No less than 16 South Africans will be involved in the big money 2025 Indian Premier League which starts on Saturday.
Players from around the world converge on India to play in the most-watched cricket league on the planet. And the rewards are just as big, as players become instant millionaires for just six weeks’ work.
The IPL has generated billions in revenue since its inception in 2008, turning the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) into one of the richest governing bodies in sport.
In June 2022 it sold the broadcast rights for five IPL seasons to global media giants for $6.2 billion.
The IPL is a huge earner for Indian cricket and the tournament makes more than $11 billion for the economy each year
Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant got all the headlines during the recent 2025 auction when he became the most expensive player in Indian IPL history. Pant was sold to the Lucknow Super Giants for a record $3.2 million (R58 million), breaking the record that actually briefly held by a South African.
Pant has overtaken Proteas star Heinrich Klaasen as the most expensive player in IPL history, after the Sunrisers Hyderabad had earlier splashed out R48 million on the South African basher for him to stay put at the franchise.
South Africans know all about big IPL deals.
In 2021 former Proteas all-rounder Chris Morris was the most expensive player ever bought when Rajasthan Royals paid R33 million for him. Back then, the fee smashed the previous record $2.2 million paid for Yuvraj Singh by Delhi Daredevils in 2015.
Australia's Pat Cummins had previously been the most expensive foreign player when Kolkata Knight Riders paid $2.17m for him in 2019.
Klaasen has become a global superstar with the bat, with his big-hitting ability now in demand all over the world.
But it’s not just the batters who will cash in the in the 2025 edition of the tournament.
Proteas speedster Kagiso Rabada was the most sought after South African during the auction in Saudi Arabia and was sold to the Gujarat Titans for just under R22 million.
Rabada was joined at the Gujarat Titans by England white-ball captain Jos Buttler, who went for $1.87 million during the auction.
The Lucknow Super Giants, meanwhile, also snapped up Proteas left-hander David Miller for R16 million after the Gujurat Titans decided not to retain the big-hitting South African.
Miller will have his Proteas white-ball captain Aiden Markram with him at the Super Giants after the right-hander was bought for R4 million after leading the Sunrisers last season.
Retired Proteas wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock, who last played for his country at the T20 World Cup in the West Indies, was bought for a handsome R7.7 million by the Kolkata Knight Riders.
De Kock was joined at KKR by Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who was snapped up the franchise for around R14 million.
What South Africans will earn in the 2025 Indian Premier League:
Heinrich Klaasen - Sunrisers Hyderabad, R49.3 million
Kagiso Rabada - Gujarat Titans, R23 million
Tristan Stubbs - Delhi Capitals, R21.4 million
David Miller - Lucknow Super Giants, R16 million
Marco Jansen - Punjab Kings, R14.9 million
Anrich Nortje - Kolkata Knight Riders, R13.9 million
Quinton de Kock - Kolkata Knight Riders, R7.7 million
Gerald Coetzee - Gujarat Titans, R5.1 million
Faf du Plessis - Delhi Capitals, R4.2 million
Aiden Markram - Lucknow Super Giants, R4.2 million
Kwena Maphaka - Rajasthan Royals, R3.2 million
Lungi Ngidi - Royal Challengers Bengaluru, R2.1 million
Ryan Rickelton - Mumbai Indians, R2.1 million
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