Not just Rishabh Pant! 5 other star players who had to settle for massive pay cuts in the IPL 

The much-publicized Rishabh Pant-Kuldeep Yadav trade deal between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has been officially completed less than a month since the conclusion of IPL 2026. As part of the trade, former skipper Pant returns to DC, while Kuldeep gets a new franchise in LSG. On Tuesday, June 23, iplt20.com shared an official update to confirm the high-profile trade deal.

Pant was picked by LSG at the IPL 2025 mega auction for a record-breaking price of ₹27 crore. However, following two underwhelming IPL seasons as captain and player, he has moved to DC for a much lower price – ₹15 crore. While Pant has taken a ₹12 crore pay cut, Kuldeep joins LSG for his existing fee of ₹13.25 crore.

In the wake of Pant agreeing to join DC for a much lesser pay in comparison to his previous franchise, we look at five other star players who have also had to settle for a massive pay cut in the IPL.

#1 Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore to ₹7 crore)

Batting all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a whopping ₹23.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. However, the left-handed batter had an underwhelming season, managing just 142 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 139.21.

He was purchased by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for a much lower pay of ₹7 crore – a whopping pay cut of ₹16.75 crore. With Phil Salt getting injured, Venkatesh stepped up and contributed 209 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 186.60, playing his part in RCB’s IPL 2026 triumph.

#2 Sam Curran (₹18.5 crore to ₹2.4 crore)

England all-rounder Sam Curran represented Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2024 after being purchased for a huge sum of ₹18.50 crore. In 12 innings, he scored 270 runs at a strike rate of 123.28, with two fifties. With his left-arm pace bowling, he claimed 16 wickets at an average of 26 and an economy rate of 10.14.

Despite decent performances, PBKS released Curran. He was subsequently purchased by his former franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹2.4 crore – his salary seeing a huge dip of ₹16.10 crore. Curran played only five matches for CSK in IPL 2025, claiming one wicket and scoring 114 runs.

#3 Mitchell Starc (₹24.75 crore to ₹11.75 crore)

Even Australian legend Mitchell Starc was forced to take a pay cut in the IPL. He was purchased by KKR for a then record price of ₹24.75 crore at the IPL 2024 auction. Starc overcame an underwhelming start to play a massive role in KKR’s IPL 2024 triumph. He ended the season with 17 wickets at an average of 26.11 and an economy rate of 10.61.

Despite his stellar role in KKR’s IPL 2024 triumph, Starc was released by the franchise. Subsequently, he was picked up by Delhi Capitals (DC) at the 2025 auction for ₹11.75 crore – a pay cut of ₹13 crore. Starc claimed 14 wickets in 11 matches for DC in IPL 2025 and 11 scalps in six games in the 2026 season.

#4 Kyle Jamieson (₹15 crore to ₹1 crore)

New Zealand all-rounder Kyle Jamieson had to settle for a ₹14 crore pay cut in the IPL, going from ₹15 crore to ₹1 crore. Jamieson was purchased by RCB for ₹15 crore ahead of the IPL 2021 season. He claimed nine wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 9.60. Jamieson pulled out of the 2022 edition and was subsequently released by the Bengaluru franchise.

At the IPL 2023 auction, CSK purchased him for his base price of ₹1 crore. He did not feature in any of the games. Similarly, Australian pacer Jhye Richardson was picked up PBKS for ₹14 crore at the IPL 2021 auction. After being released, he went unsold in the 2022 edition. In 2023, Mumbai Indians (MI) sighed him for his base price of ₹1.5 crore, but the pacer missed the season due to a hamstring injury.

#5 Yuvraj Singh (₹16 crore to ₹7 crore)

At the IPL 2015 auction, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) purchased Indian legend Yuvraj Singh for ₹16 crore. The southpaw, however, had a mixed season. In 13 innings, he scored 248 runs at a strike rate of less than 120.

Released by the Delhi franchise, he was purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for ₹7 crore at the 2016 auction – a drop of ₹9 crore. In 10 innings that season, Yuvraj scored 236 runs at a strike rate of 131.84.