The IPL auction is cricket’s most unpredictable spectacle, a fusion of sport and strategy, numbers and instincts, dreams and decisions. For a few minutes, uncapped players become millionaires, seasoned campaigners find new homes, and franchises place hefty bets hoping to land the next big match-winner. But what happens when a franchise splurges crores on a player… who never gets to step onto the field?
This list explores five such jaw-dropping auction gambles players who were bought for big bucks but never played a single game in the season, leaving fans bewildered and franchises answering tough questions. Whether it was a miscalculated strategy, a lack of opportunity, or just plain bad timing, these benchwarmers became cautionary tales in the volatile world of IPL auctions.
5. Nathan Coulter-Nile – ₹5 Crore (Mumbai Indians, 2020)
When Mumbai Indians, a franchise known for calculated and effective picks, shelled out ₹5 crore for Nathan Coulter-Nile, expectations were sky-high. He was seen as a solid backup for Jasprit Bumrah or Trent Boult, offering powerplay control, death-overs experience, and a handy bat at No. 8.
But in a tightly knit MI playing XI, there was no room for experimentation. Boult and Bumrah formed an elite pace duo, and with Pollard, De Kock, and Hardik already locked in, Coulter-Nile never got his chance.
It was almost surreal: a player with an international pedigree and IPL success, completely benched throughout the season. The gamble didn’t hurt MI as they lifted the trophy that year, but from a player’s point of view, it was a lost opportunity.
4. Andrew Tye – ₹1 Crore (Rajasthan Royals, 2021)
Andrew Tye, the Aussie T20 specialist known for his slower balls and clever variations, was picked up by Rajasthan Royals in 2021 for ₹1 crore, a figure that seemed like a steal. But in RR’s chaotic campaign, where they were forced to juggle combinations due to injuries and withdrawals (including Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer), Tye never made it to the playing XI.
Despite being a proven IPL performer (Purple Cap winner in 2018), he remained sidelined all season, eventually flying home citing bubble fatigue. RR’s preference for Mustafizur Rahman and Chris Morris made Tye redundant, but for fans, it was bizarre to see such a high-calibre bowler unused.
Tye’s stint with RR became a symbol of how unpredictable foreign player rotations can be, especially in teams juggling availability and form.
3. Pawan Negi – ₹3.2 Crore (Kolkata Knight Riders, 2020)
Once an IPL millionaire with Delhi Daredevils and a promising left-arm spinner-allrounder, Pawan Negi found himself picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹3.2 crore in 2020. KKR fans hoped he’d solve their spin puzzle or add finishing power in the lower order.
Instead, Negi vanished from the season entirely, never picked, never tried. The team kept experimenting with Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav, but Negi didn’t get a look-in. Even as KKR stumbled with form and fitness issues, his name wasn’t called.
The situation was baffling for fans and analysts alike, especially given the investment involved. Negi’s season perfectly illustrated how a change in franchise doesn’t always mean a revival in fortunes.
2. Riley Meredith – ₹8 Crore (Punjab Kings, 2021)
The 2021 auction saw a trend: raw pace was gold. Punjab Kings went all-in for Australian express pacer Riley Meredith, offering a massive ₹8 crore for the right-arm quick who was making waves in the BBL. The franchise hoped Meredith would be their X-factor, the bowler who could crank it up above 145 km/h consistently.
But in a stunning twist, Meredith never played a single match that season. PBKS shuffled between overseas pacers like Jhye Richardson and Chris Jordan, while relying heavily on Indian quicks like Mohammad Shami and Arshdeep Singh. Meredith, despite being fully fit, stayed benched.
His IPL story became a prime example of how hype and raw pace don’t always guarantee game time, especially in a format as nuanced as T20.
1. Gurkeerat Singh Mann – ₹5 Crore (RCB, 2022)
In the 2022 mega auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore stunned everyone when they engaged in a bidding war that saw Gurkeerat Singh Mann’s value skyrocket to ₹5 crore. Known as a steady domestic performer, Gurkeerat had featured in previous IPL seasons and was expected to slot into the lower-middle order or serve as a part-time spinner.
But as RCB kept tweaking their lineup in search of the perfect balance, Gurkeerat remained mysteriously absent from all eleven matchdays. Despite the team’s evident struggles with Indian batting options, he never even came close to a debut.
RCB’s investment in him became one of the most expensive benchwarmers of the season, proving that sometimes even a proven domestic name can be a tactical misfit.
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