Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has retained his position as Uttarakhand's highest individual taxpayer after paying ₹23.84 crore in income tax for the 2025–26 financial year. The amount is more
than double the ₹10.5 crore he paid in the previous financial year. The figures were released by the state's Income Tax Department on the occasion of Income Tax Day, with officials confirming that Pant has topped the list of individual taxpayers for the second consecutive year. In the corporate category, ONGC remained the state's biggest taxpayer with a contribution of ₹13,564 crore.
Pant's earnings have risen significantly over the past year, largely due to his record-breaking ₹27 crore IPL deal with Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 mega auction. Alongside his IPL salary, he also earns through his BCCI central contract, international match fees and several endorsement deals.
The 28-year-old, who hails from Roorkee in Haridwar district, has consistently been among Uttarakhand's highest taxpayers in recent years. However, this year's tax payment is the highest of his career so far. According to department officials, Pant has also maintained a strong record of making his tax payments on time.
Rishabh Pant Eyes Redemption in Sri Lanka Test Tour
Pant has represented India in 50 Test matches, scoring 3,557 runs across 87 innings. He has registered eight centuries and 19 half-centuries in the longest format and currently holds the record for the most Test hundreds by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter. He will be the first choice keeper for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on August 15. After a disappointing IPL 2026 season and losing his place in India's ODI and T20I teams, the Test series gives him a big chance to make a strong comeback.
However, Pant's place in the playing XI will be under the scanner after this series. Dhruv Jurel has impressed with both the bat and the gloves, making things even tougher for the wicketkeeper. Pant has also lost the Test vice-captain's role to KL Rahul, so he must now step up and shut down his critics with his bat. India's tour of Sri Lanka will begin on August 15. The opening Test will be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to 19, while the second Test is scheduled at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo from August 23 to 27.
