Rishabh Pant Overtakes Virat Kohli To Become IPL's Highest-Paid Cricketer In 2025

The IPL 2025 auction has significantly altered the financial landscape of Indian cricket, with Rishabh Pant now leading as the highest-paid Indian cricketer. The wicketkeeper-batter made history by being purchased by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Pant's acquisition for ₹27 crore set a new record, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. His total earnings have reached ₹30 crore when combined with his ₹3 crore annual salary from his Grade B BCCI central contract.

This surpasses Virat Kohli's earnings of ₹28 crore. Kohli, retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for ₹21 crore, also receives ₹7 crore annually from his Grade A+ BCCI contract, placing him second on the earnings list.

Shreyas Iyer, picked up by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore during the auction, now ranks third among India's top-earning cricketers. Although not currently under a BCCI contract, Iyer's substantial IPL deal places him just behind Pant in terms of most expensive IPL players ever.

Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja's Retention

Mumbai Indians' key bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Chennai Super Kings' all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remain among the top earners with ₹18 crore each from their IPL contracts. Both players hold A+ contracts with the BCCI worth ₹7 crore annually, bringing their total income to ₹25 crore each.

Pant's significant IPL contract highlights his rising prominence in Indian cricket as both a player and leader. Expected to captain LSG in the upcoming season, Pant's performances across formats have cemented his reputation as a game-changer.

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya's Earnings

Rohit Sharma, with his Grade A+ BCCI contract and ₹16.3 crore IPL retention by Mumbai Indians, ranks next with total earnings of ₹23.3 crore. Hardik Pandya, also associated with Mumbai Indians, earns slightly more from his ₹16.35 crore IPL deal, bringing his total to ₹23.35 crore.

As the IPL 2025 season begins, attention will be on Pant to see if he can justify his record-breaking price tag. Meanwhile, Kohli, Rohit, and others continue to be crucial figures in Indian cricket, promising an exciting season ahead.