Players Who Have Earned the Most Through IPL

Run by the most affluent cricket board in the world—the BCCI—the Indian Premier League (IPL) is among the world’s most lucrative tournaments. As mentioned by Forbes, the IPL is the sixth most valuable sports league in the world, ranking behind the NFL, the Champions League, and Europe’s four big football leagues.

A franchise-based T20 game that began in 2008 has seen several youngsters soaring to new heights, and a few players have earned more than INR 100 crore from the league so far. No wonder this game attracts the best players in the world to play in the IPL every year. Let’s find out the highest paid player in IPL history and those who have earned the most through IPL since its inception in 2008.

Top 10 Highest Paid Players in IPL History (Total Career Earnings)

Here is the IPL salary ranking all-time for players who have earned the most money in IPL history as of the 2026 season.

Rohit Sharma - Highest Earning Player in IPL History

Standing on the top of the list, we have Rohit Sharma, with an overall IPL earnings of INR 211.2 crore. Leading the Ambani-owned franchise’s success and turnaround in the IPL since 2013, Rohit Sharma has propelled the side to 5 IPL titles. He is currently the highest total IPL salary holder in the league's history.

His IPL career began in 2008 with the Deccan Chargers for INR 4.8 crore. After being sold to the Mumbai Indians for INR 9.2 crore in 2011, he became their primary retention choice. For the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Rohit was retained by MI for INR 16.3 crore per season, further cementing his position as the top 10 highest paid player in IPL history.

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Virat Kohli

The former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain and star player, Virat Kohli, has a net IPL earning of INR 209.2 crore and comes third on the list.

In 2008, RCB picked up Kohli for INR 12 lakhs for the first 3 IPL seasons, and in 2011, RCB retained him for INR 8.2 crore. As his performances soared in the sky and he attained the captaincy post, his price also shot up. In 2014, Virat Kohli was retained for INR 12.5 crore, and in 2018, his price was INR 17 crore– and he was the first player in the IPL to get INR 17 crore per season, making him the highest paid IPL player.

After Kohli stepped down as captain from all formats of cricket, his IPL salary in 2022 was shaved off by two crores, making it INR 15 crore from INR 17 crore, which he drew from IPL 2018 to 2021. The RCB skipper will carry the same salary in IPL 2023 as well.

Virat Kohli is the only player in IPL history to play for a single franchise for 19 consecutive seasons. In 2025, he also became the first Indian to be retained for more than ₹20 crore in one season, signing a record ₹21 crore per year deal that runs until 2026.

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MS Dhoni

With an overall earning of INR 196.84 crore in the IPL, the former captain of Team India, MS Dhoni, comes second on the list.

The wicketkeeper-batsman joined CSK in 2008 as a marquee player for INR 6 crore and remained at the team’s helm. After leading the team to their title win in 2010, his salary saw a hike that reached INR 8.2 crore, and in 2014, CSK retained him for INR 12.5 crore.

When CSK got banned in 2015, RPSG picked Dhoni for INR 12.5 crore and played for the franchise for two years. When CSK returned in 2018, Dhoni played for INR 15 crore as their first player, and in 2022, CSK retained Dhoni for INR 12 crore, which continued in 2023.

Dhoni, who announced his retirement from international cricket in 2020, had played 13 seasons for CSK and two seasons for Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 and 2017 when CSK was banned. He is the 9th highest scorer in the IPL with 4878 runs, averaging 39 with a strike rate of 135. For the 16th season of IPL, Mahi is back in action, but perhaps for the last time. He is one of the highest earning IPL player all time.

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Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant is the fastest-rising player on this list. His record-breaking INR 27 crore contract with Lucknow Super Giants for the 2025 and 2026 seasons has pushed him into the top 5, even though he started his IPL career later in 2016 compared to others above him.

This shows how quickly he has grown as a player in a short time. His strong performances, aggressive batting style, and leadership qualities have made him one of the most valuable players in the IPL today.

