Who are the best bargain buys in IPL history?


IPL 2023 Winner

Some of the best teams in IPL history didn’t just spend big—they spent smart. And that often meant snapping up bargain buys: players picked up for peanuts who delivered platinum-level performances.

Here’s a roundup of the greatest bargain buys in IPL history—players who proved you don’t always need ₹15 crore to win matches:

🏆 All-Time Best Bargain Buys in IPL History

🔥 1. Jasprit Bumrah – ₹10 Lakhs (2013, MI)

  • An unknown quantity when picked by Mumbai Indians.

  • Became India’s pace spearhead and one of IPL’s all-time greats.

  • Impact: Death overs specialist, consistent match-winner for over a decade.

🧨 2. Hardik Pandya – ₹10 Lakhs (2015, MI)

  • Picked up from domestic T20s after MI’s scouting.

  • Turned into a finisher, seamer, and eventually GT’s title-winning captain.

  • ROI? Off the charts.

🧲 3. David Warner – ₹3.93 Crore (2014, SRH)

  • Not exactly dirt cheap, but massively underpaid for the value he brought.

  • Took SRH to a title in 2016 and was the Orange Cap holder multiple times.

🎯 4. Shane Watson – ₹50 Lakhs (2008, RR)

  • An unknown all-rounder when RR picked him.

  • Ended the season as MVP and led them to a fairytale title.

🛡️ 5. Rahul Tewatia – ₹3 Crore (2020, RR)

  • Often underestimated, but won games from nowhere with the bat and contributed with the ball.

  • That 5 sixes in an over vs Punjab was iconic.

💥 6. Glenn Maxwell – ₹1 Crore (2021, RCB)

  • Coming off a flop season, many raised eyebrows when RCB bought him.

  • Delivered a stellar all-round season and became their X-factor.

⚡ 7. Suryakumar Yadav – ₹3.2 Crore (2018, MI)

  • Bought back by MI as a domestic pick—after letting him go to KKR.

  • Transformed into a batting genius, a consistent 400+ run scorer.

🚀 8. Andre Russell – ₹60 Lakhs (2014, KKR)

  • Injury-prone and overlooked early on.

  • Turned into the most destructive finisher of his generation and a game-changer with the ball too.

🧠 9. Ruturaj Gaikwad – ₹20 Lakhs (2019, CSK)

  • From a low-profile buy to an Orange Cap winner in 2021.

  • Classic CSK patience and development story.

🧤 10. Dinesh Karthik – ₹5.5 Crore (2022, RCB)

  • Considered past his prime, but reinvented himself as a death-over finisher and helped RCB reach playoffs.

💸 Honorable Mentions

  • Yuzvendra Chahal – ₹10 Lakhs (MI/RCB): Go-to wrist-spinner in IPL.

  • Mohammad Siraj – ₹20 Lakhs (2017, SRH): Grew into a pace leader.

  • Deepak Chahar – ₹80 Lakhs (2018, CSK): Became their powerplay weapon.

  • Axar Patel – ₹1 Crore (DC): Valuable with bat and ball.

🎯 What Makes a Great Bargain Buy?

Factor Why It Matters
Under-the-radar pick Not hyped, so picked cheap
Player development Good teams develop them into match-winners
Role clarity Used wisely to unlock max impact
Longevity Deliver over multiple seasons at low cost

💬 Final Take

Bargain buys aren’t just great stories—they’re a competitive edge. Teams that scout smart, develop talent, and back players early often walk away with game-changers at base price. And that’s what can swing a whole season.