Top 14 cricketers with highest salaries in IPL 2025
IPL 2025 is scheduled to begin on March 14, 2025.
The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is scheduled to start on March 14, 2025. The two-day IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, saw all the franchises finalizing their squads.
This year, teams were allowed to retain up to six players, including five capped and two uncapped players. The mega auction saw the ten franchises splurge a whopping INR 639.15 crores to buy 182 players.
Interestingly, before the IPL 2025 season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a significant change in the IPL by introducing a match fee of ₹7.5 lakhs per game. Furthermore, a cricketer who participates in all league matches will earn an additional ₹1.05 crores, in addition to their contracted salary. The new rule will result in players earning even more than their contracted salary with the franchise.
On that note, take a look at the 14 players who will earn the most in IPL 2025.
Top 14 cricketers with highest salaries in IPL 2025:
14. Rashid Khan (GT) – 18 crores + match fees
All-rounder Rashid Khan was retained by the Gujarat Titans for INR 18 crores before the mega auction. He was also the franchise’s most expensive retained player ahead of captain Shubman Gill, who was retained for INR 16.5 crores.
Representing GT since 2022, Khan has taken 56 wickets and scored 323 runs across 45 games for the franchise. He also served as the vice-captain for GT last season.
13. Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK) – 18 crores + match fees
Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was retained at the price of INR 18 crores by five-time IPL winners Chennai Super Kings before the IPL 2025 mega auction. CSK management considers Gaikwad as the long-term successor of MS Dhoni.
Named captain in 2024, Ruturaj had an excellent IPL 2024 season with 583 runs in 14 games. Next season will be Gaikwad’s sixth season with CSK.
12. Jasprit Bumrah (MI) – 18 crores + match fees
The best fast bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah will play for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 for a salary of INR 18 crores. Bumrah was retained as the number-one choice by MI ahead of other big names like captain Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma.
Bumrah is regarded as one of the greatest-ever bowlers to play in the IPL. The Indian speedster has taken 165 wickets across 133 games in his IPL career.
11. Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) – 18 crores + match fees
Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was among the six players retained by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The southpaw will represent RR for a salary of INR 18 crores in IPL 2025.
Jaiswal has been a one-club man, playing for RR since 2020. He has scored 1607 runs with a blistering strike rate of 151 across 52 games in his IPL career.
10. Sanju Samson (RR) – 18 crores + match fees
Captain Sanju Samson was retained by Rajasthan Royals for a salary of INR 18 crores. Sanju is one of the most in-form players in T20s right now. The right-hander hit three centuries for India against Bangladesh and South Africa in 2024.
Sanju will provide balance to RR’s middle order alongside Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer.
9. Pat Cummins (SRH) – 18 crores + match fees
Australian test and ODI captain Pat Cummins was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a salary of INR 18 crores. Cummins’ leadership was instrumental in SRH’s excellent IPL 2024 campaign where they reached the final of the tournament, but lost it eventually.
Even a whopping 18 crores salary will be a pay cut for Cummins as he was signed by the franchise for a hefty fee of INR 20.5 crores during the IPL 2024 auction.
8. Arshdeep Singh (PBKS) – 18 crores + match fees
Despite releasing Arshdeep Singh before the IPL 2025 mega auction, PBKS reacquired the Indian speedster for a salary of INR 18 crores. Arshdeep has emerged as one of the best bowlers in the T20 format in the last couple of years.
Arshdeep has taken 76 wickets across 65 games for PBKS in IPL. He was also India’s leading wicket-taker in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 with 17 wickets in the tournament.
7. Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) – 18 crores + match fees
Punjab Kings acquired Yuzvendra Chahal for a salary of INR 18 crores at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Chahal was the franchise’s third big signing at the mega auction.
Chahal is the most successful bowler in the IPL history with 205 wickets to his name. He will be well suited to the long boundaries of Mullanpur.
6. Nicholas Pooran (LSG) – 21 crores + match fees
Nicholas Pooran was retained by Lucknow Super Giants for a hefty salary of INR 21 crores before the IPL 2024 auction.
Considered one of the most explosive batsmen in the world, Pooran has scored 1769 runs in 76 games in IPL with a strike rate of 163. He is one of the candidates to captain LSG in the upcoming season.
5. Virat Kohli (RCB) – 21 crores + match fees
Modern-day great Virat Kohli was retained for INR 21 crores as the No. 1 pick by Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was among the only three players retained by the franchise alongside Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal.
Kohli has been a true IPL icon. He is also the most successful batsman in the tournament’s history with 8004 runs. Furthermore, his record of scoring 973 runs in a single IPL season in 2016 is still the most by any batsman.
4. Heinrich Klassen (SRH) – 23 crores + match fees
Heinrich Klassen stands as one of the most feared batters in the world. The South African wicket-keeper batsman was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping INR 23 crores. Klassen is now the most expensive player to be retained in the IPL history.
Klassen has scored 993 runs across 35 games in IPL. He was pivotal in SRH’s excellent IPL 2024 campaign amassing 479 runs at an impressive strike rate of 172.
3. Venkatesh Iyer (KKR) – 23.75 crores + match fees
Kolkata Knight Riders reacquired the services of all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for a massive fee of INR 23.75 crores at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Venkatesh has been an integral part of KKR since 2021. The southpaw has scored 1326 runs for KKR in 50 games.
KKR have roped in Venkatesh as a potential captaincy candidate for next season. The player has also expressed his desire to take on the role, saying that he is ready for the opportunity.
2. Shreyas Iyer (PBKS) – 26.75 crores + match fees
Punjab Kings broke the bank to acquire IPL 2024-winning captain Shreyas Iyer. Iyer’s INR 26.75 crore move to PBKS will reunite him with coach Ricky Ponting. Ponting and Iyer have worked before together for Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
Punjab will expect Iyer to replicate his last season’s heroics for the franchise. Iyer has scored 3127 runs in 115 games in his IPL career.
1. Rishabh Pant (LSG) – 27 crores + match fees
Lucknow Super Giants acquired Rishabh Pant for a whopping INR 27 crores at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Pant now stands as the most expensive player in the IPL history, surpassing Shreyas Iyer’s record of INR 26.75 crores, which he received minutes before Pant at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Pant has been an IPL icon, scoring 3284 runs across 111 innings in the IPL. Next season will be the first time Pant will represent a franchise other than Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
(List updated till 27th November, 2024)
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