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Ravindra Jadeja

In the number five spot, we have Ravindra Jadeja, who started his IPL career as an uncapped player– and now has a net IPL income of INR 135 crores.

Ravindra Jadeja, often called the “Rockstar,” made a notable move back home. After being retained by Chennai Super Kings for INR 18 crore in 2025, he was traded to Rajasthan Royals before the 2026 season.

As part of the deal, his salary was reduced to INR 14 crore, making it a rare case where a top star accepted a pay cut for a team change.

Following his exploits in the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2008, Ravindra Jadeja was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for INR 12 Lakh. However, later in 2010, he was banned for violating the IPL code of conduct.

In 2011, he was picked up by now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala for INR 43 lakhs. And after the franchise disbanded in 2012, CSK took Jadeja for INR 9.2 crore. In 2014, playing for CSK, his salary was increased to INR 5.5 crores, and it was the same amount when the Gujarat Titans bought his services in 2016, when CSK was banned. In 2027, Gujarat retained him with a hike of INR 9.5 crores, but he returned to CSK in 2018 for INR 7 crores till 2021. In 2022, Jadeja stayed with the franchise for a whopping INR 16 crores ahead of the 2022 auction that will continue in 2023, making him one of the top 10 highest paid player in IPL history.

Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine remains a key player for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. He was retained by the franchise for around INR 12 crore, showing the team’s continued trust in his all-round abilities.

The Trinidadian bowler Sunil Narine played his first IPL match in 2012 for KKR and has featured for KKR in every season since 2012. Starting his IPL journey with INR 3.51 crore, Narine, with his top-quality bowling attacks and flamboyant stroke play, saw a spike in his earnings— from 2018 to 2021, he earned Rs 12.5 crore per season.

But in 2022, that sum only reached INR 6 crore. However, after this, he breached the 100-crore mark and became the second-richest overseas player in the tournament, after RCB star AB de Villiers. In a decade-long ongoing IPL career, Narine has played 154 matches and has taken 158 wickets, with an average of 25.41, conceding nearly 6.70 runs per over.

Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has entered IPL 2026 as a key player for Punjab Kings after being picked as one of their top signings. He was brought in to strengthen the middle order and add stability to the batting lineup.

Iyer’s salary has grown steadily over the years. He started with just INR 2.6 crore, then moved to INR 7 crore, then INR 12.25 crore, and now earns a massive INR 26.75 crore per season.

This shows how his value increased with performance, consistency, and leadership skills. Today, he is one of the highest-paid players in the IPL.

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KL Rahul

KL Rahul is not just known for his consistency but also for his strong earnings in the IPL. In the 2026 season, he is earning around INR 14 crore after being signed by the Delhi Capitals.

Over the years, his IPL salary has grown steadily as his performance improved. Starting with smaller contracts early in his career, Rahul later secured big deals with teams like Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants before moving to Delhi Capitals.

Overall, his total IPL earnings have crossed INR 124.10 crore, placing him among the highest-paid players in the league.

As per reports on March 11, 2025, KL Rahul has declined the opportunity to captain Delhi Capitals. The 32-year-old batter was offered the role but chose to focus on playing in the 2025 IPL instead. Rahul, who has previously captained Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, was bought by Delhi for Rs 14 crore in the 2025 mega auction.

His consistent run-scoring ability, leadership experience, and brand value have played a major role in increasing his price year after year.

After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)'s heavy defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, Sanjiv Goenka's angry reaction towards KL Rahul made it clear that there were issues within the team. The video of this outburst went viral on social media. After that, it was clear that LSG would not retain Rahul for IPL 2025, which later turned out to be true.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is one of the most dynamic all-rounders in the IPL, known for his explosive batting and match-winning performances. In IPL 2026, he is playing for the Mumbai Indians after returning to the franchise as a key player and leader.

