IPL 2026 Highest Paid Player
The Indian Premier League is not just the world’s premier T20 tournament — it is also the biggest cricket
business on the planet. The IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi on 16 December 2025 shattered records,
sparked fierce bidding wars and reaffirmed that franchise cricket rewards versatility, pressure handling and
wicket-keeping batting above almost everything else. Below we profile all 20 highest-paid players, their salary figures, teams and the cricketing logic that justifies every rupee.
IPL 2026 HIGHEST-PAID PLAYERS — TOP 20 LIST
1. Rishabh Pant
Rs. 27 Crore | Lucknow Super Giants
Role: Wicket-keeper Batsman / Captain
Pant tops the IPL 2026 salary chart. As LSG’s captain, wicket-keeper and batting anchor, he offers a
rare two-in-one value. His explosive innings can shift a match in a single over, while his glovework
behind the stumps remains world-class. The Rs. 27 Cr figure reflects his captain’s premium, brand
pull and match-winning pedigree.
2. Shreyas Iyer
Rs. 26.75 Crore | Punjab Kings
Role: Top-order Batsman / Captain
The architect of KKR’s 2024 IPL triumph, Iyer joined Punjab Kings as captain and No. 3 batsman.
His rock-solid defence against spin, calm under pressure and tactical nous make him a franchise
cornerstone. The Rs. 26.75 Cr valuation bundles a hefty captaincy premium with his consistent
run-scoring record.
3. Cameron Green
Rs. 25.20 Crore (capped at Rs. 18 Cr)* | Kolkata Knight Riders
Role: All-rounder (Top-order Bat + Pace Bowl)
The Australian all-rounder broke Mitchell Starc’s overseas record when KKR paid Rs. 25.20 Cr —
though the BCCI overseas salary cap means his actual payout is Rs. 18 Cr. Green’s dual ability to
open the batting aggressively and provide pace overs makes him a genuine two-department
weapon. MI, SRH and two other teams bid fiercely before KKR won the race.
4. Venkatesh Iyer
Rs. 23.75 Crore | Kolkata Knight Riders
Role: Opening Batsman / All-rounder
KKR retained Iyer to pair with Green at the top. His power-hitting in the powerplay immediately puts
opponents on the back foot, and his occasional medium-pace adds a bowling dimension. The Rs.
23.75 Cr retention signals KKR’s conviction in a formidable opening partnership.
5. Heinrich Klaasen
Rs. 23 Crore | Sunrisers Hyderabad
Role: Wicket-keeper Batsman
South Africa’s Klaasen is SRH’s death-over nuclear weapon. With a strike rate consistently above
170 and the ability to clear any boundary at will, he can add 50-60 runs in the final five overs
single-handedly. His 2024 T20 World Cup heroics placed him among the most feared finishers in
world cricket.
6. Virat Kohli
Rs. 21 Crore | Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Role: Top-order Batsman
8,000+ IPL runs, multiple Orange Caps and countless match-defining innings — Kohli remains
RCB’s institution. Even after relinquishing the captaincy, his presence energises players and fans
alike. At Rs. 21 Cr he is the league’s most recognisable batting brand, and his consistency at the top
of the order is non-negotiable.
7. Nicholas Pooran
Rs. 21 Crore | Lucknow Super Giants
Role: Wicket-keeper Batsman / Finisher
The West Indian explosive finisher gives LSG the most dangerous lower-middle-order combination
in the league. With a strike rate above 160 and the rare ability to accelerate in pressure situations,
the Pant-Pooran axis makes LSG’s batting line-up arguably the tournament’s most threatening.
8. Yashasvi Jaiswal
Rs. 18 Crore | Rajasthan Royals
Role: Opening Batsman
India’s new batting superstar. After consecutive Test double-hundreds, Jaiswal’s IPL stock has
soared. The 22-year-old opener feasts on powerplay overs, has a technically sound yet attacking
game and represents the sort of long-term franchise asset money rarely buys. RR’s Rs. 18 Cr
retention is a masterstroke.
9. Jasprit Bumrah
Rs. 18 Crore | Mumbai Indians
Role: Fast Bowler
The statistics are unambiguous: Bumrah is the world’s best T20 specialist bowler. Precise yorkers,
controlled swing and an unplayable death-over economy make him a match-winner without facing a
single delivery with the bat. For MI, Bumrah alone skews opposition game plans and that impact is
priceless.
