RR Most Expensive Player in IPL History

Rajasthan Royals made history when they won the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League in 2008. It was Shane Warne who led this team to IPL glory in its maiden season. But since then, it has taken them 14 seasons to play an IPL final. They reached their only other IPL final in 2022 but lost to the Gujarat Titans.

Notably, RR also got suspended for two seasons in 2016 and 2017. However, despite a mixed history in the tournament, the Rajasthan franchise has always been consistent when it comes to the IPL. Prior to the IPL auction 2022, RR had registered the highest player purchase. And we will look into the highest paid cricketers for the 2008 IPL winner per season in the history.

Rajasthan Royals Most Expensive Player in IPL

5. Steve Smith – INR 12.5 Crore in 2019

Former Australian captain Steve Smith has played five seasons for RR in the IPL. He first played in 2014 and 2015 at a salary of INR 4 crore per season. But when he rejoined the team in 2019, he got a deal of INR 12.5 crore from the franchise per season. He became the joint-third highest paid cricketer by the franchise. Smith played 43 innings and scored 1070 runs at 30.57 and a strike rate of 126.92 with eight half-centuries.

4. Ben Stokes – INR 12.5 Crore in 2018

Another big name that was part of the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL was star all-rounder Ben Stokes. He joined the team in 2018, and the franchise spent a total of INR 12.5 crore on him per season. Stokes was part of the Rajasthan franchise till 2021 but didn’t feature in the 2021 season. He played 31 games and scored 604 runs at an average and strike rate of 23.23 and 130.45, respectively. He also took 16 wickets as well.

3. Shane Watson – INR 12.5 Crore in 2014

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was one of the prime reasons that the Rajasthan Royals won the IPL in 2008. He scored 472 runs at 47.20 with four half-centuries and also took 17 wickets in that season. That performance skyrocketed his stock in the league. As a result, the franchise spent a lot of money to retain Watson on their team. Watson was part of the team for seven seasons, and in 2014 and 2015, he was getting INR 12.5 crore per season. The all-rounder scored 2474 runs in 84 innings, with two centuries and 14 half-centuries, and also took 61 wickets for RR..

2. Sanju Samson – INR 14 Crore in 2022

The RR skipper Sanju Samson is the second highest paid cricketer for the franchise in the IPL. Samson joined RR in 2013 until 2015. Then he rejoined the team in 2018 and has been part of the franchise since then. He was given the captaincy job in 2021, and in 2022, RR paid him INR 14 crore per season. Samson is among the highest run scorers for the franchise and has scored 3041 runs in 112 innings at a strike rate of 137.16 with two centuries and 17 half-centuries.

1. Chris Morris – INR 16.25 Crore in 2021

Former South African all-rounder Chris Morris first joined RR in the 2015 season at a price of INR 1.4 crore. But then, he played for Delhi and Bangalore before rejoining RR in 2021. But this time, the franchise spent a whopping amount of INR 16.25 crore on the all-rounder, making him the biggest purchase in the IPL before the 2023 auction. Morris played 14 innings, scored 143 runs, and took 28 wickets in 22 innings at an economy rate of 8.27.

Season-wise RR Most Expensive Player in IPL History