IPL: What was the ROI on top 5 most expensive players last season

With the IPL 2026 season starting soon, fans are once again talking about the big-money signings and how much impact they can make for their teams. Every year franchises spend huge amounts during the auction, hoping the players will deliver strong performances on the field.

Last season was no different, with several cricketers getting huge contracts. But the big question is - did those players deliver good return on investment (ROI) for their teams? Let’s take a look at how the top five most expensive players performed in the IPL 2025 season.

Rishabh Pant - Lucknow Super Giants

Rishabh Pant was the most expensive player among this group after being bought by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 27 crore. However, his performance with the bat was average compared to expectations. Pant played 14 matches and scored 269 runs, including one century and one fifty. His average was 24.45 and strike rate was 133.16. Considering the price tag, the return was not as strong as the team would have hoped.

Shreyas Iyer - Punjab Kings

Shreyas Iyer was bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 26.75 crore and he had a very good season with the bat. Iyer played 17 matches and scored 604 runs at an impressive average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 175.07. He also hit six half-centuries. Among the top five expensive players, Iyer probably gave the best ROI to his franchise and also took them to the final.

Also Read: Do the richest owners actually win more titles? IPL’s relationship with wealth explained

Venkatesh Iyer - Kolkata Knight Riders

All-rounder Venkatesh Iyer was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 23.75 crore. But his season was not very impactful. He played 11 matches and scored 142 runs with one fifty. His average was 20.28 and strike rate 139.21. For such a high price, the returns were below expectations. This is the reason he was released by KKR and was bought by RCB for Rs 7 crore this season.

Arshdeep Singh - Punjab Kings

Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was bought for Rs 18 crore by Punjab Kings. He played 17 matches and picked up 21 wickets during the season. His bowling average was 24.66 and economy rate was 8.88. Arshdeep was one of the key bowlers for the team and gave a decent return for his price.

Yuzvendra Chahal - Punjab Kings

Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was also bought for Rs 18 crore by Punjab Kings. He played 14 matches and took 16 wickets, with best figures of 4/28. His bowling average was 26.87 and economy rate was 9.55. While he had some good spells, the overall return was not as good compared to the amount spent.

IPL 2026: Top five most expensive players