Every year before the IPL auction, teams decide which players they want to target in the auction based on the skills they want in their team. When these players’ names are mentioned, some teams take a cautious approach, others go crazy.

Ultimately, this results in record-breaking deals year after year. In every IPL auction, one or two players walk away with an extremely high salary. And many times, players are unable to support that weight on their backs.

Naturally, some players will be fit during the season and others will not. But players who are out of shape despite receiving unimaginable sums at the auction table draw the most ire and media coverage about them. It is a general consensus that the high amounts for which signings take their toll on the players.

While performance is obviously the player’s obligation, he is not in control of what he 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 misses of IPL 2026 in terms of price.

Nicholas Pooran, LSG, Rs 21 crore

Nicholas Pooran, originally signed for Rs 16 crore in 2023, made an immediate impact for the Lucknow Super Giants. After impressive performances in both 2023 and 2024, he was retained for his current price ahead of the 2025 mega auction.

Even in 2025, Pooran managed a good performance, even though LSG failed to make the playoffs. However, in IPL 2026, Pooran’s poor form has been synonymous with LSG’s struggles.

In 9 matches in IPL 2026, Pooran 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 Crores

In the 2025 IPL auction, LSG were looking for a new captain after parting ways with KL Rahul. After losing names like Shreyas Iyer, LSG decided to go for Pant.

In that auction, Pant became the highest-paid player in IPL history, but the performances fell short. Rishabh Pant was extremely out of form in 2025 and his captaincy did no wonders. Pant made a century in the last match of the season, but his team lost that match too.

In 2026, neither his nor his team’s form 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, Rs 25.20 crore

As an all-rounder who can bowl, players of Green’s archetype are always in high demand in the IPL. In his first year in the IPL auction, Mumbai Indians shelled out Rs 17.5 crore for him in 2023.

That year, he made over 400 runs with a century, but the next year he was traded to RCB. Green performed decently for them, but missed 2025 due to a back injury. Even though he recovered from his injury, KKR were all set to make Green the highest-paid overseas player in IPL history.

However, when he arrived, Cricket Australia stopped him from bowling, and that hurt him. KKR did not win any of their first six matches and are barely alive for the playoffs. In 9 matches, Green has managed only 199 runs at an average of 28.42 and a strike rate of 152. He also has a half-century with a high score of 79.

With the ball, he has taken only 3 wickets with an average of 43.67 and an economy of almost 12 runs per over.

Suryakumar Yadav, Michigan, Rs 16.35 crore

Since Yadav joined MI for his second season with the franchise in 2018, he has become an integral part of the team that would win the IPL title in both 2019 and 2020.

Although MI has not won the IPL trophy since then, Yadav has consistently contributed with the bat. In the 2025 mega auction, Yadav was retained for ₹16.35 crore. 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 most runs scored by an MI batsman in a single season. He also scored 25 or more in all 16 matches he played last year, setting a T20 world record in the process.

At the time of writing, Mumbai Indians’ hopes of qualifying for the playoffs in 2026 are almost non-existent. SKY’s poor performance with the bat is one of the main reasons. In 9 matches, he has managed only 183 runs at an average of 20.33 and a strike rate of 144. He has also completed a half-century.

Trent Boult, Michigan, Rs 12.50 crore

Trent Boult had been a revelation who led Mumbai Indians to a record fifth IPL title in 2020. That season, he took 22 wickets, attacking mainly in the powerplay.

In the 2022 mega auction, Rajasthan Royals signed him and he 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, it has not achieved the same shape or consistency. In 5 matches, he has only 2 wickets, with an average of 94 and an economy of 11.62.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK, 18 crore

Ruturaj Gaikwad’s rise from uncapped batsman 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 this made him an attractive candidate for captaincy in 2024. In his first year as captain, CSK narrowly missed the playoffs due to his net run rate.

For the 2025 mega auction, he remained in the higher price range, but was injured mid-season. CSK finished last in IPL 2025.

In 2026, CSK is struggling similarly with 4 wins in 9 matches under Gaikwad’s captaincy. With the bat he has made 245 runs in 9 matches with an average of 35 and a strike rate of only 126.

It must be recognized that he has also achieved two unbeaten fifties.

Hardik Pandya, Michigan, Rs 16.35 crore

In 2022, Pandya led the Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in his first season. The following year, he led this team to the runners-up position. All this made Mumbai Indians think he would be the perfect candidate to replace Rohit Sharma as captain in 2024, so the trade was final.

In 2024, Pandya led Mumbai to 10th place. MI, however, kept their faith in him and retained him for his current price in 2025. As mentioned above, in his captaincy, MI went from 1 win in 5 matches to being 1 win away from reaching the final.

In 2026, MI was practically eliminated from the fight for the playoffs after 7 losses in 9 games. Hardik’s own form with the bat or the 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 just 4 wickets with a bowling average of 61.50 and an economy rate of just under 12.

*All statistics are accurate through the first innings of the May 4, 2026 game.

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