Rajasthan Royals’ most expensive players at each IPL auction: From Sanju Samson to Ben Stokes

The Rajasthan Royals (RR), the inaugural champions, have consistently been one of the most intriguing franchises at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction table. Their strategy has often been a study in contrast: sometimes adopting a moneyball approach to unearth hidden gems, and at other times, betting big on a single, world-class match-winner. This history of fluctuating high-spends has been central to their team-building, aiming to acquire players who either anchor the team with high cricketing IQ (like Rahul Dravid) or provide explosive, game-changing power (like Chris Morris and Ben Stokes).

IPL 2026: Entry of Sam Curran and Ravindra Jadeja and return of Kumar Sangakkara

Heading into the IPL 2026 auction, the Royals have undergone a seismic shift, having finalized one of the biggest trades in league history by sending long-time captain Sanju Samson to CSK in exchange for the seasoned brilliance of Ravindra Jadeja and the all-round dynamism of Sam Curran.

This bold restructuring, which also saw the return of head coach Kumar Sangakkara, means RR will now enter the auction with a core built on two of the world’s best all-rounders, alongside retained stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jofra Archer. With a significant purse remaining (around INR 16.05 crore) and key slots to fill, the upcoming auction is crucial for the Royals to establish a new leadership structure and strategically acquire the remaining specialists needed to complement their newly traded and retained core.

Rajasthan Royals’ most expensive player bought at each IPL Auction

1) 2008 to 2013: Shrewd picks and core Indian talent

• 2008: Mohammad Kaif (INR 2.5 Crore) – Though Shane Warne was the iconic first pick, the highest auction spend secured the veteran Indian batter. This investment was key to adding a high-profile, experienced domestic cricketer to stabilize their early batting line-up.
• 2009: Tyron Henderson (INR 6.5 Crore) – RR made the South African all-rounder their highest buy in the second season. The investment was an attempt to find a versatile, high-impact overseas player, reflecting the restricted spending environment of that year.
• 2010: Shaun Tait (INR 2.2 Crore) – The express Australian fast bowler was the top purchase in a low-spending auction. RR aimed to add genuine pace and terrorize batter with one of the fastest bowlers in the world at the time.
• 2011: Johan Botha & Ross Taylor (INR 4.6 Crore Each) – In the mega-auction, RR split their highest spend between two experienced overseas players. Botha was valued for his all-round spin and defensive skills, while Taylor was brought in as a dangerous middle-order power hitter.
• 2012: Johan Botha (INR 4.5 Crore) – Re-acquiring the South African all-rounder at a high price demonstrated RR’s continued reliance on his versatile off-spin and handy batting to anchor their middle overs.
• 2013: James Faulkner (INR 4 Crore) – The Australian all-rounder was a key strategic buy. RR valued his left-arm pace variation and his proven match-winning ability as a lower-order finisher.

2) 2014 to 2017: Consolidation and suspension

• 2014: Steve Smith (INR 4 Crore) – This was a significant, long-term strategic investment to acquire the highly versatile Australian batter, who was seen as a future leadership option and a world-class batting anchor for the middle order.
• 2015: Karun Nair & Sanju Samson (INR 4 Crore Each) – RR split their highest spend to secure two rising, talented Indian batters. This move underscored their philosophy of investing heavily in the future and backing domestic youth.
• 2016 & 2017: RR did not participate in the IPL due to a two-year suspension.

Also READ: KKR’s most expensive players at each IPL Auction: From Gautam Gambhir to Mitchell Starc

3) 2018 to 2025: The return and mega-spends

• 2018: Ben Stokes (INR 12.5 Crore) – Marking their return to the league, RR made a blockbuster statement by securing the English star all-rounder. The massive spend was intended to acquire a high-impact, world-class match-winner to spearhead their franchise revival.
• 2019: Jaydev Unadkat (INR 8.4 Crore) – Despite a controversial previous year, RR backed the Indian left-arm pacer at a very high price for the second consecutive season, demonstrating their persistent need for domestic pace and death-bowling experience.
• 2020: Ankit Rajpoot (INR 3 Crore) – The Indian fast bowler was the highest buy in a focused auction. RR aimed to add depth and an experienced domestic pace option who could bowl crucial middle-overs and death spells.
• 2021: Chris Morris (INR 16.25 Crore) – RR broke the all-time IPL auction record to acquire the South African all-rounder. The monumental bid was a desperate, all-in attempt to secure a reliable, high-impact finisher and death bowler they felt was missing.
• 2022: Prasidh Krishna (INR 10 Crore) – In the mega-auction, RR spent heavily on the tall, Indian fast bowler. This investment was a key move to build a strong, domestic pace battery around a young, consistent international performer.
• 2023: Trent Boult (INR 8 Crore) – Though he was traded, his price was allocated from the auction purse, making the star New Zealand left-arm fast bowler the highest-valued acquisition for their season. He was crucial for providing wicket-taking threats in the powerplay.
• 2024: Avesh Khan (INR 10 Crore) – RR invested heavily to acquire the services of the Indian fast bowler (via trade), highly valuing his domestic ability to bowl fast and deliver under pressure, securing a potent partner for their pace attack.
• 2025: Jofra Archer (INR 12.5 Crore) – Following a major trade shake-up, RR went big to re-acquire their former star and English pace-bowling sensation. This massive bid secured a genuine match-winner and a high-impact overseas bowler for their new-look team.

Also READ: Mumbai Indians’ most expensive players at each IPL auction: From Rohit Sharma to Cameron Green