Rishabh Pant is the latest example of how some of the biggest stars have at times faced steep corrections in their IPL earnings, either due to form or auction dynamics. Here are the five biggest pay drops in IPL history.
Venkatesh Iyer
INR 23.75 crore in 2025 by KKR to INR 7 crore in 2026 by RCB
They missed signing Venkatesh Iyer in 2025 despite bidding INR 23.5 crore, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru weren't denied for long, getting him for less than a third of that price ahead of IPL 2026. Signed as a reserve batter, Iyer came into his own towards the business end after RCB were hit by injuries to Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell. He finished the season with 209 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 186.60. He has now won the IPL with two different teams (Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 and RCB in 2026).
Sam Curran
INR 18.5 crore in 2024 by PBKS to INR 2.4 crore in 2025 by CSK
The search for a captain ahead of a new auction cycle meant Punjab Kings offloaded Sam Curran - who led in eight matches in 2024 - despite creditable performances. The England allrounder struck 270 runs and picked up 16 wickets, but was released after the franchise retained only two uncapped players: Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh. Curran was then re-signed by his former franchise, Chennai Super Kings, but it wasn't a happy homecoming. Not only was his pay slashed by 87%, he also featured in just five matches.
Kyle Jamieson
INR 15 crore in 2021 by RCB to INR 1 crore in 2023 by CSK
Ahead of IPL 2021, Mike Hesson, RCB's director of cricket, made it clear to the ownership they needed a tall, hit-the-deck bowler who could also move the ball. And having released Chris Morris, their unanimous choice was New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson. However, navigating Covid-19 bio-bubbles and spending long periods in quarantine through 2021 left him drained, eventually forcing him to withdraw from IPL 2022. RCB released him, and eventually when he returned the following season, CSK signed him at base price.
Mitchell Starc
INR 24.75 crore in 2024 by KKR to INR 11.75 crore in 2025 by DC
He was in high demand in 2024 predominantly because quality overseas fast bowlers are a rarity in a mini-auction. But even a blockbuster performance in the playoffs from Starc that helped deliver KKR their first IPL title in 10 years didn't guarantee retention. With a lot of teams going for a reset and needing budget to fill voids, Starc was put into the auction and bought for a shade less than half his 2024 price, by the Delhi Capitals in 2025.
Jhye Richardson
INR 14 crore in 2021 by PBKS to 1.5 crore in 2023 by MI
A stellar BBL season for Perth Scorchers made him hot property at the IPL auction, but he managed to feature in just three games before the season went on a pause due to a Covid outbreak. Richardson didn't return for the second half in September, and found himself unsold the following year as PBKS released him. He was signed at base price by Mumbai Indians in 2023, but was forced to miss the season due to the recurrence of a hamstring injury.