Who Is The Most Expensive Retained Player In IPL History?

Jatin

Virat Kohli & KL Rahul [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]Virat Kohli & KL Rahul [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

The IPL 2025 mega auction is just around the corner, and the deadline for player retention is set for October 31, 5 pm IST. Teams are racing against time to decide their retained players. This year, they have a bigger purse of INR 120 crore—20% more than last year.

Each team can retain up to five players, but it comes at a cost. The highest amount a retained player will earn this season is INR 18 crore, with the price tag for the first and fourth retained players set at this level. On that note, let’s take a look at the most expensive retained player in IPL history.

Virat Kohli Was Retained By RCB For INR 17 Crore Ahead Of IPL 2018

The most expensive retained player in IPL history is Virat Kohli! Back in 2018, RCB didn’t hold back. They paid a record-breaking INR 17 crore to keep Kohli. No one had seen that kind of money before as it made him the then highest earning player from the league.

However, during the COVID-19 crunch in 2022, Kohli showed his love for RCB. He took a voluntary pay cut, dropping his salary to INR 15 crore. But it didn’t slow him down. He smashed 741 runs last season, topping the charts. Now, for the IPL 2025 auction, RCB is all set to pay INR 18 crore to keep their superstar as they search their first title.

KL Rahul Was Retained By LSG For INR 17 Crore

Alongside Kohli, KL Rahul is also the joint most expensive retained player in IPL history. Rahul’s story with Lucknow Super Giants has been full of ups and downs. In 2022, they bought him for INR 17 crore.

Rahul started strong, leading the team to the playoffs and scoring 616 runs in the season and therefore they retained him for the same amount in 2023. But 2023 wasn’t kind to him. Injuries and inconsistent form hit him hard. Despite that, he managed to guide his team to another playoff spot.

In 2024, Rahul faced criticism for a slow strike rate. Still, he scored 520 runs. But here’s the catch—rumours say Lucknow might release him ahead of the 2025 auction. It’s a make or break situation for the seasoned batter. Will LSG stick with him, or is a new chapter waiting? Only time will tell!