Every year before the IPL auction, the teams decide which players they want to target in the auction based on the skills they want in their team. When the names of these players are called out, some teams take a cautious approach, others go berserk.
This ultimately results in record-breaking bids year after year. In every IPL auction, a player or two walks away with an extremely heavy paycheck. And many a time, the players are unable to take that weight on their backs.
Naturally, some players will be in form during the season, and some won’t be. But the players who are out of form despite being paid unimaginable sums at the auction table generate the most ire and media coverage about them. It is widely agreed that the high amounts they are signed for take their toll on the players.
While actually performing is obviously an obligation of the player, they are not in control of what they will be paid. And ultimately, the team has to bear the brunt of the players’ failures.
In this article, we will review the 7 most expensive failures of IPL 2026 in terms of their price tag.
Nicholas Pooran, LSG, ₹21 crore
Originally signed for ₹16 crore in 2023, Nicholas Pooran had an immediate impact for Lucknow Super Giants. After impressive performances in both 2023 and 2024, he got retained for his current price tag ahead of the mega auction in 2025.
Even in 2025, Pooran managed a good performance, even though LSG failed to make the playoffs. In IPL 2026, though, Pooran’s poor form has been synonymous with LSG’s struggles.
In 9 matches in IPL 2026, Pooran has made 145 runs at an average of 16.11 and a strike rate of 118.25. These poor numbers also include a solitary fifty and a high score of 63.
Rishabh Pant, LSG, ₹27 crore
At the 2025 IPL auction, LSG were on the lookout for a new captain after parting ways with KL Rahul. After losing out on names like Shreyas Iyer, LSG decided to go all in on Pant.
At that auction, Pant became the highest-paid player in IPL history, but the performances did not arrive. Rishabh Pant was extremely out of form in 2025, and his captaincy did not work any wonders. Pant made a century in the last match of the season, but his team lost that game too.
In 2026, neither his form nor his team’s has improved. In 9 matches, Pant has made just 204 runs at an average of 29.14 and a strike rate of 129.11. This includes a high score of 60*.
Cameron Green, KKR, ₹25.20 crores
As an all-rounder who can bowl pace, players of Green’s archetype are always in high demand in the IPL. In his first year in the IPL auction, the Mumbai Indians shelled out ₹17.5 crores for him in 2023.
That year, he made over 400 runs with a century but got traded to RCB the next year. Green performed decently for them but missed 2025 due to a back injury. Despite him recovering from his injury, KKR were ready to turn Green into the highest-paid overseas player in IPL history.
When he arrived, though, he was prevented from bowling by Cricket Australia, and that hurt. KKR didn’t win any of their first six matches and are barely alive for playoff contention. In 9 matches, Green has managed just 199 runs at an average of 28.42 and a strike rate of 152. He also has one half-century with a high score of 79.
With the ball, he has taken just 3 wickets at an average of 43.67, and an economy of almost 12 runs an over.
Suryakumar Yadav, MI, ₹16.35 crores
Ever since Yadav joined MI for his second stint at the franchise in 2018, he has turned into an integral part of the team that would win the IPL title in both 2019 and 2020.
Even though MI haven’t won the IPL trophy since then, Yadav has been a steady contributor with the bat. In the 2025 mega auction, Yadav was retained for ₹16.35 crores. MI started the season slowly and made a phenomenal comeback. ‘Surya’ was at the forefront of this miracle.
With 717 runs, ‘SKY’ broke the record for the most runs by an MI batter in a single season. He also made 25 or more in all 16 matches he played last year, setting a T20 world record in the process.
At the time of writing, the Mumbai Indians’ hopes for qualifying for the playoffs in 2026 are almost non-existent. SKY’s poor show with the bat is a major reason. In 9 matches, he has only had 183 runs at an average of 20.33 and a strike rate of 144. He has made a half-century too.
Trent Boult, MI, ₹12.50 crores
Trent Boult had been a revelation that led the Mumbai Indians to a record fifth IPL title in 2020. That season, he took 22 wickets, striking mostly in the powerplay.
In the 2022 mega auction, he was snapped up by the Rajasthan Royals and performed well for them. In 2025, Boult returned to MI and made an immediate impact. His bowling partnership with Jasprit Bumrah was among the best in IPL 2025.
In 2026, he hasn’t hit the same form or consistency. In 5 matches, he has just 2 wickets, at an average of 94 and an economy of 11.62.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK, ₹18 crores
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s rise from an uncapped batter in 2019 to CSK captain in 2024 is a journey in itself. In this period, he won two titles with CSK, in 2021 and 2023.
The first year, he was the Orange Cap winner, and in 2023, he was CSK’s second-highest run-scorer. All of this made him an appealing candidate for the captaincy in 2024. In his first year as captain, CSK narrowly missed out on the playoffs because of net run rate.
For the mega auction in 2025, he was retained at the highest price bracket, but got injured mid-season. CSK finished last in IPL 2025.
In 2026, CSK are struggling similarly with 4 wins in 9 matches under Gaikwad’s captaincy. With the bat, he has made 245 runs in 9 matches at an average of 35 and a strike rate of just 126.
To his credit, he has made two unbeaten fifties as well.
Hardik Pandya, MI, ₹16.35 crores
In 2022, Pandya led the Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their first season. The next year, he led this team to a runner-up finish. All of this made the Mumbai Indians think that he would be the perfect candidate to take over as captain from Rohit Sharma in 2024, and so the trade was final.
In 2024, Pandya led Mumbai to a tenth-place finish. MI, though, kept their faith in him and retained him for his current price tag in 2025. As aforementioned, in his captaincy, MI went from 1 win in 5 matches to being 1 win away from making the final.
In 2026, MI have been practically eliminated from playoff contention after 7 defeats in 9 matches. Hardik’s own form with bat or ball is nothing to write home about.
With the bat, he has 148 runs in 8 matches at an average of 20.85 and a strike rate of 136. His highest score is just 40. With the ball, he has only 4 wickets at a bowling average of 61.50 and an economy rate just under 12.
*All stats are accurate up to the first innings of the match on May 4, 2026.
Also Read: IPL 2026: 7 Biggest Controversies So Far – Ranked From Minor Drama to Massive Scandals
