Rishabh Pant, known for his explosive batting and wicketkeeping, has now become the costliest player in IPL history, securing a massive ₹27-crore deal with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for IPL 2025. Pant shattered records at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, becoming the highest-paid player in the league’s history. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter for an unprecedented Rs 27 crore.
Pant began his IPL journey in 2016, earning a modest ₹1.9 crore per season during his first two seasons in 2016 and 2017. His consistent performances saw his salary rise significantly, earning ₹8 crore per season from IPL 2018 to 2020.
In IPL 2021, Pant’s growing stature in the cricketing world was reflected in his salary, which increased to ₹15 crore. From IPL 2022 to 2024, Pant continued to command a premium, earning ₹16 crore per season.
Pant’s previous franchise Delhi Capitals attempted to retain their star player by exercising the Right to Match (RTM) card at Rs 20.75 crore. However, LSG’s aggressive bid of Rs 27 crore forced Delhi Capitals to step back, sealing Pant’s move to the Lucknow-based franchise.
Speaking about Rishabh Pant’s move to LSG, former India player Robin Uthappa opined, “I think the fact that Shreyas was bid for by Punjab Kings was a planned thing, because even if they didn’t go for him, because they had the luxury of having such a big bank, they could have gotten Pant for a little less. I think there was communication where Rishabh really wanted to move on from everything that was DC in the past and go on to other things in life and I think that is why there was less interest from Ponting and Punjab Kings for Pant and more interest in Shreyas.”
His latest contract with LSG at ₹27 crore not only highlights his importance to the franchise but also cements his status as one of the most valuable players in the league’s history.
Tabular Shot:
| Player | IPL Debut | Team (IPL 2025) | Highest Salary (₹) | 2016-17 Salary/Season (₹) | 2018-20 Salary/Season (₹) | 2021 Salary (₹) | 2022-24 Salary/Season (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | 2016 | LSG | 27 crore | 1.9 crore | 8 crore | 15 crore | 16 crore |
Mo. Noor is a lifelong cricket fan who turned his passion into Khel Gujarat. Whether it’s breaking match news or sharing local cricket stories, he loves connecting with fellow fans. With a deep love for the game and Gujarat’s cricket culture, Noor writes to celebrate and grow the sport’s community.
