Though a cricket bat is an item for sporting activity, it also has a greater historical and sentimental significance, making it one of the hottest collectables. Made with superior materials, like English willow and Kashmiri willow, these bats merge modern technology and aged craftsmanship. Many have gained a whopping value for the association with legendary players and iconic events within the history of the game.

Here’s a look at the Top 5 most expensive cricket bats ever sold:

5. Brian Lara’s 1994 Record-Breaking Bat

In 1994, West Indies batting maestro Brian Lara etched his name in the record books by scoring an unbeaten 400 runs in a Test match against England in Antigua. The bat he used during this monumental innings, made of top-quality English willow, was auctioned in December 2021 for ₹80 Lakhs (around $1.2 Million USD), thus reinforcing its historical significance.

4. Sachin Tendulkar’s 2003 World Cup Bat

Sachin Tendulkar was in prime form during the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, scoring 673 runs including the famous innings of 98 against Pakistan. The MRF & Adidas bats he used in that tournament were auctioned for an extraordinary amount of ₹1 Crore ($1 Million USD) in December 2021, which talks about his legendary stature in the game.

3. Sir Garfield Sobers’ Bat from 1968

Sir Garfield Sobers, one of the finest all-rounders in cricket history, smashed six sixes in an over for the first time by a cricketer in August 1968. His Gray Nicolls bat used in that legendary event was later auctioned for ₹1.2 Crore ($1.6 Million USD) in December 2021, thus securing its spot among prized cricket collectibles.

2. MS Dhoni’s Bat That Led India To Victory At The 2011 World Cup

MS Dhoni’s match-winning six during the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka is etched as one of the most memorable moments in Indian cricket history. The Reebok bat he used to hit the winning six for India was auctioned for a whopping ₹1.5 Crore ($2 Million USD) in December 2021, thus becoming one of the most expensive bats of all time.

1. 1934 Bat Belonging To Sir Donald Bradman

Appraised as the best batsman ever, Sir Donald Bradman had a field day in the 1934 Ashes series, amassing 758 runs at the eye-watering average of 94.75. His Kookaburra bat from the said series was sold for a whopping ₹1.9 Crore($2.5 Million USD) in December 2021 to an Australian collector. It now holds a special place in the Bradman Museum in Bowral, Australia.