"I was overpaid.." AB de Villiers confession on IPL salary revealed by Abhinav Mukund

AB de Villiers represented RCB for 11 seasons from 2011 to 2021.

Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund has revealed a surprising confession by ex-South African cricketer AB de Villiers over the latter’s salary with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). De Villiers told Mukund that he was overpaid by the franchise in Indian Premier League (IPL).

The former South African cricketer played for RCB in 11 seasons from 2011 to 2021 until his retirement. The franchise retained him over the years in the squad. The right-handed batsman was retained for INR 9.50 crores prior to the 2014 edition and INR 11 crores before the 2018 season’s mega auction.

De Villiers was a crucial batsman under Kohli’s captaincy from 2013 to 2021. He was also part of the team during the finals of the 2011 and 2016 editions, when RCB lost matches against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) respectively to end as runners-up.

I was overpaid: AB de Villiers told Abhinav Mukund during IPL 2025 final

AB de Villiers visited India to support his former team, RCB, in the IPL 2025 final against PBKS at the Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium. During the game, he confessed to former India batter Mukund that he was overpaid by RCB.

“I was sitting next to AB de Villiers and he told me something that I don’t think any legend in the IPL has said. But he genuinely meant it; he said it from a place of emotion. He said, ‘I was overpaid,” Mukund said.

“‘I’m overpaid, I thought I was overpaid because I feel like all of the other elements that you’re talking about, right? Where you’re able to buy so many other superstar players, all those match winners you’re talking about. The highest amount of money that they spent on was for someone like Phil Salt or Josh Hazlewood. They didn’t cross 15 (crore),” De Villiers told Mukund, as revealed by the latter on Star Sports

Notably, RCB retained three players in their squad ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction. They retained Virat Kohli for INR 21 crores, Rajat Patidar for INR 11 crores, and Yash Dayal for INR 5 crores.

During the mega auction, their costliest picks were pacer Josh Hazlewood (INR 12.50 crores) and Phil Salt (INR 11.50 crores). RCB also shelled out INR 11 crores for wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma and INR 10.75 crores for Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

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