as soon as Indian Premier League (IPL) As the 19th edition of the IPL begins, the focus isn’t just on the batsmen and bowlers—it’s also on the men tasked with leading their franchises. The annual salaries of all ten captains have been revealed in a graphic ahead of IPL 2026, showing how teams value leadership in cricket’s most lucrative league. From established names to young captains who have made their mark on lesser salaries, this list shows the various routes to captaincy in the IPL.

Here are the complete details of captains’ salaries in IPL 2026:

Rishabh Pant leads with ₹27 crores

Salary details show that Rishabh Pant, who took over the captaincy of Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2026, is receiving a staggering salary of ₹27 crore – the highest among all captains this season. The wicketkeeper-batsman’s huge salary reflects his status as one of the most marketable and influential players in Indian cricket. Pant, who previously led Delhi Capitals (DC), is now shouldering the responsibility of guiding a new-look Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which has made several high-profile acquisitions in the auction.

He is followed by Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer, who earns ₹26.75 crore. Iyer, who led Punjab to the final in IPL 2025, has been retained by the franchise as their undisputed leader. His salary puts him just ₹25 lakh behind Pant, which shows how much the franchise values ​​proven leadership and middle-order stability.

₹18 crore club: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Pat Cummins

The two captains are in the ₹18 crore bracket.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who takes over the full-time captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2024, earns ₹18 crore. The stylish opener has been the mainstay of CSK’s batting and is seen as the long-term leader of the franchise.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins, who is likely to miss the initial matches due to a back injury, also earns ₹18 crore. The Australian fast bowler led SRH to the IPL 2024 final and when he is fit, he remains the mainstay of their bowling attack.

Medium level captains: Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya in the range of ₹16 crore

The three captains in the next bracket are clustered in the range of ₹16 crore.

Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill and Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel Both earn ₹16.5 crore. Gill, who has led GT since 2024, remains the poster boy of the franchise, while Axar took over the DC captaincy after the departure of Rishabh Pant last season.

Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya follows him closely with ₹16.35 crore. The all-rounder, who returns to MI in 2024, is carrying the responsibility of adding a sixth title to the franchise’s illustrious history.

Low-paid captains: new and unexpected leaders

Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Riyan Parag, who took over the role after Sanju Samson’s trade to CSK, earns ₹11 crore. The young Assamese batsman will lead a RR team that recently changed ownership in a record-breaking deal.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar also gets a salary of ₹11 crore – a remarkable figure considering he led RCB to their maiden IPL title in 2025.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane completes the list with earnings of ₹1.5 crore. The experienced batsman took over the captaincy of KKR before last season, the responsibility of leading the three-time champions rests on his shoulders.