Cricketer Rishabh Pant (PTI Photo)

The IPL has never been short of blockbuster contracts, but history shows that even the biggest stars are not immune to dramatic pay cuts. The latest example is Rishabh Pant, whose return to Delhi Capitals has come with a hefty reduction in salary after a disappointing two-year stint with Lucknow Super Giants.Pant was bought by LSG for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore ahead of IPL 2025, making him the most expensive player in IPL history at the time. However, after two underwhelming seasons as captain and batter, the franchise decided to part ways with him. In a high-profile trade completed ahead of IPL 2027, Pant returned to Delhi Capitals for Rs 15 crore, resulting in a massive Rs 12 crore pay cut.The move highlights a recurring trend in the IPL, where player valuations can fluctuate sharply based on performance, team strategy and auction dynamics. Pant’s numbers with LSG never matched expectations. He scored 269 runs in IPL 2025 and followed it up with 312 runs in 2026, while the franchise slipped from seventh place to the bottom of the table under his leadership.While Pant’s pay reduction is among the biggest in IPL history, he is far from alone. Venkatesh Iyer saw his salary tumble from Rs 23.75 crore with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025 to Rs 7 crore with Royal Challengers Bengaluru a year later. Sam Curran endured an even steeper percentage drop, falling from Rs 18.5 crore at Punjab Kings to Rs 2.4 crore after returning to Chennai Super Kings.Fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Kyle Jamieson and Jhye Richardson have also experienced sharp valuation corrections despite entering auctions with huge reputations. Pant’s return to Delhi may offer a fresh start, but his move also serves as a reminder that in the IPL, reputations alone rarely guarantee long-term financial security.

Biggest pay-cuts taken by players in IPL history