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Yuzvendra Chahal defends Rs 18 crore IPL salary. (AFP Image)
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Moneycontrol•17-10-2026, 18:31
Yuzvendra Chahal Hits Back at Critics Over Massive Rs 18 Crore IPL Salary
  • •Yuzvendra Chahal became the most expensive spinner in IPL history after Punjab Kings secured him for Rs 18 crore at the IPL 2025 auction.
  • •The veteran leg-spinner expressed disappointment over the double standards in public criticism, noting that Indian players face heavy scrutiny for high salaries while overseas players do not.
  • •Chahal emphasized that he has never played for money and believes his 15-year career and status as the IPL's leading wicket-taker justify his earnings.
  • •Chahal is the tournament's top wicket-taker with 233 wickets in 188 matches between 2013 and 2026.
  • •Despite his stellar IPL record and 217 international wickets across ODIs and T20Is, Chahal has not featured in India's playing XI since August 2023.

Key Questions Answered

Yuzvendra Chahal expressed disappointment over the intense scrutiny Indian players face when they command hefty auction prices, noting that overseas players rarely receive similar criticism for big bids.

Punjab Kings secured Yuzvendra Chahal for a massive Rs 18 crore at the IPL 2025 auction, marking a 177 per cent increase from his previous salary of Rs 6.5 crore with the Rajasthan Royals.

Yuzvendra Chahal has been out of India's playing XI for more than three years, with his last international appearance coming in August 2023 during a T20I against the West Indies in Lauderhill.