Rishabh Pant (Source: AFP)
Flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will return to Delhi Capitals for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season. The IPL confirmed the move on Tuesday, with Pant agreeing to a salary of Rs 15 crore, Rs 12 crore less than the record Rs 27 crore deal he received when he was picked by Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2025 season.
This marks Pant’s return to his first-ever IPL team, for which he played nine seasons between 2016 and 2024. During that period, he played 111 matches for DC, the highest by any player for the franchise. He also led the team in 43 matches across four seasons from 2021 to 2024.
Notably, the former captain accepted a pay cut of approximately 44.44% of his IPL salary to end his forgettable association with the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise.
Rishabh Pant’s IPL price from 2016 to 2026
Making his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils), Rishabh Pant became the face of the franchise in the coming years. After impressing in the domestic circuit, the Delhi youngster was bought for INR 1.9 crore in the IPL 2016 auction.
Recognising his potential, the IPL franchise retained him for Rs 8.00 crore for the 2018 edition. The batter established his value by scoring 684 runs, including a scintillating 128* in 2018, one of the highest individual scores in the league's history. This proved to be his breakthrough season.
Pant was named captain of Delhi in the 2021 season after an injury to Shreyas Iyer ruled him out. He was retained as the captain in the following season.
Also read: Rishabh Pant’s Record For Delhi Capitals In IPL History
Rishabh Pant’s IPL salary saw a dramatic rise in 2022 when the Capitals further instilled their trust in him, retaining him for a whopping Rs 16 Crore.
After a severe dip in performance, the Delhi Capitals released their captain ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. However, in monetary terms, what happened next marked one of the most remarkable moments in his career.
His powerful batting made him one of the most wanted players in that season. Thus, Rishabh Pant became the costliest player in IPL history, as the Lucknow Super Giants bought him for a massive INR 27 crore ($3.2 million).
However, his time with LSG came to an end ahead of IPL 2027. LSG traded Pant for Kuldeep Yadav, with Pant agreeing to a salary of Rs 15 crore.
Rishabh Pant's IPL salary
A year-by-year breakdown of Pant's IPL salary highlights his progression from an emerging talent to a marquee player:
- 2016 – 2017: ₹1.90 crore (Delhi Daredevils)
- 2018 – 2021: ₹8.00 crore (Delhi Capitals)
- 2022 – 2024: ₹16.00 crore (Delhi Capitals)
- 2025 – 2026: ₹27.00 crore (Lucknow Super Giants)
- 2026: ₹15.00 crore (Delhi Capitals)
Rishabh Pant’s total IPL salary till 2026
The 28-year-old has accumulated an estimated total of ₹137.8 crore in IPL contracts from 2016 through 2026.
Apart from that, the BCCI introduced a match fee of INR 7.5 lakh per game. Thus, Rishabh Pant’s total earnings from the IPL are equal to his contract money (2016-2026) and match fees (2025 and 2026), minus fines imposed by the IPL governing body.
In numbers, it converts to INR 137.8 Cr + INR 2.1 Cr - INR 66 L = INR 139.24 Crores
He established himself as one of the league's highest-paid stars, though his career earnings have fluctuated due to marquee signings, injuries, and a recent major pay cut.
(*All figures last updated till June 24, 2026)
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