Sam Curran bags IPL record $2.23 million contract as England players hit jackpot

Ben Stokes and Harry Brook also land million-dollar deals on Friday

MOST EXPENSIVE PLAYERS IN IPL AUCTION HISTORY: England's Sam Curran has become the highest paid cricketer in the history of IPL after Punjab Kings bid 185 million rupees ($2.23m) for him on Friday, December 23, 2022. PA

Cameron Green of Australia became the second most expensive player in IPL history after Mumbai Indians snapped him up for 175m rupees. Getty

3. Ben Stokes - 162.5m rupees, Chennai Super Kings, for IPL 2023. AFP

=3. Chris Morris - 162.5m rupees, Rajasthan Royals, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL

=5. Yuvraj Singh - 160m rupees Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), 2015

=6. Nicholas Pooran - 160m rupees, Lucknow Super Giants, 2023. AFP

7. Pat Cummins - 155m rupees, Kolkata Knight Riders, 2020. Sportzpics for IPL

8. Ishan Kishan - 152.5m rupees, Mumbai Indians, 2022. Sportzpics for IPL

9. Kyle Jamieson - 150m, Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL

10. Ben Stokes - 145m rupees, Rising Pune Supergiant, 2017. Getty

England players were in high demand during the IPL mini auction on Friday, with all-rounder Sam Curran becoming the most expensive player in the history of the tournament.

Curran saw an intense bidding war in Kerala after his exploits in the T20 World Cup in Australia, where he was the player of the match and the tournament in a victorious campaign.

Curran returned to the Punjab Kings for a staggering sum of 185 million Indian rupees ($2.23 million) following a fierce bidding war with Chennai Super Kings.

His bid broke the record set by South African all-rounder Chris Morris who was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals for 162.5m rupees in 2021.

Morris's deal was worth $2.25 million at the time but now stands at $2m as the Indian currency has weakened since. The previous record fee paid for Morris was broken once more on Friday, with Mumbai Indians paying 175m rupees for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green.

The other big winners on the day were Curran's teammates Ben Stokes and Harry Brook.

The Super Kings made up for missing out on Curran by signing England red-ball captain Stokes for 162.5m rupees.

Young batsman Brook, who made his England T20 and Test debuts this year, became the first millionaire of the day after being signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for 132.5m rupees.

Most expensive players in IPL history

1. Sam Curran - 185 million Indian rupees ($2.23 million), Punjab Kings for IPL 2023

2. Cameron Green - 175m rupees, Mumbai Indians, 2023

=3. Ben Stokes - 162.5m rupees, Chennai Super Kings, 2023

=3. Chris Morris - 162.5m rupees, Rajasthan Royals, 2021

=5. Yuvraj Singh - 160m rupees Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), 2015

=6. Nicholas Pooran - 160m rupees, Lucknow Super Giants, 2023

7. Pat Cummins - 155m rupees, Kolkata Knight Riders, 2020

8. Ishan Kishan - 152.5m rupees, Mumbai Indians, 2022

9. Kyle Jamieson - 150m, Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2021

10. Ben Stokes - 145m rupees, Rising Pune Supergiant , 2017