It’s not just about cricket; it’s about money, records and bidding wars. Two players who have hit the jackpot are Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant.
But who’s richer? Who has the biggest IPL paycheck? Despite debuting a year later, Pant has out-earned Iyer. How did he do it?
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Iyer started in 2015 with ₹2.6 crore per season for Delhi Daredevils. By 2018, his salary jumped to ₹7 crore. In 2022, KKR made him captain for ₹12.25 crore.
His biggest jump? After leading KKR to an IPL title in 2024, Punjab Kings grabbed him for a massive ₹26.75 crore!
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Pant entered in 2016 for just ₹1.9 crore, but his explosive batting changed everything. By 2018, he was earning ₹8 crore.
From 2022 to 2024, he bagged ₹16 crore per season. And then came history Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore in 2025, making him the most expensive player ever!
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Iyer’s total IPL earnings stand at ₹99.3 crore. Impressive, right? But Pant is ahead with ₹117.8 crore a whopping 18.63% more! How did this happen when Iyer started first?
The answer lies in Pant’s ability to turn games single-handedly makes him a hot property.
Pant’s dual role as a wicket-keeper and power-hitter makes him invaluable. Iyer, despite being a top batter and IPL-winning captain, hasn’t matched that demand.
IPL franchises are willing to pay more for players who can change games in an instant.
While Iyer’s rise has been incredible, Pant leads the race both in paychecks and perception. Will Iyer’s Punjab Kings deal help him close the gap?
Or will Pant continue to break records? With IPL 2025 around the corner, the real battle is just beginning!
