IPL 2018 Auction: Most extravagant buys from each team

The much-awaited Indian Premier League Auction 2018, where all the franchises gathered together with an aim to refurbish their squads for the fast approaching season of the wealthiest T20 league concluded on Sunday.

Here is the list of the most expensive players from each team, roped-in from the auction pool.

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#8 Chris Woakes - Royal Challengers Bangalore

Picked up 17 wickets for KKR in the last season

The English all-rounder was auctioned for INR 7,40,00,000 to the Royal Challengers Bangalore, after being the second-biggest signing for Kolkata Knight Riders last year.

Chris Woakes performed extraordinarily in his maiden IPL season and is currently having an impressive show, both with the bat and ball in the series against Australia.

Elevating his game by quite a few levels over the past 18 months, the Birmingham-born cricketer's demand soared in the IPL Auction 2018.

#7 Kedar Jadhav - Chennai Super Kings

He is a regular member of India's ODI squad

The modern-day street-smart cricketer from Pune was bagged by Chennai Super Kings for a whopping INR 7,60,00,000.

Initially making his mark as a wicket-keeper batsman, Kedar Jadhav's bowling talent gave him an additional value as a cricketer, recognized by none other than his new IPL captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

He is undoubtedly an Indian prospect that can light up the CSK camp in the upcoming season.

#6 Krunal Pandya - Mumbai Indians

The 26-year-old has a strike rate of 158 in the IPL

The 'man of the match' award winner in the final of last season, Krunal Pandya was retained by Mumbai Indians through RTM for INR 8,80,00,000.

His consistency was a remarkable factor for his team to emerge champions in 2017. The left-hander's return to MI was self-evident, given his performance in the last season, where he scored 243 runs and scalped ten wickets.

The only unanticipated was the price-tag, which experienced a hike due to the bidding war between three franchises.

#5 Glenn Maxwell - Delhi Daredevils

Recently made a comeback in the national side

The big show, Glenn Maxwell was re-signed by the Delhi Daredevils for INR 9,00,00,000 after having played for them in 2012.

The hard-hitter won the 'player of the series' award in the IPL 2014, taking KXIP to the finals. His form in the last IPL season was patchy, having lost his spot in Australian team as well.

The 29-year-old toiled hard in the domestic season, following it with the BBL heroics, finishing in the top 5 run-scorers list in the season.

#4 Chris Lynn - Kolkata Knight Riders

Lynn missed half of the IPL matches last year due to shoulder injury

Kolkata Knight Riders regained Chris Lynn for INR 9,60,00,000 even after he was not eligible to be retained by RTM as per the rules.

There were some anxious moments for the big man upon his four-week calf injury in the BBL, which almost jeopardized his IPL dreams.

But KKR backed his potential with the bat, by investing such an enormous amount. The 27-year-old has been the centre of attention for his heroics in the last season where he scored 295 runs in 7 games.

#3 Manish Pandey - Sunrisers Hyderabad

The 28-year-old is a part of Indian limited overs setup

The consistency with KKR earned Manish Pandey a jaw-dropping price-tag when the Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired him for INR 11,00,00,000.

The SRH batting lineup has immensely depended on David Warner in the past, which drove them to spend big money for the man who could bring stability to their middle-order.

Perhaps his 'title-winning' performance under-pressure in the 2014 final against KXIP has impressed the southern franchise, the characteristic they have lacked for years.

#2 KL Rahul - Kings XI Punjab

He scored his T20 century against Windies in Lauderhill, Florida

KL Rahul was bagged by the Kings XI Punjab for INR 11,00,00,000, making it difficult for RCB to play the RTM.

The 25-year-old is expected to fulfil the roles of a wicket-keeper and a potential captain for the KXIP, thereby justifying his price-tag.

Starting his international career as a test specialist, the Karnataka cricketer refined his skills and went on to score centuries in all formats for India, the feat that only a handful of batsman has achieved.

#1 Ben Stokes - Rajasthan Royals

He scored an unbeaten hundred in the last season

Now the highest bid of the season for two years in a row, Ben Stokes was sold to Rajasthan Royals for INR 12,50,00,000.

The English all-rounder won the 'player of the series' award, playing for Rising Pune Supergiants, where he scored 316 runs, took 12 wickets and drove them to the finals of that season.

About a couple of weeks ago, his chances to play in the IPL seemed gloomy following the Bristol incident, until he was cleared to play for England in upcoming T20I tri-series.