IPL made him a millionaire! Mustafizur Rahman’s earnings before thrown out of IPL 2026 will shock you
Mustafizur Rahman has been one of the biggest talking points in the cricket world lately, and for all the wrong reasons. After a massive bidding war at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finally snagged the 30-year-old left-arm pacer for a staggering Rs 9.20 crore.
But in a sudden turn of events, the BCCI stepped in. Citing “the developments all around”, largely understood to be the geopolitical fallout and safety concerns following violence against minorities in Bangladesh, the board directed KKR to release him. Just like that, “The Fizz” is out of the 2026 season, and that massive paycheck has vanished.
Since Mustafizur won’t be taking the field this year, it’s the perfect time to look back at his roller-coaster IPL journey and just how much he’s made in the league over the years.
The Early Years in IPL
Mustafizur burst onto the scene in 2016, and he didn’t just participate; he dominated. Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him up for Rs 1.40 crore, and he repaid them by helping the franchise win their first title and bagging the “Emerging Player of the Tournament” award. SRH kept him for 2017 on the same salary.By 2018, his stocks were rising. He moved to the Mumbai Indians for a cool Rs 2.20 crore. While he didn’t quite reach his 2016 heights there, he remained a hot commodity in the T20 circuit.
The Comeback: Rajasthan, Delhi, and Chennai
After skipping the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the Fizz returned in 2021 with the Rajasthan Royals, who got him for a steal at Rs 1 crore.
He then found a steady home with the Delhi Capitals for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, earning Rs 2 crore each year. His most recent appearance was in 2024, where he donned the yellow jersey for Chennai Super Kings. Again, he was a key part of the attack and earned another Rs 2 crore.
The 2026 ‘What If’ and Total Earnings
Kolkata Knight Riders were ready to make him their big-money man for 2026 at Rs 9.20 crore, but since he’s been released per the BCCI directive, that money is effectively off the table.
As it stands, Mustafizur has played 7 seasons of the IPL, pocketing a total of Rs 12 crore (approximately $1.45 million) in fees. (Note: The figure of $1.2 billion mentioned in some reports is a significant typo at current exchange rates, Rs 12 crore is roughly $1.4 million).
Mustafizur’s IPL Career
He might be missing the 2026 party, but his stats show why teams were willing to pay nearly Rs 10 crore for him. He played 60 matches in which he scalped 65 wickets at an average of 28.25 with best bowling figures of 4/29.
It’s a tough break for a bowler who was about to see his biggest payday yet. For now, KKR will be looking for a replacement, and Mustafizur will likely be focusing on the PSL, having already registered for their upcoming season.