However, the franchise released Harshal prior to the 2022 auction.
Following his release from Bangalore, Harshal had said he would like to serve Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2022. At the 2022 auction, he didn’t get a chance to play for Chennai but his old franchise RCB reacquire him for the 2022 season at the auction. Challengers got stiff competition from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on the auction table but in the end, the former pulled off the deal as they signed the experienced speedster for INR 10.75 crores.
While speaking on RCB Podcast Season 2, Harshal revealed he was expecting around six or seven crores as he had noted players in his category for the past three to four seasons. Harshal also said he was surprised to witness a huge bid for him at the event.
7. Wanindu Hasaranga in 2022
Wanindu Hasaranga. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Currently, Wanindu Hasanranga is a pivotal member of Sri Lanka’s white-ball team. His efficient performance for his national side has made him a star player in the international circuit. At the 2022 IPL auction, RCB also got impressed by his excellent work in Sri Lanka colours.
At the IPL 2023 auction, Challengers signed up Hasaranga for a hefty amount of INR 10.75 crore to reserve his services in the tournament. With the huge amount, he ended up becoming the joint-sixth expensive player of IPL 2022, along with his teammate Harshal Patel, who got the responsibility to reinforce RCB’s pace attack.
In RCB colours, the Sri Lanka leg-spinner played his part brilliantly as he grabbed 26 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 7.54 and ended up becoming the second-leading wicket-taker in the IPL 2022, following Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Yuzvendra Chahal.
6. Jaydev Unadkat in 2018 and 2019
Jaydev Unadkat. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Jaydev Unadkat became the leading wicket-taker for Rising Pune Supergiant in their last appearance (2017 IPL season). Picking up 24 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 7.02, he ended up as the second-leading wicket-taker in the competition. His bowling performance played a crucial role in taking Pune to the final of the tournament.
In 2018, Unadkat went under the hammer again, and following his previous season’s performance, IPL’s inaugural champions RR invested INR 11.5 crore in the speedster to strengthen their pace battery. The pacer failed to live upto the expectations in the season and noting his non-performance, RR released him ahead of the 2019 auction.
Royals put their money in Unadkat again at the 2019 auction. This time, he was fetched for INR 8.4 crore. However, Undakat failed to justify his role in the side again, claiming only 10 wickets in 11 games at an economy of 10.66. The pacer often gets targeted for failing to be up to the mark for RR despite getting hefty prices in the couple of seasons.
5. Deepak Chahar in 2022
Deepak Chahar. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
After banking on Deepak Chahar’s services from 2018-21, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) couldn’t retain the pacer for the 2022 season as they could keep back only four players in the squad. Chahar was brought back into the CSK squad through the 2022 mega auction but the pacer couldn’t participate in the tournament due to his back injury.
The talented speedster had become the second-most expensive player at the 2022 auction, receiving INR 14 crore. In 2023, CSK won their fifth title and Chahar contributed 13 wickets to his team in 10 outings at an expensive economy of 8.73. In the league round, Chahar looked ordinary with the ball but in the playoffs, he showcased his mettle.
Against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 1, he stepped up and delivered a thrifty and wicket-taking spell to help his side come out victorious. Chahar became the unsung hero of the game, picking up 2/29 figures in his four-over spell.
4. Jhye Richardson in 2021
Jhye Richardson. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
In the 2020-21 Big Bash League (BBL), Jhye Richardson became the leading wicket-taker for Perth Scorchers, clinching 29 wickets in 17 matches at an economy of 7.69. His efficiency for Scorchers attracted the eyeballs of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) team management at the 2021 IPL auction.
Considering his form, PBKS spent INR 14 crore to sign up Richardson to serve their side in the 2021 edition of the cash-rich tournament. The PBKS management, however, ignored Richardson’s non-performance for Australia in the international circuit. The deal benefitted Richardson as he became the fourth-most expensive player in the season.
For PBKS, Richardson was their top buy but his performance disappointed Punjab as the Aussie pacer could rack up only three wickets in three matches at an economy of 10.63. However, at the end of the season, Richardson was the only winner in this deal as Punjab didn’t get the Aussie paceman’s best with the ball.
3. Kyle Jamieson in 2021
Kyle Jamieson. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Kyle Jamieson made his T20 International (T20I) debut for New Zealand in 2020. Playing three matches in the tournament, he looked disciplined with the ball and fetched three wickets in four games at an economy of 7.75. Jamieson’s decent performance in New Zealand colours attracted RCB at the 2021 auction.
At the business event, Challengers raised their bidding paddle for Jamieson and ended up buying the pacer for a massive amount of INR 15 crore. Following the lucrative deal, the lanky pacer became the apple of the media’s eyes. In the competition, Challengers were expecting Jamieson to play his part exceptionally with the ball.
However, Jamieson emerged as a disappointment as he could scalp only nine wickets in nine matches at a horrendous economy of 9.60. As Jamieson failed to perform according to his price tag, RCB fans came heavily on their team management, criticizing their decision of buying the Kiwi bowler at a hefty price.
2. Ishan Kishan in 2022
Ishan Kishan. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Ishan Kishan is an essential part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad since 2018. In his five years of service, he has looked confident with the bat. The young opener became the fifth-leading run-getter in MI’s title win in the 2020 edition of the league. The southpaw smashed 516 runs in 13 innings of 14 games at a strike rate of 145.76.
Kishan got released by MI in the 2021 season as the franchise decided to retain senior players such as captain Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav for the 2022 season. At the 2022 mega-auction, MI shelled out INR 15.25 crores and reserved the services of Kishan again.
Kishan’s enormous price tag became the talk of the town and the media started discussing if the southpaw will succeed in justifying his role in the tournament. In the competition, Kishan struggled to be among the runs in the initial matches of IPL 2022 but in the end, he became the most successful batter for Mumbai in the 2022 season, notching up 418 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 120.11. Currently, the 24-year-old is a vital member of the Mumbai-based outlet.
1. Cameron Green in 2023
Cameron Green. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Cameron Green displayed his magic during Australia’s tour of India in 2022 and became a notable figure in cricketing circles. The right-handed Aussie chalked up 118 runs in three T20Is at a marvellous strike rate of 214.54 and became the highest run-getter in the series.
Noting his exceptional batting against the Men in Blue during the India tour, some franchises showed interest in signing Green at the 2023 IPL auction held in Kochi. In the end, it was MI who got success in signing the talented Australia all-rounder. The five-time IPL champions splurged INR 17.5 crore for getting the Australia stalwart services in the competition.
After getting signed at the humongous price, MI’s expectations from Green were high. The 24-year-old didn’t disappoint his franchise as he played his role incredibly with the bat, scoring 452 runs in 16 games at a stunning strike rate of 160.28. With the ball, he claimed six wickets at an economy of 9.50.