Rishabh Pant Surpasses Kohli; Becomes India’s Highest-Paid Cricketer

Jeddah : In a record-breaking IPL 2025 auction held in Jeddah, India’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant became the highest-paid Indian cricketer, surpassing Virat Kohli. Pant was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for an astounding INR 27 crore, setting a new benchmark as the most expensive player in IPL history, breaking Mitchell Starc's INR 24.75 crore record from 2024.

Despite being in the Grade B category of BCCI’s annual retainership list (earning INR 3 crore annually), Pant’s total earnings now stand at INR 30 crore. This includes his IPL contract, making him the top earner among Indian cricketers. Kohli, who remains in the Grade A+ category (INR 7 crore annually) and was retained by RCB for INR 21 crore, follows closely with a combined income of INR 28 crore.

Shreyas Iyer Overtakes Rohit Sharma
Shreyas Iyer, despite losing his BCCI contract due to a violation of domestic cricket participation mandates, secured a lucrative INR 26.75 crore deal with Punjab Kings. This places him third on the earnings list, ahead of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, who was retained by MI for INR 16.30 crore and earns INR 7 crore as a Grade A+ player.

Other top earners include Jasprit Bumrah (INR 25 crore), Hardik Pandya (INR 23.35 crore), and Rohit Sharma. The IPL 2025 auction has significantly shifted the financial dynamics of Indian cricket, emphasizing the league's immense impact on player earnings.