Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has set a remarkable new standard in the Indian Premier League (IPL), emerging as the most expensive player in the tournament’s illustrious history. Throughout the intense bidding war, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) locked horns in a heated contest.
The decisive moment unfolded when the Delhi Capitals, keen to reclaim their former captain, exercised their Right-to-Match (RTM) card at a staggering INR 20.75 crore. However, leveraging the newly introduced RTM rule that permits a single counter bid, Lucknow Super Giants escalated the price to an unprecedented INR 27 crore.
At that point, the Delhi Capitals (DC) opted to step away, allowing the Lucknow Super Giants to secure the services of the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter for a record-breaking amount. Pant, who defied the odds to make a remarkable comeback to international cricket following a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, is widely expected to captain LSG in the 2025 IPL season.
However, since this historic acquisition, several questions have emerged within the cricketing community regarding Pant’s net earnings after tax deductions. According to the stipulated guidelines, players are auctioned and signed to three-year contracts, with the total bid amount representing their annual salary.
As per the established guidelines, players are auctioned and signed to contracts spanning three years, with the franchise’s total bid amount reflecting the player’s annual remuneration. IPL salaries are paid on a per-season basis. For example, if a player is acquired for INR 15 crore, they receive INR 15 crore for each season they are available during the contractual cycle. Over a three-year tenure, the player would earn a cumulative INR 45 crore, assuming full participation.
For Rishabh Pant, his net salary after the Indian government’s approximate tax deduction of INR 8.1 crore is projected to be INR 18.9 crore in hand for the 2025 season. The IPL is scheduled to commence immediately following the conclusion of the Champions Trophy 2025.
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Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
