1. Yuvraj Singh : $2.67 million
The stylish left-handed batsman from India needs no introduction. Yuvraj became the costliest buy in the history of the IPL when he was bought by Delhi Daredevils for a whopping sum of Rs 16 crore in the IPL 2015 auction.
Prior to that he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 14 crore ($ 2.33 million) in the IPL 2014 auction. However, after a forgettable outing in the RCB jersey he was released by the franchise in the very next season.
He, till date, holds the record of hitting fastest fifty in a T20I match. Yuvraj achieved this feat in the inaugural World T20 2007 against England. Yuvraj also smashed six sixes in an over in that very game to prove how dangerous he is in the shortest version of the game.
Due to these qualities of the veteran India batsman, his popularity among fans as well as among franchises hasn't waned. Fans are glued to the TV screens for as long as he's at the crease.
2. Gautam Gambhir: $ 2.4 million
The Delhi opener hogged limelight before the start of IPL 2011 when he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for a jaw-dropping sum of $ 2.4 million.
Gambhir was named the captain of KKR (in 2011), the team hasn't looked back. KKR went on lifting their first IPL trophy in the very next season i.e. in 2012 and repeated the success in 2014.
The southpaw was in red hot form just before the start of IPL 2011, as he had played some great knocks in the 2011 ICC World Cup, that India won. He scored 97 in the final against Sri Lanka and helped his side lift the world cup after 28 years.
3. Ben Stokes: $ 2.16 million
The England all rounder Ben Stokes (Base price Rs 2 crore) was snapped by Rising Pune Supergiant for Rs 14.5 crore ($ 2.16 million) and went on to become costliest foreign cricketer in the history of IPL.
RPS bought Stokes after defeating bids from Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils (DD), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Image Courtesy: BCCI
4. Yusuf Pathan: $ 2.1 million
The explosive Baroda batsman is considered one of the impact players in T20.
The right-handed batsman, who played some memorable innings for Rajasthan Royals, was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for $ 2.1 million in 2011.
He was the second expensive buy for KKR in that season after skipper Gautam Gambhir.
5. Robin Uthappa: $ 2.1 million
The Karnataka opening batsman is known for playing aggressive brand of cricket.
He was purchased by Pune Warriors India, now defunct, for a whopping price of $ 2.1 million in 2011.
After Pune Warriors ceased to exist, Uthappa was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders.
6. Dinesh Karthik: $ 2.08 million
A wicketkeepper-batsman have always been most sought after players in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dinesh Karthik has been the same.
The Tamil Nadu cricketer, who always performed well in the domestic circuit, was by Delhi Daredevils for $2.08 million.
Karthik is an exceptional wicketkeeper and an aggressive batsman anywhere in the top order. He was later bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $ 1.75 million in 2015.
7. Rohit Sharma: $ 2 million
The talented Mumbai batsman has always been a star performer in the IPL.
After providing his services to Deccan Chargers, now defunct, Rohit was snapped by Mumbai Indians for a whopping sum of $2 million in 2011.
Buying Rohit Sharma did wonders to the Mumbai Indians side as the franchise has won two IPL trophies under his leadership.
8. Ravindra Jadeja: $ 2 million
The left-handed bowling all rounder was purchased by Chennai Super Kings for a sum of $2 million in 2012.
The Saurashtra cricketer was already a household name by then and enjoyed the confidence of skipper MS Dhoni.
9. Irfan Pathan: $ 1.9 million
The fast bowling all-rounder was purchased by the Delhi Daredevils in 2011. Irfan Pathan was a household name back then and his T20 exploits made him a must fit for any side.
Apart from getting wickets early on, Pathan was capable of hitting big shots which made him a dangerous player.
10. Saurabh Tiwary: $ 1.6 million
The left-handed batsman from Jharkhand was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011.
Back then, Tiwary had a reputation of being a big hitting batsman, hence the whopping sum paid by RCB for him.
Tiwary has also performed well in the domestic circuit.