On October 31, IPL franchises announced their list of highest-paid retained players for the 2025 season, just weeks before the mega auction. While some big names like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul were left out, several star players secured massive contracts to stay with their teams.
List of Highest-Paid Retained Players of IPL 2025
5. Rashid Khan – ₹18 Crore
Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid Khan has been retained by Gujarat Titans (GT) for a whopping ₹18 crore, making him one of the highest-paid retained players in the squad. Interestingly, his salary is higher than both Shubman Gill and Rahul Tewatia, two key players of GT.
Despite a tough IPL 2024 season statistically, Rashid remains a crucial part of the team. His impact was evident when GT won the IPL 2022 title, where he took 19 wickets. The following season, he was even more impressive, claiming 27 wickets in 17 matches.
| Season | Matches | Wickets | Economy Rate | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 17 | 27 | 7.82 | 4/24 |
| 2024 | 13 | 18 | 8.45 | 3/25 |
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4. Jasprit Bumrah – ₹18 Crore
Mumbai Indians (MI) have retained their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for ₹18 crore, securing one of the highest-paid retained players in IPL 2025. He is regarded as one of the best fast bowlers in the world.
Bumrah was instrumental in IPL 2024, taking 20 wickets in 13 matches, finishing third in the Purple Cap race. His remarkable performances continued in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he won the Player of the Tournament award as India lifted the trophy in the USA and West Indies.
| Season | Matches | Wickets | Economy Rate | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Did not play (injury) | – | – | – |
| 2024 | 13 | 20 | 7.38 | 4/19 |
Bumrah has played all 133 matches of his IPL career for Mumbai Indians, picking up 165 wickets at an average of 22.51.
3. Nicholas Pooran – ₹21 Crore
West Indies power-hitter Nicholas Pooran is now the highest-paid retained player of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), earning ₹21 crore for IPL 2025. Among LSG’s five highest-paid retained players, Pooran is the only overseas cricketer to continue with the team.
His high retention value is well deserved, considering his fantastic form in IPL 2024, where he scored 499 runs at a stunning strike rate of 178.21.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | Best Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 499 | 62.37 | 178.21 | 4 | 78* |
2. Virat Kohli – ₹21 Crore
RCB’s batting legend Virat Kohli has once again been retained for ₹21 crore, marking his 18th consecutive season with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He remains one of the highest-paid retained players in IPL history.
Kohli is the only active player in IPL history to have played all his matches for a single team since the league’s inception in 2008. His form in IPL 2024 was nothing short of spectacular, as he scored 741 runs to win the Orange Cap.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Best Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 741 | 61.75 | 149.56 | 1 | 6 | 113* |
1. Heinrich Klaasen – ₹23 Crore
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have made South African T20 star Heinrich Klaasen the highest-paid retained player of IPL 2025, offering him a record ₹23 crore.
Klaasen has been a game-changer for SRH since joining in IPL 2023. Over two seasons, he has smashed 927 runs in just 26 innings, maintaining a phenomenal strike rate of nearly 175.
| Season | Matches | Runs | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | Best Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12 | 448 | 177.08 | 3 | 1 | 104* |
| 2024 | 14 | 479 | 172.90 | 4 | 0 | 89* |
With his aggressive batting and ability to dominate spinners, Klaasen remains a key player for SRH in IPL 2025.
Conclusion
The list of highest-paid retained players for IPL 2025 highlights how franchises value key performers, with Heinrich Klaasen securing the biggest deal at ₹23 crore. Virat Kohli and Nicholas Pooran also command massive salaries, showcasing their impact on their respective teams. With the mega auction approaching, it will be interesting to see how teams build their squads around these star players.
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