Sri Lankan cricketers have a long history in the Indian Premier League. From spin legends in the early years to fast bowlers who now command huge bids, the island nation has produced players that IPL franchises fight hard to sign.
Matheesha Pathirana is the Most Expensive Sri Lankan Player sold out in the History of IPL Auction to KKR at ₹18.00 crore
The IPL 2026 auction pushed this list to a new high when Matheesha Pathirana became the most expensive Sri Lankan player ever bought.
This article ranks the top 10 most expensive Sri Lankan players in IPL auction history. It uses official sale prices and, for two older deals from the dollar-auction era, the approximate rupee value at the time.
Top 10 Most Expensive Sri Lankan Players in IPL Auction History
| Rank | Player | Price | Team | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matheesha Pathirana | ₹18.00 crore | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2026 |
| 2 | Wanindu Hasaranga | ₹10.75 crore | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2022 |
| 3 | Angelo Mathews | ₹7.50 crore | Delhi Daredevils | 2015 |
| 4 | Mahela Jayawardene | $1.4 million (approx ₹6.3 crore) | Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 2011 |
| 5 | Muttiah Muralitharan | $1.1 million (approx ₹5.0 crore) | Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 2011 |
| 6 | Dilshan Madushanka | ₹4.60 crore | Mumbai Indians | 2024 |
| 7 | Maheesh Theekshana | ₹4.40 crore | Rajasthan Royals | 2025 |
| 8 | Nuwan Thushara | ₹4.20 crore | Mumbai Indians | 2025 |
| 9 | Pathum Nissanka | ₹4.00 crore | Delhi Capitals | 2026 |
| 10 | Thisara Perera | $675,000 (approx ₹3.6 crore) | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2013 |
With several top Sri Lankan stars like Charith Asalanka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage going unsold at the last auction, franchises are expected to revisit these names as value picks in the upcoming cycle. The IPL Mini Auction 2027 could see renewed interest in Sri Lankan all-rounders and death bowlers, especially after standout performances in the LPL and international circuits raised their stock significantly. Given that Pathirana’s ₹18 crore deal proved the market appetite for Sri Lankan pace talent, more franchises are likely to target this pool aggressively next time around.
1. Matheesha Pathirana – ₹18.00 crore (2026, KKR)
Matheesha Pathirana holds the record for the highest price ever paid for a Sri Lankan player at an IPL auction. Kolkata Knight Riders bought him at the IPL 2026 mini-auction after a bidding fight with Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. His base price was only ₹2 crore, but the bid crossed ₹18 crore before KKR sealed the deal.
Pathirana built his reputation with Chennai Super Kings between 2022 and 2025. He is known for his sling action and his skill at bowling yorkers in the death overs. Fans often compare his style to Lasith Malinga. In 32 IPL matches before the 2026 auction, he had picked up 47 wickets at an economy under nine.
2. Wanindu Hasaranga – ₹10.75 crore (2022, RCB)
Before Pathirana broke the record, Wanindu Hasaranga held the title of the most expensive Sri Lankan player in IPL history for four years. Royal Challengers Bengaluru paid ₹10.75 crore for him at the IPL 2022 mega auction, more than ten times his base price of ₹1 crore.
Hasaranga earned this price tag after a stellar 2021 T20 World Cup, where he finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. He went on to take 26 wickets for RCB in the 2022 season, the most by any RCB bowler that year. He later played for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals before returning to the auction pool in 2026.
3. Angelo Mathews – ₹7.50 crore (2015, Delhi Daredevils)
For many years, Angelo Mathews held the record as the costliest Sri Lankan buy in IPL history. Delhi Daredevils paid ₹7.5 crore for the former Sri Lanka captain in 2015, well above his base price of ₹2 crore. Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore also chased his signature before Delhi won the bid.
The deal did not work out well on the field. Mathews played only a handful of matches that season due to injury issues. Delhi released him after one year, though they signed him again in 2017.
4. Mahela Jayawardene – Approx ₹6.3 crore (2011, Kochi Tuskers Kerala)
Mahela Jayawardene’s deal belongs to an earlier era of the IPL, when auctions used US dollar bids instead of rupee figures. Kochi Tuskers Kerala signed the elegant Sri Lankan batter for $1.4 million in the 2011 auction, which worked out to roughly ₹6.3 crore at the exchange rate of that time.
Jayawardene was one of the most respected batters of his generation and had already led Sri Lanka to a T20 World Cup final that year. His price made him the most expensive overseas signing of that auction.
5. Muttiah Muralitharan – Approx ₹5.0 crore (2011, Kochi Tuskers Kerala)
Muttiah Muralitharan, the leading wicket-taker in international cricket, also joined Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011.
The franchise paid $1.1 million for him, close to ₹5 crore at the time. This came after his first IPL stint with Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2010, where CSK had bought him for $600,000 in the very first IPL auction.
Muralitharan’s mix of drift and spin made him a constant wicket threat in the shorter format, and teams valued his experience highly even as he entered the later stage of his career.
6. Dilshan Madushanka – ₹4.60 crore (2024, Mumbai Indians)
Dilshan Madushanka arrived at the IPL 2024 auction on the back of a strong ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, where his left-arm pace troubled several top batting lineups. Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants fought hard for him, and MI eventually won the bid at ₹4.6 crore, well above his base price of ₹50 lakh.
Madushanka is known for his raw pace and his ability to swing the new ball, qualities that made him a sought-after name that year.
7. Maheesh Theekshana – ₹4.40 crore (2025, Rajasthan Royals)
Maheesh Theekshana, an off-spinner with a mix of variations, moved to Rajasthan Royals for ₹4.4 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction. He had earlier spent three seasons with Chennai Super Kings, from 2022 to 2024, where he picked up 25 wickets in 27 matches.
Theekshana’s ability to bowl through the middle overs and control the run rate makes him a valuable option for teams building a balanced bowling attack.
8. Nuwan Thushara – ₹4.20 crore (2025, Mumbai Indians)
Left-arm pacer Nuwan Thushara joined Mumbai Indians for ₹4.2 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. Before this deal, he had a short stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His yorkers and variations at the death overs stood out in his white-ball performances for Sri Lanka, which pushed his price well past his base value.
Mumbai Indians hoped his death-bowling skills would strengthen a bowling unit that had struggled in that phase of matches in past seasons.
9. Pathum Nissanka – ₹4.00 crore (2026, Delhi Capitals)
Opening batter Pathum Nissanka joined Delhi Capitals for ₹4 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, a big jump from his base price.
Nissanka has built a reputation as a steady and consistent top-order batter for Sri Lanka across formats, which drew interest from multiple teams at the auction.
His signing gives Delhi Capitals another reliable opening option alongside their existing top-order players.
10. Thisara Perera – Approx ₹3.60 crore (2013, Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Thisara Perera’s big-money move came in the early years of the IPL, when Sunrisers Hyderabad played their debut season in 2013. The franchise paid $675,000 for the all-rounder, close to ₹3.6 crore at that time, making him their most expensive buy that year.
Known for his powerful hitting and useful medium pace, Perera went on to play for several IPL franchises across his career, including Chennai Super Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, and Mumbai Indians.
Final Thoughts: Matheesha Pathirana is the Most Expensive Sri Lankan Player sold out in the History of IPL
Sri Lanka’s IPL auction story has grown a long way from the dollar-bid era of 2008 to the crore-heavy bids of the last few seasons.
Matheesha Pathirana’s ₹18 crore deal in 2026 shows how much value franchises now place on death bowling skills. As young Sri Lankan talent keeps emerging in white-ball cricket, this list is likely to see new entries in the coming seasons.
