Adam Zampa. Image Credits: AFP
Australian spinner Adam Zampa finally broke his silence on choosing PSL over IPL this year. He also spilled beans on what his future approach will be while managing his workload in between franchise leagues.
Zampa didn’t put his name in the IPL 2026 mini-auction player list after Sunrisers Hyderabad released him into the pool following the 2025 season, where he played just 2 games and picked 2 wickets.
Adam Zampa skipped the IPL due to lack of money
After ditching IPL 2026, Adam Zampa signed with Karachi Kings for the PSL 2026 season, a move that came as a surprise to many. Amid the debate, the Aussie spinner finally revealed the ultimate truth.
Talking to ARY podcast, he admitted not being a priority target for IPL franchises. Moreover, Zampa revealed that the main reason behind his IPL step back was money. He felt the money he was getting wasn’t enough for the skillset and time he was providing in exchange.
"Yeah, well, I wasn’t really on the radar. I pulled out of the IPL this year. To be brutally honest, someone with my skill set doesn’t usually attract the kind of money that other skill sets do. Considering the time commitment the IPL requires, it didn’t feel like a reasonable choice for me to continue playing it," Zampa said.
Adam Zampa further revealed that he initially planned to take a break from cricket, but a PSL opportunity appeared out of nowhere. He chose the PSL over the IPL because it requires a shorter commitment, less competition, and the timing just felt right.
"I was planning to take a break, but then the PSL came into the picture about a month ago. It’s all happened pretty quickly, but I’m enjoying it," he added.
This suggests that going forward, Zampa will be prioritising PSL over IPL because his demand in IPL has reduced significantly and he no longer sees any room for monetary benefits.
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How much is Adam Zampa paid in PSL 2026?
Adam Zampa made an honest admission that money was the key reason behind his choice of PSL over IPL. In 2024, he signed a contract of ₹1.5 crore with the Rajasthan Royals but ended up pulling out of the tournament, citing workload management.
Then in 2025, SRH signed him for ₹2.4 crore. But he ended up playing just 2 games. Now, comparing this to his recent PSL earnings, Karachi Kings are paying him PKR 4.5 crores this year, which is roughly ₹1.51 crores.
This is much lower than what he was paid in the IPL in the last couple of seasons. Hence, the ‘monetary gap’ narrative is falling apart for Adam Zampa.
The real reason behind his IPL snub is actually lack of demand. He was most likely going to be unsold, and anticipating that, he chose PSL instead to save some embarrassment.
Zampa leads Karachi Kings to a thumping victory
Meanwhile, Zampa is dominating the PSL 2026 as he delivered a masterclass in control to help Karachi Kings beat Lahore Qalandars by four wickets in a tight contest.
On a worn surface where stroke-making wasn’t easy, Zampa’s spell of 2/11 in four overs, including a maiden, proved decisive.
Lahore managed to put just 128 runs on the board, and the Kings chased it down with 3 balls to spare. While Adam Zampa won man of the match, the game was, however, clouded by controversy.
Lahore Qalandars were penalised for tampering with the ball as Karachi Kings got 5 extra runs, which eased their chase.
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