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Investing 10 photos

The 10 cheapest players in IPL 2026, next to what Rishabh Pant earns in one match

At the other end of the same squads: ten Indians retained for ₹30 lakh or less for the whole season. The best-paid player in the competition earns more than that before lunch on match day.

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Published 22 September 2026

01 Mukesh Choudhary

Mukesh Choudhary — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Chennai Super Kings ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Cheapest on any team sheet: Mukesh Choudhary, retained by Chennai Super Kings at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. Rishabh Pant earns more than that in a single league match.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

02 Ramakrishna Ghosh

Ramakrishna Ghosh — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Chennai Super Kings ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Next, Ramakrishna Ghosh, retained by Chennai Super Kings at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. That is roughly one 90th of what Rishabh Pant is paid for the same season.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

03 Shreyas Gopal

Shreyas Gopal — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Chennai Super Kings ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Also on the base price, Shreyas Gopal, retained by Chennai Super Kings at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. The biggest retention in the competition is 90 times this one.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

04 Ayush Mhatre

Ayush Mhatre — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Chennai Super Kings ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Another at the floor, Ayush Mhatre, retained by Chennai Super Kings at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. One ₹1.93 crore match fee at the top of the list would cover this whole season 6 times over.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

05 Urvil Patel

Urvil Patel — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Chennai Super Kings ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Barely above them, Urvil Patel, retained by Chennai Super Kings at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. Thirteen players on this money would still cost less than Rishabh Pant alone.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

06 Ajay Mandal

Ajay Mandal — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Delhi Capitals ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

A little more, Ajay Mandal, retained by Delhi Capitals at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. It is the league minimum, and it has not moved much in years while the top of the market has gone from ₹16 crore to ₹27 crore.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

07 Tripurana Vijay

Tripurana Vijay — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Delhi Capitals ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Slightly dearer, Tripurana Vijay, retained by Delhi Capitals at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. On a percentage basis this is 1.1% of the top retention.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

08 Vipraj Nigam

Vipraj Nigam — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Delhi Capitals ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Further up, Vipraj Nigam, retained by Delhi Capitals at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. Two seasons at this price would still not reach one of Rishabh Pant's matches.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

09 Anuj Rawat

Anuj Rawat — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Gujarat Titans ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Higher again, Anuj Rawat, retained by Gujarat Titans at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. Gujarat Titans is paying this for a full season of availability.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

10 Manav Suthar

Manav Suthar — ₹30 lakh

IPL 2026 · Gujarat Titans ₹30 lakh ₹2 lakh a league match

Last of the ten, Manav Suthar, retained by Gujarat Titans at ₹30 lakh for the season — ₹2 lakh a league match. The difference between this and the top of the list is ₹26.70 crore.

Source: IPL 2026 retention lists (BCCI), via Wikipedia · as of 21 September 2026

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