Hardik has consistently been among the highest-paid players in the league. In the 2025–2026 cycle, he is earning around INR 15 crore per season, reflecting his value as a premium all-rounder. Over the years, his total IPL earnings have crossed INR 120 crore, placing him among the top earners in the tournament.

Suresh Raina

The now-retired Southpaw still stands in fourth place in terms of net IPL earnings. Suresh Raina has earned INR 110.74 crores, making him one of the top 10 highest earner in the IPL.

In 2008, the Chennai Super Kings bought Raina's services for INR 2.6 crores for the first three IPL seasons, and since then, he has been the backbone of the franchise. Raina had been the highest run-scorer in the IPL before Virat Kohli overtook him after IPL 12. In 2011, CSK retained Raina for INR 5.9 crores— and throughout his IPL career, Raina has batted at the number 3 position. When CSK disbanded in 2015, Gujarat Lions took him for INR 12 crores, which dropped to INR 9.5 crores in 2017. In 2018, when CSK returned, Raina was taken in by the team for INR 11 crores and retained in 2019 as well.

Popularly known as Mr. IPL, Suresh Raina had played 205 IPL matches and amassed 5528 runs, averaging 32.51. Raina had played with CSK for 11 seasons but was left unsold in 2020. He last played IPL in 2021 for CSK at INR 11 crores, and he took his retirement from the T20 league in September 2022. He is one of the top 10 highest paid players in IPL history.

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AB De Villiers

At the seventh spot is now retired South Africa's finest batsman, AB de Villiers, with a net IPL earning of INR 102 crores. He is one of the cricketers who has most money earned in IPL.

The finest IPL player, ABD, started his IPL journey in 2008 with the Delhi Daredevils franchise for INR 1.2 crores and played for the franchise in the first three seasons at an income of INR 1.4 and 1.3 crores. Later, in 2011, he was bought by RCB for INR 5 crores, initiating his long journey with the franchise till his retirement. As RCB's most successful batsman, he single-handedly won many matches for his team. In the 2014 IPL auction, RCB bought the South African player for INR 9.5 crores. With his consistently good performance, ABD's salary kept increasing— in 2018, RCB bought his services for INR 11 crores. He was retained in the team in 2019 and 2020 for the same price. He is one of the highest earners in IPL history.

In 2021, RCB bought de Villiers for INR 11 crores, which marked the last season before his retirement. ABD has played 184 IPL matches and scored 5162 runs, averaging 39.70.

Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir is one of the most decorated players in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The left-handed batsman amassed a staggering ₹94.62 crores in earnings throughout his illustrious 17-year IPL career making him in the list of highest earning player in IPL history. Gambhir first debuted his IPL in 2008 for the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). He went on to play a crucial role in the team's success over the next few seasons, emerging as one of the league's most reliable opening batsmen.

In 2011, Gambhir was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹11.04 crores, a then-record fee for an Indian player. He justified the price tag by leading the team to IPL title victories in 2012 and 2014, scoring 3,035 runs across 122 IPL innings at an average of 31.77 and a strike rate of 124.23 during his time with KKR. Gambhir's performances and leadership helped establish Kolkata Knight Riders as one of the IPL's dominant franchises in the early 2010s. After leaving KKR in 2018, he had stints with the Delhi Daredevils and the defending champions Mumbai Indians before announcing his retirement from the IPL in 2019.

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Shikhar Dhawan

Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan is one of the highest-earning players in the history of the Indian Premier League, having accumulated a staggering ₹91.8 crores throughout his IPL career. Dhawan first entered the IPL in 2008, representing the Deccan Chargers. He became a vital part of their batting lineup, emerging as one of the consistent run-getters in the league. In 2013, he was purchased by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹5.5 crores.

Dhawan's performances only improved after that, and he cemented his reputation as one of the most reliable opening batters in the IPL. He was a key contributor to the Sunrisers Hyderabad's title-winning campaign in 2016, scoring 501 runs at an average of 38.54.

