Indian Premier League is undoubtedly the biggest cricketing event in the world and since its inception in 2008, it has completely revamped the cricket game. It has provided a much-needed cash injection in this sport. IPL has surpassed all the expectations in the commercial world and stands tall against World’s richest leagues like NBA and Premier League.
Not only has it popularized the sport but provided much-needed financial security to players. Players are now earning millions even without playing international cricket for their country. Indian Premier League’s motto is talent needs opportunity and this League has been providing that much-needed platform.
IPL highest paid players
IPL has now changed drastically from its inaugural season in 2008 where the highest Paid player was Mahendra Singh Dhoni for 6 crores which is now the usual salary of any promising cricketer. Last season new players like Jhyle Richardson were paid a whopping INR 14 crores who don’t even play regularly for their national team. In this article, we will tell you the top 10 highest-paid cricketers in IPL since season one.
#10. Glenn Maxwell- 14.25 Crores (Royal Challengers Bangalore 2021)
Glenn Maxwell is given Nickname of the million-dollar baby in the Australian dressing room and since making his debut in the 2012 season, he has been pocketing massive bucks from IPL franchises. Since then he has featured for 4 franchises in the IPL and every time his salary has touched the sky.
He has not performed according to reputation so far in IPL but in 2021, Royal Challengers Bangalore took the gamble and bought him for a whopping INR 14.25 Crores and he proved everyone wrong and produced a record-breaking season to take RCB through to Playoffs. As a result of last season’s success, he is retained by management for the first time in his career for 11 Crores making him one of the highest-paid players in IPL.
IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 97 | 2018 | 151.84 | 00/12 | 22 |
#9. Kyle Jamieson- 15 Crores (Royal Challengers Bangalore 2021)
2020 was Kyle Jamieson’s year as he dismantled India at the start of his career and announced his arrival to the world stage. He showed glimpses of his all-around talent on India’s tour of New Zealand in 2020 January where Virat Kohli sets his sights on recruiting him for the RCB side in IPL.
Royal Challengers Bangalore got their man in auctions for a record INR 15 Crores and his countryman Mike Hesson was reportedly the main reason behind his recruitment. Although he didn’t have his best debut season but showed glimpses of his real talent. He is set to feature for auctions in 2022 again and would be hoping for a good amount as well this year.
Kyle Jamieson IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 9 | 65 | 118.18 | 00/00 | 9 |
#8. Pat Cummins- 15.5 Crores (Kolkata Knight Riders 2020)
Pat Cummins is one World’s most fearsome bowlers and has been dominating world cricket for quite some time now. He is ranked number one bowler in Tests for more than 900 days now. In 2020, Brendon McCullum needed a strike bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders, and out of the 2020 auction pool, they decided to go all out for Pat Cummins who played for them in the 2014 season.
After a big bidding war with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Brendon McCullum finally got his man for a record 15.5 Crores which made him the highest-paid player of that IPL season and is 7th on our all-time list. He didn’t perform as per expectations but management decided to retain him for the 2021 season where he had a decent outing. His name will be again up for grabs in the next auctions.
Pat Cummins IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 37 | 316 | 140.44 | 00/02 | 38 |
#7. Rishabh Pant- 16 Crores (Delhi Capitals 2022)
Rishabh Pant is one of the biggest superstars of Indian cricket and his journey in IPL started with the Delhi side in 2016. He has been an integral part of the Delhi outfit since his debut and was even retained by them in the 2018 season for 8 Crores.
He is a crucial member of the Indian team in all formats and has big market value as well. Till 2020 season Rishabh played as a player but in 2021, he was given the captaincy of the Delhi Capitals team. Under his captaincy, Delhi finished top of the League and narrowly missed out in qualifiers. Rishabh is now retained by the Delhi side for INR 16 Crores which makes him the 6th highest paid cricketer in IPL of all time.
Rishabh Pant IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 84 | 2498 | 147.46 | 01/15 | 00 |
#6. Ravindra Jadeja- 16 Crores (Chennai Super Kings 2022)
Sir Jadeja is next on this list and undoubtedly 16 Crores justifies the talent of this talisman. The Rajkot-born all-rounder is one of the most prolific players of all departments and is one of few cricketers around the world who can change the course of the match with bat and ball.
