Who took the biggest pay cut in IPL history as Rishabh Pant joins DC for Rs 15cr? | Cricket News

Cricketer Rishabh Pant (PTI Photo)

U IPL has never been short of blockbuster 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 hefty pay cut after a disappointing two-year stint with Lucknow Super Giants.Pant was bought by LSG for a record Rs 27 crore ahead of IPL 2025, making him the most expensive player in IPL history at the moment. However, after two dismal seasons as captain and bat, the franchise decided to part ways with him. In a high-profile trade completed ahead of IPL 2027, Pant returned to Delhi Capitals for Rs 15 crore, resulting in a massive pay cut of Rs 12 crore.The move highlights a recurring trend in the IPL, where player ratings can fluctuate sharply based 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 place to the bottom of the table under his leadership.While Pant’s pay cut is among the biggest in IPL history, it 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 suffered an even sharper percentage drop, falling 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 experienced sharp valuation corrections, despite entering the auction with huge reputations. Pant’s return to Delhi may offer a fresh start, but his move also serves as a reminder that in the IPL, reputation alone rarely guarantees long-term financial security.

Biggest pay cuts taken by players in IPL history