Paise Barbaad! IPL’s Overpaid Players Jo Flop Ho Gaye
Which IPL team consistently pays crazy high salaries? Let’s take a look at the latest IPL Salary Thieves who deliver only average performances, are still…
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Bhai, which IPL team consistently pays outrageously high salaries? Let’s take a look at the 2025 IPL Salary Thieves and see who made the list of players getting paid big despite barely delivering.
LSG－Rishabh Pant tops the list, bhai! He’s the IPL ka most overpaid banda with a jaw-dropping ₹27 Crore!
Sabse Bade Lootere: 2025
Who are the overpaid players in IPL 2025? Here are the top 10 players who, thanks to their skills (or popularity 😅), made their teams spend big to secure them, becoming this year’s “high salary harvesters” at the auction!
IPL 2026 Player Salary List
Player Name
Salary (Auction Price)
Rishabh Pant
₹27.00 Crore
Shreyas Iyer
₹26.75 Crore
Venkatesh Iyer
₹23.75 Crore
Yuzvendra Chahal
₹18.00 Crore
Arshdeep Singh
₹18.00 Crore
Jos Buttler
₹15.75 Crore
KL Rahul
₹14.00 Crore
Mohammed Siraj
₹12.25 Crore
Mitchell Starc
₹11.75 Crore
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
₹10.75 Crore
Come check out these potential money-burning kings and see who’s most likely to be crowned as Sabse Bada Lootera 2025!
IPL 2026 Profile
Rishabh Pant (LSG)
★★★★★(3.0 Expert Rating)
● Strengths: A top-tier batsman and wicketkeeper, capable of leading the team, young, and in his peak years.
● Risks: Post-accident recovery remains a factor. While 2024 showed promise, returning to absolute peak form under the pressure of a record-breaking price tag at LSG is a challenge.
He is the most expensive player in IPL history. Unless injuries return or the captaincy demands impact his batting, his impact remains high-tier.
💸 Money-Losing Index3.0 / 5.0
2026 Captaincy Profile
Shreyas Iyer (PBKS)
★★★★★(3.0 / 5.0 Rating)
● Strengths: Led KKR to the 2024 championship, proving his reliability as a middle-order anchor and strategic leader. His stability is precisely what the PBKS roster requires.
● Risks: His T20 strike rate (127.87) favors steadiness over dominance. He may struggle to justify a massive price tag if the team expects explosive scoring rather than anchor play.
For Shreyas to succeed at PBKS, he needs to be utilized as a tactical team player rather than the primary aggressor.
💸 Money-Losing Index2.5 / 5.0
KKR All-Rounder Profile
Venkatesh Iyer (KKR)
★★★★★(5.0 / 5.0 Rating)
● Strengths: A versatile all-rounder with strong home advantage. During the 2024 season, he accumulated 1,326 runs across 51 matches with a strike rate of 137.64, complemented by reliable bowling options.
● Risks: Consistency remains his primary hurdle. After a breakout 2021, his performance has fluctuated, leading to concerns about his ability to anchor every match as a core player.
Given his high price tag, he must deliver consistent output to avoid being labeled as an overvalued asset in the KKR lineup.
PBKS Spin Specialist
Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS)
★★★★★(2.0 / 5.0 Rating)
● Strengths: One of the most decorated bowlers in IPL history (205 wickets in 160 matches). He excels at controlling the middle overs and provides the top-tier spin attack that PBKS has lacked.
● Risks: Advancing age raises questions regarding long-term fitness and stability. The ₹18 Crore price tag represents a significant investment that requires immediate, high-level impact.
His success will largely depend on pitch conditions favoring leg-spin; however, his experience makes him a reliable contributor under the right strategy.
PBKS Pace Specialist
Arshdeep Singh (PBKS)
★★★★★(4.0 / 5.0 Rating)
● Strengths: A premier 25-year-old left-arm fast bowler who specializes in death bowling. He is a regular fixture in the Indian national team, bringing elite experience to PBKS.
● Risks: As a specialist bowler with limited batting contributions, his value is tied strictly to his wicket-taking and economy. Failure to perform on the field offers no alternative way to justify his high cost.
Unless he delivers consistently high-impact spells, his valuation may come under scrutiny as one of the season’s most expensive investments.
GT Overseas Specialist
Jos Buttler (GT)
★★★★★(3.0 / 5.0 Expert Rating)
● Strengths: A world-class opening batsman recognized for his explosive power-hitting and vast international experience. His presence at the top provides GT with immediate aggression.
● Risks: Notable inconsistency has plagued his recent seasons. Transitioning to a new franchise brings added pressure to justify a high-tier valuation despite being in the later stages of his career.
If Buttler recaptures his peak form, he will be an invaluable asset; otherwise, the “overpaid overseas player” narrative may gain traction.
DC Wicketkeeper-Batsman
KL Rahul (DC)
★★★★★(3.5 / 5.0 Rating)
● Strengths: Possesses a stable technical skillset and strong leadership qualities. His ability to double as a wicketkeeper and a versatile batsman provides DC with significant tactical depth.