10. Rashid Khan
Rs. 18 Crore | Gujarat Titans
Role: Leg-spin Bowler / Tail-end Batsman
Rashid’s economy rate of 6-7 in a league where 8-9 is considered average is a statistical marvel. He
doesn’t merely take wickets — he mentally dominates batting line-ups for extended spells. His
contributions in the lower order and his leadership presence complete the package.
11. Yuzvendra Chahal
Rs. 18 Crore | Punjab Kings
Role: Leg-spin Bowler
Over 200 IPL wickets, multiple Purple Caps and an uncanny ability to strike at critical moments
define Chahal’s legacy. Paired with Arshdeep Singh, he gives PBKS a fearsome attack across all
phases. His variations — googly, flipper and drift — make him the middle-over menace every team
dreads.
12. Ruturaj Gaikwad
Rs. 18 Crore | Chennai Super Kings
Role: Opening Batsman / Captain
CSK’s captain Gaikwad is technically correct yet expansive — a rare blend in T20. The 2021
Orange Cap winner handles both pace and spin equally well, giving CSK a reliable foundation from
ball one. His captaincy carries the team’s culture forward while his bat provides crucial stability.
13. Sanju Samson
Rs. 18 Crore | Rajasthan Royals
Role: Wicket-keeper Batsman / Captain
Samson’s batting is defined by elegance and explosiveness in equal measure. His ability to play
shots that leave crowds breathless, combined with his keeping duties, places him among the three
Rs. 18 Cr-plus keeper-batters in this season’s top salaries — a rarity that commands a premium.
14. Arshdeep Singh
Rs. 18 Crore | Punjab Kings
Role: Left-arm Fast Bowler
Arshdeep’s transformation into one of IPL’s premier left-arm seamers is remarkable. His yorker
accuracy, powerplay new-ball movement and death-over efficiency make him effective across all
phases. PBKS retaining him at Rs. 18 Cr alongside Chahal gives them the most complete bowling
attack on paper.
15. Matheesha Pathirana
Rs. 18 Crore | Kolkata Knight Riders
Role: Right-arm Fast Bowler
Sri Lanka’s ‘Slinga Malinga’ replicates his idol’s round-arm slinging action with devastating results.
The confusion his action creates, combined with toe-crushing yorkers, makes him instantly
dangerous. Rs. 18 Cr is a Sri Lankan IPL record, and KKR’s investment in both Green and
Pathirana signals serious title ambitions.
16. Axar Patel
Rs. 16.5 Crore | Delhi Capitals
Role: Left-arm Spin All-rounder / Captain
Axar’s all-round package is among the most complete in the league. Tight left-arm orthodox spin
that rarely leaks runs, an increasingly powerful lower-order bat and the cricket intelligence to captain
a side — all three combine to make Rs. 16.5 Cr excellent value for Delhi Capitals.
17. Hardik Pandya
Rs. 16 Crore | Mumbai Indians
Role: All-rounder (Bat + Pace Bowl)
When fit and firing, Hardik can single-handedly shift match momentum through pace bowling and
clean hitting. His trifecta of batting power, pace variety and exceptional fielding makes him MI’s
trump card. The Rs. 16 Cr reflects the high ceiling of an all-rounder who, on his day, belongs in any
top-five list of T20 match-winners.
18. Prashant Veer
Rs. 14.20 Crore | Chennai Super Kings
Role: Hard-hitting All-rounder (Uncapped)
The joint-highest price ever paid for an uncapped IPL player. Five franchises bid furiously for Veer,
whose domestic performances as a hard-hitting lower-order bat and useful medium-pacer caught
every franchise’s eye. CSK’s acquisition signals a deliberate youth investment — a shift from their
famous ‘Dad’s Army’ philosophy.
19. Kartik Sharma
Rs. 14.20 Crore | Chennai Super Kings
Role: All-rounder (Uncapped)
Alongside Veer, Sharma equals the uncapped player record in the same auction for CSK — a
remarkable double statement. Five teams competed for him too. His domestic form as a versatile
all-rounder convinced CSK to back emerging talent heavily rather than chase established names.
20. Liam Livingstone
Rs. 13 Crore | Sunrisers Hyderabad
Role: All-rounder (Bat + Spin/Pace Bowl)
The Englishman went unsold in the main auction, only to be snapped up at Rs. 13 Cr in the
accelerated round — more than six times his Rs. 2 Cr base price. His ability to bowl left-arm spin,
right-arm pace AND leg-spin while batting with extraordinary power gives SRH a versatile x-factor
that no scouting report could fully plan against.
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