Since the World Cup catastrophe in 2015, England has made a concerted attempt to adopt a more aggressive strategy. And England is currently the global champion in both white-ball variations (the 2019 World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup). 

With the end of the 2023 IPL auctions, the teams signed some of the best players in the world. Players from the United Kingdom, in particular, were in high demand. 

On that note, let’s look at the three most expensive English players in tournament history. 

Ben Stokes- Rs. 80.75 Cr

As his salary numbers suggest, all-rounder Ben Stokes is currently the most expensive English player in the IPL, with a total salary count of Rs. 80.75 Cr. 

In IPL 2017, the former franchise, Rising Pune Supergiants, signed him for a whopping 14.5 crores. He had a fantastic season, hitting 316 runs at a strike rate of 143 and capturing 12 wickets at a 7.18 run per over economy rate 

His stint with the Rajasthan Royals in the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons was forgettable. However, he had a robust comeback in the 2020 edition, scoring 285 runs in 8 innings with a strike rate of 143. He got injured in the opening game of the IPL 2021, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. He opted out of the auction in 2022, citing Test cricket as a priority.

The Chennai Super Kings signed Ben Stokes for 16.25 crores, making him their most expensive signing in the tournament’s history. After MS Dhoni’s retirement, he leads the captaincy race of the franchise. 

Jos Buttler- Rs. 45.2 Crore

Jos Buttler, a hard-hitting batsman, and wicket-keeper is regarded as a player with all the tools to excel in the game’s shorter categories. He has a total IPL salary cap of Rs. 42.5 Crore. Despite being one of the most explosive batters in the world, Jos Buttler had to wait for his IPL debut with the Mumbai Indians, owing to the curfew enforced on English sportsmen.

Buttler’s switch to Rajasthan Royals in the 2018 auctions gave him a new lease on life. As the franchise’s first player, he delivered quick results, smashing fifties and centuries to catapult the Royals into the playoffs. He has also captained the team for a time. And right now, his contribution to the Royals is immeasurable. 

Sam Curran- Rs. 36.7 Crore

Sam Curran, a 23-year-old English all-rounder, shattered all records to become the tournament’s most expensive player. The Punjab Kings signed him for Rs. 18.50 crores. He returns to the franchise where he first appeared in 2019.

Curran had a promising 2019 season with the Punjab Kings. He got a hat-trick against the Delhi Capitals and struck 55* off only 24 deliveries against the Kolkata Knight Riders during his nine-game spell. However, he was released the next season, after which CSK acquired the all-rounder. Curran had a strong season with the ‘Yellow Army’ in the 2020 and 2021 editions. He scored 242 runs at 142 runs per over and took 22 wickets.

Curran added another feather to his cap after being named Player of the Tournament in the recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, when he took 13 wickets at an economy rate of close to 6 runs per over, primarily bowling at the death.