● Risks: Ongoing questions remain regarding his injury recovery progress. Additionally, his batting tempo (strike rate) has faced criticism for being too conservative for the modern T20 format.
If he adopts an overly cautious approach during losses, the ₹14 Crore price tag will undoubtedly spark debates over whether DC invested too much in an “anchor” role.
GT Pace Attack
Mohammed Siraj (GT)
★★★★★(4.0 / 5.0 Expert Rating)
● Strengths: Known for his explosive bowling power and the ability to shift the momentum of the game during crucial spells.
● Risks: Under high-pressure scenarios, he can struggle with line and length, leading to inconsistent performances that fluctuate between match-winning and expensive.
When he is on form, Siraj is a powerhouse for the Gujarat Titans; however, during off-days, his performance often becomes a focal point of social media critique.
DC Overseas Pace
Mitchell Starc (DC)
★★★★★(4.0 / 5.0 Expert Rating)
● Strengths: A premier international-level bowler with a proven track record in both attacking and defensive bowling phases.
● Risks: His actual performance levels often fall short of the high expectations set by his reputation, leading to inconsistent impact during the season.
Despite a reduction in his price tag, his salary remains substantial. His failure to deliver dominant performances has kept his valuation a controversial topic, and he will likely face intense scrutiny again this year.
RCB Veteran Pace
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB)
★★★★★(2.0 / 5.0 Rating)
● Strengths: Provides consistent bowling control and immense tactical value derived from years of top-level experience in the powerplay and death overs.
● Risks: Age and long-term fitness remain primary concerns, coupled with a noticeable decline in raw bowling speed and his traditional attacking potency.
RCB is looking for stability rather than explosive bursts; the hope is that his veteran presence provides steady impact without fading as the season progresses.
PBKS is probably the unluckiest team when it comes to player selection, LOL — they’ve signed the most salary thieves.
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IPL ka Overpaid Banda 🏆
In this billion-dollar contract chaos, there’s always one player who, with an astonishing price and subtle performance, firmly takes the “burn money throne.”
This season’s Overpaid Banda is — Venkatesh Iyer (₹23 Crore)
Expectations vs Reality: KKR already has big hitters like Russell, Rinku, and Nitish. If Iyer doesn’t show up big, that ₹23.75 Cr might just be a full-on Bollywood twist… all hype, zero payoff.
He popped off in 2021, but since then, his form has been hot and cold. At this price tag, you need to drop 50s like memes drop on Twitter.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Big price tags and local players often attract heavy spotlight and social media scrutiny. Performance analysis is based on market value vs. statistical output.
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LSG’s breakout pacer. 155+ km/h thunderbolts at just ₹20L? Absolute bargain!
Value for Money
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Abhishek Porel
₹20 Lakhs
DC’s keeper-batter with nerves of steel. Delivering in pressure without the price tag.
Value for Money
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Naman Dhir
₹20 Lakhs
MI’s middle-order surprise. Clean striker, big game mindset, tiny salary.
Value for Money
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Shashank Singh
₹20 Lakhs
PBKS’s comeback king. Finisher instincts at the price of a benchwarmer.
Value for Money
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Tristan Stubbs
₹50 Lakhs
DC’s young South African gun. Brings power and punch—all under budget.
Value for Money
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
The five players listed above offer the best performance-to-salary ratio in the IPL! Their performances more than justify their salaries – teams that secured them are certainly fortunate.
The IPL 2025 team budget cap is ₹120 Crore (including both retention and auction amounts). Each team has a different strategy, but the cap remains the same.
For example, PBKS has retained just 2 players, leaving an auction budget of ₹110.5 Crore, while RR has kept 6 players, leaving only ₹41 Crore for the auction.
RCB is truly paisa bachaane ka ustaad, with ₹75 Lakhs left after the auction!
Fans might say: “Bhai, trophy ke liye thodi si aur kharcha kar dete!” But with Kohli leading the charge, maybe they can abki baar dhamaka with less paisa!
Yes. The auction bid represents the player’s full-season salary. The franchise pays this amount directly to the player in predetermined installments.
💡 Pro Tip: Payments are usually split: 15% pre-season, 65% during the tournament, and 20% after the season concludes.
Is IPL salary tax free?
No. IPL earnings are considered professional income and are fully taxable under Indian law.
Indian Players: Subject to standard income tax slabs (up to 30% + cess).
Overseas Players: 20% TDS applies under Section 194E, plus applicable surcharges.
Do IPL players get paid if they don’t play?
Yes. As long as a player is fit and available for selection, they receive their full contract amount, even if they spend the entire season on the bench.
⚠️ Exception: If a player is injured before joining the camp, they may not receive payment. If injured during the tournament, the franchise or insurance typically covers the full salary.
Who are the most expensive players currently?
The 2025 Mega Auction saw historic record-breaking bids for Indian stars:
Rishabh Pant: ₹27 Crore (LSG)
Shreyas Iyer: ₹26.75 Crore (PBKS)
Venkatesh Iyer: ₹23.75 Crore (KKR)
Notable unsold players in recent auctions?
Several high-profile international stars failed to find takers in the latest cycles:
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