It seems a long time ago now since Kevin Pietersen had to rail against the England and Wales Cricket Board in frustration at not being released to play in the IPL.
Now, English players are the most sought after of any country when it comes to being recruited to IPL franchises.
According to research of every deal dating back to the 2013 auction, English players command an average price of $490,892 to play in the competition.
Of all players who have been signed more than once at auction, England allrounder Ben Stokes is the most expensive, with an average value of $1.8 million.
There have been 39 signings since 2013 of English players with 21 players bought in total for a total of $19,144,776, according to the study by Cricket Bet India.
More Australian players have been signed than any other country, but the stars of England and Afghanistan have generally earned a higher salary.
Ahead of the new season starting this month, we take a look at the value of players by country in the IPL.
1. England
Total price of players: $19.1 million
Average price: $490,892
Much to the annoyance of Kevin Pietersen, the powers-that-be in England used to be sceptical about releasing their players for the IPL. Now their leading lights are the most prized in the competition, with Ben Stokes chief among them.
2. Afghanistan
Total price: $2.7m
Average price: $450,081
Afghanistan’s rise in cricket over the past two decades has been remarkable on any measure. It is also startling that players like Rashid Khan – who is their most expensive – Mohammed Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have become such highly-valued IPL stars.
3. Australia
Total price: $43.5m
Average price: $426,490
Australia has been the most frequently mined country for overseas players by IPL franchises. The total cost of Australian players is more than double the next largest, that of England. Pat Cummins was the most expensive, ahead of the 2020 season.
4. South Africa
Total price: $14.4m
Average price: $361,011
Greats like Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock and Jacques Kallis have all featured in the IPL, but it is Chris Morris who is the most high-value South African in IPL history.
5. Sri Lanka
Total price: $3.7m
Average price: $305,454
Lasith Malinga is the leading IPL wicket-taker, but apart from him, relatively few Sri Lankans have made a major impact on the competition. Angelo Mathews was their costliest player.
6. West Indies
Total price: $11.6m
Average price: $297,167
Chris Gayle might be arguably the biggest overseas star in the IPL, but Sheldon Cottrell is the biggest signing yet from the Caribbean. His lone season in the competition – the lockdown event in UAE last season – was a tough one, though.
7. Bangladesh
Total price: $1.7m
Average price: $286,353
Shakib Al Hasan will be back in harness at Kolkata Knight Riders this season. The left-handed allrounder has been Bangladesh’s most successful – and pricey – export to the IPL.
8. New Zealand
Total price: $9.2m
Average price: $271,350
Brendon McCullum was central to launching the IPL with that remarkable opening-night century for Kolkata back in 2008. Thirteen years later, Kyle Jamieson will become the highest-priced New Zealander to feature in the event.
9. India
Total price: $96.8m
Average price: $199,950
For all the money lavished on the likes of Yuvraj Singh and the other world stars, the average price of Indian players is diluted by the costs of recruiting lesser known squad players.
10. Netherlands
Total price: $136,364
Average price: $136,364
Ryan ten Doeschate is a well-travelled franchise cricket star, despite representing a country which is beyond the Test elite. The allrounder played for Kolkata between 2011 and 2015.
11. Zimbabwe
Total price: $40,904
Average price: $40,904
Brendan Taylor was so sure he would not be picked to play in the IPL in 2014 that he arranged his wedding for when the tournament was on. His honeymoon plans were altered, though, when Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him up to play.
12. Nepal
Total price: $27,273
Average price: $27,273
Sandeep Lamichhane was in Dubai for a training camp with the Nepal national team when he discovered he had been drafted to Delhi Daredevils for the 2018 IPL. He remains the lone Nepal player to feature so far.
