Top 3 costliest retained players in IPL history ft. Virat Kohli, Heinrich Klaasen
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a grand spectacle, attracting cricket's biggest stars and the attention of millions of fans worldwide. With the IPL 2025 season on the horizon, the excitement has reached new heights as teams revealed their final list of retained players.
This season, however, has set a new precedent, with franchises shelling out unprecedented sums to retain their marquee players ahead of the highly anticipated mega-auction. Some well-known players were surprisingly let go, sparking discussions and anticipation.
In a thrilling twist, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) made history by offering a record-breaking retention contract, surpassing the retention values of Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) also retained their stars at impressive prices.
The IPL's new retention rules capped retentions at INR 18, 14, 11, 18, and 14 crore. However, some franchises opted to push beyond this formula, securing their desired talent for staggering amounts.
On that note, here are the three most expensive retained players in the history of the league.
Top 3 costliest retained players in IPL history
#3 Sam Curran – Punjab Kings (INR 18.5 crore)
English all-rounder Sam Curran is the third-costliest retained player in IPL history, retained by Punjab Kings for INR 18.5 crore ahead of the 2024 season. Initially bought by PBKS in the IPL 2023 auction, Curran did his best to live up to his hefty price tag, contributing both with the bat and the ball.
His impact was felt across two seasons; in IPL 2023, he scored 276 runs and took 10 wickets, while in IPL 2024, he maintained a consistent performance with 270 runs and 16 wickets. Known for his versatility and ability to influence the game in critical moments, Curran’s retention was a clear strategic move by PBKS, who were keen to leverage his all-round abilities.
#2 Virat Kohli – Royal Challengers Bengaluru & Nicholas Pooran – Lucknow Super Giants (INR 21 crore each)
Virat Kohli, synonymous with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, was retained for INR 21 crore, making him the second-most expensive retained player. Kohli, the all-time highest run-scorer in the IPL, continued his legacy with a stellar IPL 2024 season, where he amassed 741 runs with an average of 61.75.
His form saw him score five half-centuries and a century, proving instrumental in RCB’s playoff journey. His loyalty and performance for RCB made him a retention priority, setting him up to lead the team’s batting charge again in IPL 2025.
Nicholas Pooran, retained by Lucknow Super Giants for the same amount of INR 21 crore, joins Kohli as a top-cost retention. Pooran’s explosive batting style and his ability to single-handedly shift game momentum make him invaluable to LSG.
With 499 runs at a blistering strike rate of 178.21 in the previous season, Pooran established his place in LSG’s batting lineup. His retention could also hint at a leadership role with LSG, given his match-winning capabilities and aggressive playing style.
#1 Heinrich Klaasen – Sunrisers Hyderabad (INR 23 crore)
Heinrich Klaasen tops the list as the most expensive retention in IPL history, with Sunrisers Hyderabad shelling out a jaw-dropping INR 23 crore to keep the hard-hitting South African wicketkeeper-batter. Klaasen's performance in IPL 2024 was nothing short of phenomenal, making him a pivotal figure in SRH's journey to the final.
Known for his explosive batting style, Klaasen scored 479 runs in 16 innings, at an impressive strike rate of 171.07, notching up four half-centuries. His consistency and high-impact performances earned him this record-breaking retention, reflecting SRH’s commitment to building their team around his game-changing capabilities.