IPL: Highest paid players in the history of each franchise

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has played for RCB since the inception of the league

When you talk about the IPL, you just cannot ignore the astronomical money involved in it. There have been many millionaires in the IPL over the years, with a very few justifying their price tags while the others did not.

Almost all the franchises have shelled out an enormous amount of money on the players, whom they wanted to buy or retain in their squad. As the league enters its second decade, let us look at the players who grabbed the eye-balls of the franchise owners.

Note: When a player is retained by a franchise, a certain amount is deducted from the franchise's purse which differs from the player's salary. Only the player's salary is considered for listing out the highest paid ones and not the money deducted from the franchise purse.


#1) Royal Challengers Bangalore- Virat Kohli (Rs.17 crore)

Virat Kohli is one of the very few players to have played for the same franchise for a decade. Kohli has been a part of the RCB squad since the inaugural season (2008) and has proved his class in every IPL season. RCB finished as the runners-up thrice- in 2009, 2011 and 2016.

The 2016 IPL was all about Virat Kohli, who smashed four centuries in that season alone. The skipper amassed a record 973 runs in the 2016 season and was in the form of his life-time. Unfortunately, the Royal Challengers lost to the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the finals at home.

In 149 IPL matches, Kohli has scored 4418 runs for the RCB at a strike-rate of 129.82 with his highest score being 113. The RCB management retained their star player ahead of the 2018 season for an IPL record of Rs.17 crore. Thereby, Kohli not only becomes Bangalore’s costliest player but also the highest paid player in the IPL history.

#2) Delhi Daredevils- Yuvraj Singh (Rs.16 crore)

Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh couldn't do justice to his price tag during his stint with Delhi Daredevils

The Delhi Daredevils have never reached the IPL finals in spite of some memorable performances over the years. The Daredevils bought the Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh for a massive Rs.16 crore during the 2015 IPL auctions in the hope of challenging for the title.

But the left-hander had a poor stint with the Delhi outfit, having scored just 248 runs in 14 matches at an average of 19.07 in the 2015 IPL. He took just one wicket in the entire season at an economy of 8.00. A lot was expected from the World cup hero, but he did not live up to those expectations.

Eventually, he was released by the Daredevils for the 2017 IPL. But Yuvi still continues to be Delhi’s highest paid player in the IPL, courtesy his staggering Rs.16 crore contract in the eighth edition.

#3) Mumbai Indians- Rohit Sharma (Rs.15 crore)

Rohit Sharma
Local lad Rohit Sharma has led Mumbai Indians to 3 IPL titles

Rohit Sharma is the most successful player in the history of the IPL, having won the title four times. The Mumbaikar is also the most successful skipper in the IPL, having led the Mumbai Indians to three titles so far.

Sharma has scored 3037 runs for the Mumbai franchise in 114 matches, with his highest score being 109*. He has been a part of the Mumbai Indians squad from 2011, scoring at least 300 runs in each season.

The Hitman's elegant batting and terrific captaincy record made the Mumbai franchise retain their skipper for the 2018 IPL for a massive Rs.15 crore. Thereby, Rohit became the highest paid Mumbai Indians player in the IPL.

#4) Chennai Super Kings- Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Rs.15 crore)

MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is a massive fan favorite among the CSK fans.

MS Dhoni requires no introduction when it comes to the IPL. The former Indian skipper is the longest serving captain in the IPL history and was the first ever Indian captain to win the IPL. The Super Kings have won the title twice under Dhoni- in 2010 and 2011, thereby becoming the first ever skipper to successfully defend the crown.

Dhoni led the Chennai Super Kings to the knockouts in all the eight seasons they have played in (2008-2015). His contribution to the Chennai-based franchise has been immense, both with the bat as well as behind the stumps.

Dhoni has scored 2987 runs in 129 matches for the CSK and has 56 catches and 23 stumpings to his name over the eight seasons. The Super Kings, who are returning to the league after serving a two-year suspension, retained him for the 2018 IPL for a mammoth Rs.15 crore. Thereby, MS Dhoni is now the highest paid player in the history of the Chennai outfit.

#5) Rajasthan Royals- Ben Stokes (Rs.12.5 crore)

Ben Stokes
Ben Stokes had a tremendous debut season with both bat and ball

As expected, Ben Stokes was the most expensive player in this year’s IPL auctions, a two in a row for the English all-rounder. Stokes was bought by the Rajasthan Royals for a staggering Rs.12.5 crores during the 2018 auctions, thereby making him the highest paid player in their history.

Stokes was the Most valuable player of the last edition, where he represented the Rising Pune Supergiants. In 12 IPL matches, he scored 316 runs at a strike-rate of 142.98 which included a scintillating century (103*) and also picked up 12 wickets at a good economy rate of 7.18. Stokes will be keen to maintain his IPL record and help the Royals claim their second title in the 2018 IPL.

#6) Sunrisers Hyderabad- Shikhar Dhawan (Rs.12.5 crore)

Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan has formed a formidable partnership with David Warner over the years.

'Gabbar’ has been playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad from the 2013 IPL. Since then, the Indian batsman has been a prolific scorer for the Hyderabad outfit at the top order. Dhawan won the 2016 IPL with SRH under David Warner’s captaincy.

Dhawan has scored 2021 runs in 69 matches for the Sunrisers. Dhawan was retained by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs.12.5 crore before the 2017 IPL, making him their highest paid player ever.

For the 2018 season though, he was released by the SRH and was bought back at the auctions (using the RTM) for Rs.5.2 crore. But the Rs.12.5 crore he received for the 2017 IPL still makes him the highest paid player in the SRH history.

#7) Kolkata Knight Riders- Gautam Gambhir (Rs.11.04 crore)

Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir returns to his home team of Delhi Daredevils for the 2018 edition.

After failing to reach the knockouts in the first three seasons, Kolkata Knight Riders bought Gautam Gambhir in the 2011 auctions in the hope of turning their fortunes around. Gambhir led the Knight Riders to their maiden knockouts in that season and also won two titles for the Kolkata franchise in 2012 and 2014.

Gambhir became only the second skipper to lift the trophy twice, after MS Dhoni. The Delhiite transformed the KKR into one of the IPL power-houses in a short span. Gambhir, who scored 3035 runs in seven seasons (2011-2017) for the Knight Riders was released by them ahead of the 2018 IPL, an unexpected decision indeed. However, the southpaw’s 2011 IPL auction price of Rs.11.04 crore still keeps him at the top of the KKR charts as their highest paid player ever.

#8) Kings XI Punjab- KL Rahul(Rs.11 crore)

KL Rahul
KL Rahul will perhaps don the gloves behind the stumps for Punjab in IPL 2018

The Kings XI Punjab bought the young Indian opener during the 2018 IPL auctions. Earlier, the Karnataka batsman played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challenges Bangalore in the IPL. Rahul was bought by the Kings XI for a staggering Rs.11 crore in the 2018 IPL auction, making him the costliest buy in the history of the Kings XI.

He has scored 725 runs in 39 matches in his IPL career, at a strike-rate of 125.64. A lot will be expected from this young batsman in the 2018 season, and he must prove himself in the big stage when it matters the most.

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Edited by Amar Anand