The Indian Premier League has always been about more than on-field action, but also behind-the-scenes drama. Every year, as soon as a season ends, the focus immediately turns to the trade window and auction, where teams rethink their strategies, revamp their squads and make tough financial choices.
Over the past few years, the IPL has seen some exceptionally expensive trade deals, with franchises willing to spend huge sums to secure the right talent. Big money swaps, all cash transfers, often make headlines as teams try to balance their purse strings while also strengthening their squads. There have been some surprising and expensive deals in the league this year too.
Here are the top 5 most expensive deals in IPL history
5. Shardul Thakur: DC to KKR (10.75 crore), 2023
Indian bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur's high-profile trade from Delhi Capitals to Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2023 came on the back of strong performances for India and an impressive 2022 IPL season, where he took 15 wickets. His potential prompted KKR to spend Rs 10.75 crore in an all-cash trade.
However, the 2023 season did not go as KKR had hoped. Shardul could take only seven wickets in 9 innings while giving away runs at an expensive economy of 10.47. Although he showed glimpses of his hitting ability and scored 68 runs at a strike rate of 161.42, he could not perform consistently with either the ball or the bat. The franchise was released after one season.
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