5 Highest Paid Retained Players By Franchises For IPL 2025

5 highest paid retained players by franchises for IPL 2025 [Source: IPLT20.COM]

Franchises unveiled list of all their retained cricketers for the IPL 2025 season on October 31, i.e., mere weeks prior to the launch of the highly-awaited mega auction. While the retention phase witnessed some surprise omissions in the form of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, a number of IPL superstars raked in the big bucks just to reprise their respective roles for respective franchises next year.

Here, we take a look at five of the highest paid retained players that emerged out of the IPL 2025 retention phase in late-October 2024.

5 Highest Paid Retained Players Of IPL 2025:

5. Jasprit Bumrah – Rs. 18 crore

Jasprit Bumrah – Rs. 18 crore [Source: IPLT20.COM]

Jasprit Bumrah bagged a lucrative retention deal of Rs. 18 crore for the Mumbai Indians franchise. The legendary Indian fast bowler collected 20 wickets in 13 games of IPL 2024 to finish third on the ‘Purple Cap’ list, and followed it up with a remarkable ‘Player of the Tournament’ performance during India’s victorious run at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. Notably, Bumrah’s IPL 2024 salary even outweighs that of fellow retentions and Mumbai Indians zealots Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav.

A Mumbai Indians product to its core, Jasprit Bumrah has played each of his 133 IPL matches for the franchise to clip 165 wickets at an impressive bowling average of 22.51.

4. Rashid Khan – Rs. 18 crore

Rashid Khan – Rs. 18 crore [Source: @IPL/x]

Despite undergoing his worst IPL season with the ball earlier this year, at least statistically, Afghanistan spin wizard Rashid Khan received an invaluable extension of faith by the Gujarat Titans franchise for IPL 2025. The leg-spinner is set to receive Rs. 18 crore for reprising his role for the Titans, to outearn even the likes of team captain Shubman Gill and IPL cult hero Rahul Tewatia.

Rashid Khan was initially roped in by Gujarat Titans during the formation of the franchise back in IPL 2022. After starring in Titans’ victorious campaign with 19 wickets, the seasoned spinner skittled 27 more victims in just 17 innings of 2023.

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3. Nicholas Pooran – Rs. 21 crore

Nicholas Pooran – Rs. 21 crore [Source: IPLT20.COM]

Nicholas Pooran became Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) top and costliest retention choice for IPL 2025, and the franchise shelled out Rs. 21 crore in reacquiring the services of the dashing West Indies wicketkeeper-batter. Among all five players retained by the franchise, the 29-year-old is the only overseas star set to reprise his role next year.

Pooran’s retention tag can be justified by his explosive batting form for the LSG, as evidenced during the IPL 2024 season earlier this year. In 14 innings of the tournament, the left-handed batting marauder belted 499 runs at an average of 62.37, all while maintaining an explosive strike rate of 178.21.

2. Virat Kohli – Rs. 21 crore

Virat Kohli – Rs. 21 crore [Source: @MrDoomist/x]

Legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli became one of only three cricketers to be retained by the RCB franchise for IPL 2025, alongside Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal. Kohli himself raked in Rs. 21 crores by the franchise, and is set to mark his 18th successive season with the RCB next year.

Kohli remains the only cricketer in IPL history to have played all his matches for a single team, among active players who made their tournament debuts in the inaugural edition back in 2008. His insatiable hunger for runs was palpable even during this year’s IPL 2024 season, where he minted 741 runs to bag the coveted ‘Orange Cap’.

1. Heinrich Klaasen – Rs. 23 crore

Heinrich Klaasen – Rs. 23 crore [Source: IPLT20.COM]

South African T20 heavyweight Heinrich Klaasen is set to continue his association with the SRH franchise for one more season through next year’s IPL 2025. On October 31, the Proteas wicketkeeper-batter was retained by the franchise, for a staggering sum of Rs. 23 crores to become the costliest retention signing of the season.

Klaasen made his SRH debut back in IPL 2023, and he has since tallied 927 runs in just 26 innings spanning two different IPL editions for the ‘Orange Army’, at an astonishing strike rate of nearly 175 no less.

Honorable Mentions:

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