He started his career with Rajasthan Royals where he clinched the famous IPL title in 2008 but since 2012, he has been the main man of Chennai Super Kings. He was retained by the Chennai franchise in 2014 and 2018 as well but in 2022, they gave him the number one retention spot which shocked everyone. He has retained ahead of MS Dhoni for INR 16 Crores and is touted to take over after Dhoni’s farewell from the Chennai dressing room.
Ravindra Jadeja IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 200 | 2386 | 128.14 | 00/02 | 127 |
#5. Rohit Sharma- 16 Crores (Mumbai Indians 2022)
Rohit Sharma is better known as Hitman is the only player to win IPL 6 times and 5 times as captain. He joined Mumbai Indians in the 2011 season and since then, he has been scintillating both as captain and batsman. Under his captaincy, only many youngsters like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan developed into world-beaters.
His retention ahead of the 2022 auctions was just a formality for Mumbai Indians but doubts were raised as he is 34 years old and is on the wrong side of 30. Mumbai Indians management has again backed him and retained him for INR 16 Crores which makes him the 5th highest paid cricketer of IPL.
Rohit Sharma IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 214 | 5611 | 130.4 | 01/40 | 15 |
#4. Yuvraj Singh- 16 Crores (Delhi Daredevils 2015)
Almost every player in this list has earned their biggest amount in the last few years where franchises had big purses compared to old seasons. But Yuvraj Singh bagged a month contract of INR 16 Crores from Delhi Daredevils which is enough to showcase the power of the Kings. Yuvraj didn’t have the best of times in IPL throughout his career but always had the luxury of cash-rich contracts from IPL franchises.
In 2015, he became the highest-paid cricketer in IPL history for the second consecutive season and surpassed his record of 14.25 Crores from the 2014 season. Royal Challengers Bangalore fought hard with Delhi Daredevils in a bidding war but Gary Kirsten was determined to get his X-Factor on board and got for mammoth INR 16 Crores.
Yuvraj Singh IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 132 | 2750 | 129.72 | 00/13 | 36 |
#3. Chris Morris- 16.25 Crores (Rajasthan Royals 2021)
Chris Morris recently announced his retirement from cricket but in 2021, he broke all records at the auction table when Rajasthan Royals bought him for a whopping INR 16.25 Crores and made him the highest-paid cricketer of that auction. He was with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2020 and performed exceedingly well with both bat and bowl.
RCB decided to release him ahead of the 2021 auctions which shocked everyone. Rajasthan Royals took it as their best opportunity to pair Jofra Archer with Chris Morris to form an impeccable bowling department and bought Chris Morris. Morris had a good outing in the first half but terribly failed in the UAE leg. He is now retired but will always be remembered for his three-dimensional heroics on the cricket field.
Chris Morris IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 81 | 618 | 155.28 | 00/02 | 95 |
#2. KL Rahul- 17 Crores (Lucknow Supergiants 2022)
KL Rahul is the highest run-scorer of IPL from 2018 to 2021 and Lucknow’s desperation to sign him as their captain for their inaugural season was understandable. Rahul left Kings XI Punjab in 2021 and took the lucrative contract of the Lucknow team. He signed a deal of whooping INR 17 Crores which made him the second IPL highest paid player in IPL.
Rahul is one of the Prolific run-scorers of the T20 format and every team dreams of having a player who could give them 600 runs every season. He is now set to lead the Lucknow team and expectations will be really high for him to continue his dream run in IPL and take Lucknow side an off-to dream start in IPL 2022
KL Rahul IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 94 | 3273 | 136.38 | 02/27 | 00 |
#1. Virat Kohli- 17 Crores (Royal Challengers Bangalore 2018)
King Kohli is in the first place on this list and there are no surprises about this. Kohli is a big brand in cricket and his performances on the cricket field are also impeccable. He can generate money twice the amount of his salary to any team because of stature in the world of sports and the commercial world. He shares a long impeccable bond with Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL who snapped him in 2008 auctions under the young player category.
Virat Kohli is the icon of the Bangalore team and is the only player to never go to the auction table so far. In 2018, Royal Challengers Bangalore retained him for a record INR 17 Crores making him the highest-paid cricketer of all time. Kohli is again retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the 2022 season but this time around, he has taken a pay-cut to 15 Crores.
Virat Kohli IPL Stats
| Matches | Runs | Strike rate | 100s/50s | Wickets |
| 207 | 6283 | 129.95 | 05/42 | 4 |
