Salil Arora burst onto India’s domestic cricket radar with a jaw-dropping 125 off 45 balls in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — and the cricket world has not stopped talking since.
Sunrisers Hyderabad paid ₹1.50 crore to snap him up at the IPL 2026 auction, turning a 23-year-old kid from Amritsar into a household name.
This article covers Salil Arora’s net worth, IPL salary, career earnings, domestic contracts, and everything that shapes his financial profile.
Salil Arora’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Salil Arora |
| Date of Birth | November 7, 2002 |
| Age | 23 years |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Position | Wicketkeeper-Batter (Middle Order) |
| Current Team | Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL 2026) / Punjab (Domestic) |
| Turned Professional | 2024 (First-Class debut) |
| IPL Contract | ₹1.50 Crore |
| Estimated Net Worth | ₹2 Crore (approx.) |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Jersey Number | #12 (Punjab) |
Early Life & Career
Salil Arora was born on November 7, 2002, in Amritsar, Punjab, into a business family with deep cricket roots.
His father, Rakesh Kumar, played cricket at the district level and was the first to spot Salil’s natural ability. His mother, Seema, supported his daily training routine.
When Salil was around 12 years old, a visit to a shopping mall led to an unexpected moment — he tried out practice nets installed inside the mall, and something clicked that day.
That visit led him to consistent coaching sessions at Gandhi Ground in Amritsar, where coaches Rajan Gill and Rahul Sharma shaped his aggressive batting approach and sharpened his wicketkeeping.
He studied at DAV International School and later moved to DAV College, balancing academics with cricket throughout his formative years.
His first big breakthrough came in the Cooch Behar Trophy, where he scored heavily enough to earn selection into Punjab’s Under-19 squad.
That performance pushed him into India’s Under-19 setup, and he toured Sri Lanka as part of the India Under-19 squad for the 2019 ACC Youth Asia Cup, a tournament that India won.
Professional Career
Salil Arora made his first-class debut for Punjab on October 18, 2024, in a Ranji Trophy game against Madhya Pradesh at New Chandigarh.
Punjab were struggling at 154/7 when Arora walked in, and he responded with a composed 101 off 210 balls — earning the Player of the Match award on debut.
That knock instantly marked him as a player with the temperament to perform under pressure.
The 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy became the stage where Arora truly announced himself to the nation.
Against Jharkhand in the Super League, he walked in and dismantled the bowling attack, hitting his century off just 39 balls and finishing on an unbeaten 125 off 45 deliveries — with nine fours and 11 sixes.
That innings is now the third-highest score in Punjab’s SMAT history, sitting behind only Abhishek Sharma’s 148 and Shubman Gill’s 126.
Across the entire tournament, Arora scored 359 runs in nine innings at a strike rate approaching 200, finishing as Punjab’s leading run-scorer and second only to Ishan Kishan for sixes hit.
His explosive performances triggered a bidding war at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi.
He entered at a base price of ₹30 lakh, with both Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad competing aggressively.
Sunrisers Hyderabad eventually secured him for ₹1.50 crore — five times his base price — making him one of the most talked-about uncapped Indian picks of the cycle.
He made his IPL debut for SRH against RCB in March 2026.
Salil Arora’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Salil Arora has an estimated net worth of ₹2 crore.
He built this wealth primarily through his IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad, domestic match fees from Punjab’s state circuits, and earnings from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Ranji Trophy campaigns.
Contract
Salil Arora currently holds a ₹1.50 crore IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2026 season.
This is his first and only IPL contract to date, as he was unsold or uncontracted in all previous auctions.
On the domestic front, he plays for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy (First-Class), Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A), and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20), earning BCCI-regulated match fees and contract-grade salary for each format.
Salary
Arora’s primary income source in 2026 is his IPL retainer of ₹1.50 crore from Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In addition, he earns match fees through Punjab’s domestic assignments under the BCCI domestic contract system.
For domestic cricketers in India, the BCCI pays match fees ranging from ₹35,000 to ₹60,000 per day depending on the format, along with annual contracted retainers for players in Grade A through Grade C.
Arora’s total domestic earnings prior to his IPL deal would have been modest but meaningful given the volume of games he played.
Career Earnings by Year
| Season | Tournament/Contract | Earnings (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | India U-19 Asia Cup | Match fees (nominal) |
| 2024–25 | Punjab – Ranji Trophy | BCCI domestic match fees |
| 2025 | Punjab – SMAT / Vijay Hazare | BCCI domestic match fees |
| 2026 | SRH – IPL 2026 Contract | ₹1.50 Crore |
Career Statistics
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 9 | 14 | 45 8 | 101 vs MP | 41.63 | 48.31 | 1 | 3 | 55 | 3 |
| List A | 3 | 2 | 74 | 65* vs UT | 74.00 | 82.22 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| T20 (Domestic) | 13 | 13 | 401 | 125* vs JH | 44.55 | 190.95 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 32 |
| IPL | 4 | 4 | 42 | – | 14.00 | 150.00 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
FAQs
What is Salil Arora’s net worth?
Salil Arora’s estimated net worth is approximately ₹2 crore. His IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad worth ₹1.50 crore is his biggest single income source.
How much did SRH pay for Salil Arora at the IPL 2026 auction?
Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Salil Arora for ₹1.50 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, five times his base price of ₹30 lakh.
What is Salil Arora’s IPL salary in 2026?
His IPL salary for the 2026 season is ₹1.50 crore, paid by Sunrisers Hyderabad. He had no prior IPL contracts before this season.
Which team does Salil Arora play for in domestic cricket?
Salil Arora plays all formats of domestic cricket for Punjab — the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — in addition to his IPL role with SRH.
What is Salil Arora’s highest score in domestic cricket?
His highest score is an unbeaten 125 off 45 balls against Jharkhand in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which is the third-highest T20 score in Punjab’s SMAT history.