In 2019, Dhawan was traded to the Delhi Capitals, where he has continued to deliver match-winning displays. Over the years, his consistent run-scoring, explosive starts, and experience have made him an invaluable asset for the various franchises he has represented.

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik first entered the IPL in 2008, representing the Delhi Daredevils. Over the next decade, he went on to play for several high-profile franchises, including Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Lions, and Kolkata Knight Riders. In 2018, Karthik was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹7.4 crores, cementing his status as one of the most sought-after players in the league. His leadership skills and finishing abilities made him an invaluable asset for KKR, as he helped the team reach the playoffs in 2018 and 2019. He is one of the most earning player in IPL with an earning of INR 86.92 crore.

Karthik's versatility as a wicket-keeper batsman, his experience, and his skills in pressure situations have seen him command high auction prices throughout his IPL journey. He has scored 4,453 runs at an average of 25.58 and a strike rate of 129.77 in 233 IPL matches.

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell, an Australian cricketer, bats right-handed and bowls off-spin. He first played in the IPL in 2012 with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). In 2021, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) bid the highest amount of INR 14.25 crore to get Maxwell on their team. Since then, he has been with RCB. In 2023, RCB decided to keep him for the IPL 2024 season with a deal of INR 11 crore.

He is known for his powerful batting, great fielding, and off-spin bowling. However, he has chosen to take a break from IPL 2024 because he feels mentally and physically tired. He has earned a whopping INR 85.42 crores through IPL.

Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh is a former Indian cricketer who played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for several teams, including Punjab Kings, Pune Warriors India, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has earned INR 84.6 crore in his IPL journey.

Yuvraj is in talks with Delhi Capitals about becoming a coach for the 2025 IPL season. He also wants to help young cricketers and work with the Indian cricket team as a mentor.

David Warner

David Warner played for Delhi Capitals (DC) in two different periods—first from 2009 to 2013 and then from 2022 to 2024. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer in IPL history with 6,565 runs at a strike rate of nearly 140, with over 2,500 runs for Delhi.

However, DC did not retain him, and no team bought him in the IPL 2025 auction. If DC wants him back, Warner, now 38 years old, will have to decide between playing in the IPL or for Karachi Kings in the PSL, as both leagues happen at the same time.

Ravichandra Ashwin

With R. Ashwin in their squad, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have gained a strong advantage. Alongside Yuzvendra Chahal, Ashwin forms a powerful spin duo that will be tough for batsmen to handle.

Ashwin’s record speaks for itself—he has been a legendary off-spinner with outstanding performances, including recent matches against Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. In the Mohali Test, he surpassed Kapil Dev to become India’s second-highest wicket-taker.

Known for his sharp cricketing mind, Ashwin is a hardworking and strategic player, always coming up with new tricks to outsmart the opposition. Keep an eye on this magical spinner.

FAQs

Which player has earned most money from IPL?

Rohit Sharma from Mumbai Indians has earned the most money from IPL. He has made a staggering amount of INR 178.6 crore in his IPL journey so far.

Which board is the Indian Premier League run by?

Indian Premier League is run by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and is among the world’s highest-paid lucrative tournaments.

Who are the players who have earned INR 100 crores or more in the IPL?

Here's the list of players who have earned INR 100 crores or more in the IPL:

• Rohit Sharma
• Mahendra Singh Dhoni
• Virat Kohli
• Suresh Raina
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Sunil Narine
• AB De Villiers

Sunil Narine plays international cricket for which country?

Sunil Narine is a Trinidadian cricketer who plays internationally for the West Indies.

What is Suresh Raina IPL salary?

Suresh Raina has earned an amount of INR 110.74 from IPL.

What is AB de Villiers net worth?

AB de Villiers has an estimated net worth of INR 74 crore or $9 million, as of 2024.

Who is the highest paid player in IPL history?

As of March 2025, the highest paid player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history is Rishabh Pant, who was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore (approximately $4.92 million) during the IPL 2025 mega auction.