The IPL in 18 seasons has become more than a game of cricket, it's a platform for talent, a stepping stone for maiden national call-ups, and an event that brings fans worldwide. Over the years, the IPL auction has witnessed incidents that have changed the fortunes of both players and franchises.
One of the most iconic purchases in IPL history was Jasprit Bumrah, picked by Mumbai Indians for just INR 10 lakh in 2013. Bumrah’s rise from a regular pacer to India’s premier fast bowler shows IPL’s ability to nurture raw talent and create international stars. Similarly, Hardik Pandya, bought by Mumbai Indians for INR 10 lakh in 2015, emerged as a game-changer. His all-round brilliance helped MI clinch multiple titles, while his IPL performances secured him a place in India’s national team. There have been many overseas players who have gone on to make a mark for them in world cricket.
3. Rinku Singh:
Left-hand batter Rinku Singh’s cricketing career is nothing but a rollercoaster of moments. From working as a sweeper in Aligarh, India, to becoming a cricketing sensation, Rinku’s hard work finally paid off making him one of the game-changers in the league.
Rinku’s breakthrough came with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, where his brilliant performance in 2023, hitting five consecutive sixes to clinch a thrilling win, registered his name in history books. After this performance, he grabbed eyeballs, eventually leading to his national call-up. Singh has so far played 30 T20Is and two ODIs for India and scored 507 and 55 runs, respectively. He was also one of the traveling reserves in India's winning squad of T20 World Cup 2024. Additionally, KKR has retained the southpaw for the IPL 2025 auction for INR 13 crore.
2. Jake Fraser-McGurk:
Australian explosive opener Jake Fraser-McGurk's remarkable performance in the 2024 IPL played a crucial role in his journey to make his international debut. Scoring 330 runs at a strike rate of 234 in his debut season, the Australian opener caught the eye of both Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.
Ultimately, Delhi Capitals retained him for INR 9 crore after an intense bidding war in the IPL 2025 auction. His hard-hitting skills was honed under the mentorship of Ricky Ponting, fine tuning his attacking game. This form earned him his ODI and T20I debuts for Australia. Fraser-McGurk has scored over 1,100 runs in T20 leagues.
1. Suryakumar Yadav:
Suryakumar Yadav's career from a lower-order batter at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an important player in Indian cricket shows how he has gone on to become a game changer. Between 2014 and 2017, he played bit-part roles for KKR, scoring modest totals of 164, 157, 182, and 105 runs in the IPL seasons. His fortunes changed in 2018 when Mumbai Indians (MI) picked him up, and his consistent performances saw him score 512, 424, and 480 runs in subsequent seasons.
It was after his success with MI that he earned his India call-up in 2021, debuting in T20Is and quickly becoming a vital cog in India's batting lineup. Surya's fearless batting earned him many prizes, including the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year 2022. Now, as India’s T20I captain, Yadav is recognized as one of the most destructive and consistent T20 players globally.
