10. Marcus Stoinis – Delhi Capitals

Australian all-rounder Stoinis was released by the Royal Challengers following the 2019 tournament in which he scored 211 runs and took two wickets.

Despite his disappointing showing he was snapped up by the Capitals in December’s auction for ₹4.8 crore ($670,000).

He has since been named the player of the tournament in the 2019/20 Big Bash League after he smashed 705 runs in 17 matches. 

9. Eoin Morgan – Kolkata Knight Riders

England white-ball captain Morgan has not played in the IPL since 2017 but returns to the competition with the Knight Riders, where he spent his first three IPL campaigns.

Morgan has also played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab, but will line up for Kolkata once again in the UAE after they coughed up ₹5.25 crore ($736,000).

He is currently ranked seventh in the ICC T20 rankings for batsmen, and was in wonderful form for England in their recent series against Pakistan.

8. Sam Curran – Chennai Super Kings

Curran made his IPL debut last year for Kings XI Punjab, scoring 95 runs and taking 10 wickets in nine matches, including a match-winning hat-trick against the Capitals.

His performances, however, didn’t convince Punjab to retain him for this year’s competition, with the Super Kings deciding to buy him for ₹5.5 crore ($771,000) in December.

Despite not being a regular feature in the England white-ball set up, Curran is the most expensive Englishman in this year’s auction.

7. Piyush Chawla – Chennai Super Kings

Chawla will turn out for a third IPL team this year after five-year spells at Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively.

The all-rounder is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history, claiming 150 scalps in 157 matches so far.

His exemplary record in the competition meant the Super Kings had to shell out ₹6.75 crore ($946,000) to sign him in December.

6. Shimron Hetmyer – Delhi Capitals

Despite a disappointing 2019 tournament in which he scored just 90 runs in five matches for RCB, Hetmyer was the sixth-most expensive player at the 2020 auction, with Delhi Capitals spending ₹7.75 crore ($1.1m) on his signature.

The young West Indies batsman has a lot to prove after his poor showing last year and a stop-start 2020 on the international stage.

Some strong performances in the Caribbean Premier League suggest he is in decent nick, though, so that should conitnue in the UAE.

5. Nathan Coulter-Nile – Mumbai Indians

Mumbai have certainly not been complacent in their defence of the IPL title this year, signing Chris Lynn, Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter-Nile, among others, to add some serious firepower to their squad.

Australia international Coulter-Nile was their costliest acquisition, and the fifth-most expensive player in the auction this year, with Mumbai shelling out ₹8 crore ($1.1m) to sign him.

The all-rounder has plenty of IPL experience having turned out for Mumbai in his first season before spells at Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata. 

4. Sheldon Cottrell – Kings XI Punjab

Cottrell’s rise to the pinnacle of white-ball cricket has been a joy to watch, and he finally gets a chance in the IPL this season with Kings XI Punjab.

The left-arm pacer cost a whopping ₹8.5 crore ($1.2m), with Kings XI hoping he can recreate his outstanding form for the West Indies in recent years.

Cottrell has taken 36 wickets in just 27 T20Is, and claimed 12 wickets at the World Cup last summer. 

3. Chris Morris – Royal Challengers Bangalore

South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris was made the third-most expensive player at this year’s auction by the Royal Challengers, who paid ₹10 crore ($1.4m) for him in December.

It is easy to see why RCB were willing to stump up so much cash, with Morris playing a key role for the Delhi Capitals last season.

His ability to bowl accurate yorkers at the death and to compile important innings in the lower-middle order will be invaluable in their push for a maiden IPL title. 

2. Glenn Maxwell – Kings XI Punjab

After missing last year’s competition during a break from the game, the big-hitting Maxwell returns to the IPL as the second-most expensive player at auction.

‘The Big Show,’ who cost ₹10.75 crore ($1.5m), is one of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket, while he can also contribute with some useful off-spin and provide a safe pair of hands in the field.

Maxwell returns to Kings XI Punjab, where he starred in the 2014 edition with 552 runs at 34.50. 

1. Pat Cummins – Kolkata Knight Riders

Australian pacer Cummins is not only the most expensive player in this year’s auction, but also the most expensive overseas player in IPL history.

Kolkata coughed up an incredible ₹15.5 crore ($2.2m) for his signature, beating the ₹14.5 crore paid by the Rising Pune Supergiants for Ben Stokes in 2017.

Cummins had a previous spell at Kolkata in 2014 but played just one match, and has also turned out for Delhi, where he took 15 wickets in just 12 matches in 2017.

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