IPL 2025: Salary Breakdown of Team Captains Revealed Ahead of the Season
As the much-anticipated 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season approaches, with just four days remaining until the opening match on March 22, discussions about the salaries of team captains are creating significant buzz online. The 18th season of the IPL will kick off at Eden Gardens, where defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in what promises to be an exciting start to the tournament.
This year, the salaries of IPL captains have raised eyebrows, with some notable disparities among the top earners. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant leads the list as the highest-paid skipper for IPL 2025, with a salary of ₹27 crore. Pant, who has established himself as one of the most promising talents in Indian cricket, will continue to lead LSG with his remarkable skills and leadership abilities.
In contrast, KKR’s captain Ajinkya Rahane will be the lowest-paid captain in the league, with a salary of ₹1.5 crore. Despite his experience and leadership on the field, Rahane’s earnings come in much lower compared to some of his counterparts.
Following Pant, the second-highest earner among the captains is Punjab Kings (PBKS) leader Shreyas Iyer, who will receive ₹26.75 crore. Iyer has been a key figure for PBKS and will be looking to lead his side to success in IPL 2025.
Other notable captains and their salaries include Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Sanju Samson, each earning ₹18 crore. These experienced captains will look to use their expertise to guide their teams through a competitive season.
Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel and Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Shubman Gill are both set to receive ₹16.5 crore, while Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya will earn ₹16.35 crore. RCB’s newly appointed captain Rajat Patidar will earn ₹11 crore in IPL 2025.
These figures highlight the varying levels of financial investment teams have made in their captains, with some players earning significantly higher than others based on their market value, leadership capabilities, and contributions to their respective franchises.
As IPL 2025 gets underway, the spotlight will not only be on the on-field performances of these captains but also on their leadership as they aim to guide their teams to victory in one of the most-watched and lucrative cricket tournaments in the world.
