From Heinrich Klaasen to the rest: the 10 best-paid overseas players in IPL 2026
An IPL squad may field four overseas players at a time, which makes every foreign retention a bet a franchise has to justify twice. These are the ten most expensive.
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Published 21 September 2026
01 Heinrich Klaasen
IPL 2026 · Sunrisers Hyderabad ₹23 crore ₹1.64 crore a league match
South Africa, retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad at ₹23 crore — ₹1.64 crore for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
02 Nicholas Pooran
IPL 2026 · Lucknow Super Giants ₹21 crore ₹1.50 crore a league match
West Indies, retained by Lucknow Super Giants at ₹21 crore — ₹1.50 crore for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
03 Rashid Khan
IPL 2026 · Gujarat Titans ₹18 crore ₹1.29 crore a league match
Afghanistan, retained by Gujarat Titans at ₹18 crore — ₹1.29 crore for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
04 Pat Cummins
IPL 2026 · Sunrisers Hyderabad ₹18 crore ₹1.29 crore a league match
Australia, retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad at ₹18 crore — ₹1.29 crore for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
05 Jos Buttler
IPL 2026 · Gujarat Titans ₹15.75 crore ₹1.12 crore a league match
England, retained by Gujarat Titans at ₹15.75 crore — ₹1.12 crore for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
06 Travis Head
IPL 2026 · Sunrisers Hyderabad ₹14 crore ₹1 crore a league match
Australia, retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad at ₹14 crore — ₹1 crore for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
07 Trent Boult
IPL 2026 · Mumbai Indians ₹12.50 crore ₹89 lakh a league match
New Zealand, retained by Mumbai Indians at ₹12.50 crore — ₹89 lakh for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
08 Jofra Archer
IPL 2026 · Rajasthan Royals ₹12.50 crore ₹89 lakh a league match
England, retained by Rajasthan Royals at ₹12.50 crore — ₹89 lakh for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
09 Josh Hazlewood
IPL 2026 · Royal Challengers Bengaluru ₹12.50 crore ₹89 lakh a league match
Australia, retained by Royal Challengers Bengaluru at ₹12.50 crore — ₹89 lakh for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
10 Sunil Narine
IPL 2026 · Kolkata Knight Riders ₹12 crore ₹86 lakh a league match
West Indies, retained by Kolkata Knight Riders at ₹12 crore — ₹86 lakh for each of the fourteen league matches, and only four overseas players can be on the field at once.
Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026
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