Gautam Gambhir – 11.1 Crores:
After representing Delhi Daredevils for three seasons, Gautam Gambhir was released by the franchise after relatively poor shows. Kolkata Knight Riders, however, saw a leader and batting mainstay in him and showed trust in his ability by him for a record 11.1 crores. This astronomical sum didn’t prove to be a bad investment as Gambhir has since then led the side to two title wins. He showed his worth in the debut season itself when he took his side in the top four before bowing out only to win the title two times in 2012 and 2014. While value as skipper remains high, his role as the opener as has been even more important.