On October 31, the franchises revealed their lists of retained players of IPL 2025 season, just a few weeks before the much-anticipated mega auction. While some surprising names like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul were left out, several top IPL stars secured impressive salaries to continue playing for their respective teams next year.
Let’s take a closer look at the five highest-paid retained players of IPL 2025
List of 5 Highest Paid Retained Players of IPL 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Retention Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heinrich Klaasen | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹23 crore |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | ₹21 crore |
| 3 | Nicholas Pooran | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹21 crore |
| 4 | Jasprit Bumrah | Mumbai Indians | ₹18 crore |
| 5 | Rashid Khan | Gujarat Titans | ₹18 crore |
5. Rashid Khan – ₹18 Crore
Despite facing his most challenging IPL season to date in terms of statistics, Rashid Khan from Afghanistan has been retained by the Gujarat Titans for IPL 2025, earning ₹18 crore to remain with the team. This salary surpasses that of team captain Shubman Gill and IPL favorite Rahul Tewatia.
Rashid Khan was initially signed by the Gujarat Titans when the franchise was created for IPL 2022. He played a vital role in their championship victory that year, taking 19 wickets. He continued to impress by capturing 27 wickets in just 17 matches during the 2023 season. Retained Players of IPL 2025 highlight Rashid’s importance to the team.
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4. Jasprit Bumrah – ₹18 Crore
Jasprit Bumrah, one of the retained players of IPL 2025, has secured a substantial retention deal worth ₹18 crore with the Mumbai Indians. The renowned Indian fast bowler claimed 20 wickets in 13 matches during IPL 2024, finishing third on the ‘Purple Cap’ leaderboard. He also showcased an outstanding performance as the ‘Player of the Tournament’ during India’s victorious run at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. Impressively, Bumrah’s IPL salary even surpasses that of his fellow Mumbai Indians teammates, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav.
A loyal member of the Mumbai Indians, Bumrah has played all 133 of his IPL matches for the franchise, taking 165 wickets at a remarkable bowling average of 22.51.
3. Nicholas Pooran – ₹21 Crore
Nicholas Pooran has emerged as the most expensive retention choice for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) among the Retained Players of IPL 2025, with the franchise investing ₹21 crore to keep the dynamic West Indies wicketkeeper-batter. Among the five players retained by LSG, he is the only foreign player set to return next year.
Pooran’s impressive retention fee is justified by his explosive batting performance during the IPL 2024 season. He scored 499 runs in 14 innings, boasting an average of 62.37 and a remarkable strike rate of 178.21.
2. Virat Kohli – ₹21 Crore
The legendary Indian batsman Virat Kohli is among the Retained Players of IPL 2025, being one of only three players kept by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) alongside Rajat Patidar and Yash Dayal. Kohli received a retention fee of ₹21 crore and is gearing up for his 18th consecutive season with RCB.
Kohli is the only active player in IPL history who has played all his matches for a single team, starting with RCB in the inaugural season back in 2008. His relentless drive for runs was clear during IPL 2024, where he amassed 741 runs and claimed the prestigious ‘Orange Cap’.
1. Heinrich Klaasen – ₹23 Crore
South African T20 star Heinrich Klaasen, one of the Retained Players of IPL 2025, will continue his journey with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the upcoming season. On October 31, SRH retained Klaasen for an impressive ₹23 crore, making him the highest-paid retained player of the season. Since making his debut with SRH in IPL 2023, Klaasen has accumulated 927 runs across 26 innings over two seasons, achieving an exceptional strike rate of nearly 175.
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