Who took the biggest pay cut in IPL history when Rishabh Pant joined DC for 15cr?

ByTech Word News

Cricketer Rishabh Pant (PTI Photo) The IPL has never been short of marquee contracts, but history shows that even the biggest stars are not immune to dramatic pay cuts. The latest example is Rishabh Pant, whose return to Delhi Capitals came with a significant pay cut after a disappointing two-year stint with Lucknow Super Giants.Pant bought LSG for a record Rs 27 crore ahead of IPL 2025, making him the most expensive player in IPL history at the time. However, after two stupendous seasons as captain and batsman, the franchise decided to part ways with him. In a landmark deal completed ahead of IPL 2027, Pant returned to Delhi Capitals for Rs 15 crore, resulting in a massive salary cut of Rs 12 crore.The move highlights a recurring trend in the IPL where player ratings can fluctuate wildly depending on performance, team strategy and auction dynamics. Pant’s numbers with LSG never lived up to expectations. He scored 269 runs in IPL 2025 and followed it up with 312 runs in 2026 as the franchise slipped from seventh to bottom of the table under his leadership.While Pant’s pay cut is among the biggest in IPL history, he is far from alone. Venkatesh Iyer saw his salary drop from Rs 23.75 crore with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025 to Rs 7 crore with Royal Challengers Bengaluru a year later. Sam Curran endured an even steeper percentage drop, dropping from Rs 18.5 crore at Punjab Kings to Rs 2.4 crore after returning to Chennai Super Kings.Fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Kyle Jamieson and Jhye Richardson have also seen sharp valuation corrections despite entering the auctions with huge reputations. Pant’s return to Delhi may offer a fresh start, but his move also serves as a reminder that reputation rarely guarantees long-term financial security in the IPL.

Biggest cut in players’ salaries in IPL history

  • Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 crore to Rs 15 crore | Salary cut: Rs 12 crore)
  • Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 23.75 crore to Rs 7 crore | Pay cut: Rs 16.75 crore)
  • Mitchell Starc (Rs 24.75 crore to Rs 11.75 crore | Pay cut: Rs 13 crore)
  • Sam Curran (Rs 18.5 million to Rs 2.4 million | Salary cut: Rs 16.1 million)
  • Kyle Jamieson (Rs 15 crore to Rs 1 crore | Pay cut: Rs 14 crore)
  • Jhye Richardson (Rs 14 crore to Rs 1.5 crore | Pay cut: Rs 12.5 crore)