The cash rich league IPL has never shied away from splashing massive sums on star players, but not every blockbuster signing lives up to expectations. With franchises investing crores in proven match-winners and emerging superstars, the pressure to perform rises instantly. Yet, history shows that several big-money buys have struggled under the weight of their price tags.
At the centre of the current conversation is Rishabh Pant, whose recent struggles have reignited the debate over whether he could become the biggest expensive flop in IPL history. Getting a hefty cheque in the 2024 mega auction, the southpaw has not been able to perform the way the LSG franchise and his fans wanted. Although the list of costliest failures includes many names, from Pant to Shane Watson, take a look.
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Rishabh Pant – Lucknow Super Giants (₹27 Crore)
Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in IPL history when Lucknow Super Giants secured him for a record ₹27 crore. Expectations were sky-high, with fans hoping the explosive wicketkeeper-batter would transform Lucknow into title contenders.
However, Pant has struggled badly since the move. After a disappointing 2025 season where he failed to make a consistent impact apart from one half-century, hopes were pinned on a turnaround in 2026. Instead, his poor form has continued, including a modest seven-run knock against Delhi in Lucknow’s latest outing. Questions have also been raised over his captaincy, making his hefty price tag look increasingly difficult to justify.
Glenn Maxwell (Punjab Kings, 2020 – ₹10.75 Crore)
Glenn Maxwell’s 2020 season for Punjab Kings is remembered as one of his most disappointing IPL campaigns. Bought for over ₹10 crore, the Australian all-rounder managed only 108 runs in 13 matches and failed to hit a single six throughout the season. For a player known for explosive batting, the numbers were shocking and far below expectations.
Varun Chakravarthy (Punjab Kings, 2019, 8.4 crores)
Varun Chakravarthy’s IPL journey began with huge expectations after his impressive rise in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, where his mystery spin made batters struggle to read him. Kings XI Punjab identified his potential early and went all in, spending 8.4 crores in the 2019 auction — a massive amount for a relatively inexperienced spinner.
However, his debut season turned out to be extremely disappointing. He got just one opportunity, and in that match, he conceded 35 runs in only 3 overs without making any significant impact. The lack of trust from the team management also meant he never got a proper run in the season.
Interestingly, this setback did not define his career. He later reinvented himself at Kolkata Knight Riders, becoming one of their key bowlers and even earning an India call-up. But his initial IPL stint with Punjab remains a classic case of talent being overshadowed by pressure and poor utilization.
Jaydev Unadkat (RR, 2018, 11.5 crores)
Pacer entered IPL 2018 with the weight of expectations after a breakthrough 2017 season with Rising Pune Supergiant, where his ability to bowl cutters and swing the new ball impressed everyone. That performance triggered a bidding war, and Rajasthan Royals eventually secured him for a huge 11.5 crores.
But the pressure of being a top-priced Indian pacer seemed to affect his consistency. He struggled to replicate his earlier rhythm, often going for runs at crucial stages and failing to provide early breakthroughs. Despite playing regularly, he could not justify his price tag with match-winning spells.
What made his case even more talked about was RR’s decision to repurchase him again at a high value, showing how highly they rated him despite the struggles. However, his performances across that phase never matched expectations, making him one of the most discussed expensive Indian pacers who underdelivered
Pawan Negi (DC, 2018, 8.5 crores)
Negi was once seen as a promising left-arm spin all-rounder, especially after his successful stint under MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him a valuable T20 asset.
Delhi Daredevils invested heavily in him during the 2018 auction, spending 8.5 crores expecting him to become a key Indian spin option. However, the season went completely against expectations. He struggled to take wickets, finishing with just one scalp in eight matches, while also leaking runs at over 9 economy.
His batting opportunities were limited, and whenever he got a chance, he failed to make a meaningful contribution. The biggest issue was inconsistency in confidence — he looked unsettled and under pressure throughout the season.
The high price tag became a burden rather than motivation, and his season is often remembered as one of the clearest examples of an uncapped Indian player struggling under financial expectations.
Tymal Mills (RCB, 2017, 11.5 crores)
Tymal Mills entered IPL auctions as one of the most exciting T20 specialists from England, known for his express pace and death-over bowling skills. His reputation in franchise cricket made him a hot property, and Royal Challengers Bangalore spent 11.5 crores to secure his services.
However, his IPL journey never truly took off. He played only five matches throughout the season, which limited his ability to find rhythm or consistency. In those appearances, he picked up five wickets but was expensive, finishing with an economy rate of 8.57.
RCB’s bowling attack itself was under pressure that season, and Mills was unable to provide the late-over control the team expected from him. His lack of continuity in the XI also hurt his confidence.
While he remained a respected T20 bowler globally, his IPL 2017 season stands out as one where expectations far exceeded actual impact.
Shane Watson (RCB, 2016, 9.5 crores)
Shane Watson arrived at Royal Challengers Bangalore as a proven T20 match-winner, capable of destroying bowling attacks with the bat and contributing crucial overs with the ball. His experience made him one of the most valuable overseas picks in 2016.
RCB expected him to be a senior all-rounder who could stabilize and accelerate depending on match situations. However, his season turned out to be inconsistent. He scored only 179 runs and struggled to convert starts into big innings. With the ball, he conceded runs at an economy of 8.58, which added pressure on the bowling unit.
Even though RCB reached the final that season, Watson was not a decisive factor in their campaign. In the big final match as well, his bowling proved expensive at a crucial stage.
His overall contribution remained below expectations for a player of his reputation and price tag, making it a season he would prefer to forget in an otherwise stellar career
