The Board of Control for Cricket in India awards 34 centrally contracted players earning ₹1-7 crore annually with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja commanding Grade A+ deals worth ₹7 crore.
Kohli leads combined earnings at ₹28 crore yearly combining BCCI salary, ₹21 crore IPL contract with RCB, and ₹200+ crore annual endorsement portfolio.
The 2024-25 contracts running October 2024 through September 2025 feature four-tier grading with Grade A (₹5Cr), Grade B (₹3Cr), and Grade C (₹1Cr) reflecting format specialization and consistent selection.
Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan returned after 2023-24 omission while debutants Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, and Abhishek Sharma secured maiden central contracts.
Explore comprehensive player biography and net worth data for India’s cricket roster.
| Player Name | Positions Name |
| Hardik Pandya | All-rounder |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| Shivam Dube | All-rounder |
| Abhishek Sharma | All-rounder |
| Washington Sundar | All-rounder |
| Shubman Gill | Batsman |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Batsman |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batsman |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batsman |
| Rinku Singh | Batsman |
| Shreyas Iyer | Batsman |
| Tilak Varma | Batsman |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicket-keeper |
| Sanju Samson | Wicket-keeper |
| Dhruv Jurel | Wicket-keeper |
| Ishan Kishan | Wicket-keeper |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Bowler |
| Mohammed Siraj | Bowler |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| Wriddhiman Saha | Right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman |
| Harbhajan Singh | Right-arm off-spin bowler |
| Priya Punia | Right-handed batsman/Right-arm medium bowler |
| Manoj Tiwary | Right-handed batsman |
| Chandrakant Pandit | Wicketkeeper-batsman |
| Dilip Vengsarkar | Right-handed batsman |
| Suyash Prabhudessai | Right-handed batsman/Right-arm medium-fast bowler |
| Priyam Garg | Right-handed opening batsman |
| Prithvi Shaw | Right-handed opening batsman |
Top 10 Highest-Paid India Cricketers
BCCI contracts provide base income while IPL deals transform ₹7 crore board salaries into ₹23-28 crore annual earnings for elite players. Kohli’s endorsement empire generates income surpassing all cricket-related compensation combined.
| Player | Role | BCCI Grade | Annual BCCI Salary | IPL 2025 Salary | Total Est. Earnings |
| Virat Kohli | Batsman | A | ₹6 crore | ₹21 crore (RCB) | ₹227 crore+ |
| Rohit Sharma | Batsman (c) | A+ | ₹7 crore | ₹16.3 crore (MI) | ₹93.3 crore+ |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Fast bowler | A+ | ₹7 crore | ₹12 crore (MI) | ₹39 crore+ |
| Hardik Pandya | All-rounder | A | ₹5 crore | ₹16.35 crore (MI) | ₹71.35 crore+ |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper | B | ₹3 crore | ₹27 crore (LSG) | ₹50 crore+ |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder | A+ | ₹7 crore | ₹18 crore (CSK) | ₹45 crore+ |
| KL Rahul | Wicketkeeper-batsman | A | ₹5 crore | ₹14 crore (DC) | ₹39 crore+ |
| Shubman Gill | Batsman | A | ₹5 crore | ₹16.5 crore (GT) | ₹36.5 crore+ |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Batsman (c T20I) | A | ₹5 crore | ₹16.35 crore (MI) | ₹41.35 crore+ |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Spinner | B | ₹3 crore | ₹13.25 crore (DC) | ₹26.25 crore+ |
Kohli earned ₹227 crore in 2025 combining ₹6 crore BCCI Grade A contract (dropped from A+ after Test retirement), ₹21 crore RCB retention, and ₹200 crore endorsements from 30+ brands including Puma (₹110Cr annually), MRF, Audi, Manyavar paying ₹7.5-10 crore per deal.
His social media posts command ₹3-5 crore per sponsored Instagram upload reaching 272 million followers.
Pant’s record ₹27 crore IPL 2025 auction price with Lucknow Super Giants created cricket’s highest-ever player salary.
His ₹3 crore BCCI Grade B contract supplements endorsements with Adidas, JSW Steel, Dream11, Realme generating ₹15-20 crore yearly creating ₹50+ crore total annual income despite career-threatening 2022 car accident recovery.
Richest India Cricketers by Net Worth
IPL’s 18-year financial explosion transformed Indian cricketers into cricket’s wealthiest cohort. Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli accumulated ₹1000+ crore fortunes through strategic franchise participation, endorsement portfolios, and business investments.
| Player | Role | Estimated Net Worth | Age | Primary Wealth Source |
| Sachin Tendulkar | Batsman (retired) | ₹1400Cr ($170M) | 52 | IPL + BCCI career + Endorsements |
| MS Dhoni | Wicketkeeper (retired Int’l) | ₹1050Cr ($127M) | 44 | IPL + BCCI + Business ventures |
| Virat Kohli | Batsman | ₹1050Cr ($125M) | 37 | IPL + Endorsements + Businesses |
| Rohit Sharma | Batsman | ₹220Cr ($26M) | 38 | IPL + BCCI + Real estate |
| Rishabh Pant | Wicketkeeper | ₹100Cr ($12M) | 27 | IPL + BCCI + Endorsements |
Tendulkar built ₹1400 crore through Mumbai Indians co-ownership (₹600Cr value), ₹380 crore career earnings from BCCI contracts (2008-2013 earning peak ₹30-35Cr annually), endorsements with BMW, Coca-Cola, Adidas generating ₹150 crore during playing career, and current brand ambassador deals worth ₹20-22 crore annually post-retirement. His real estate portfolio includes ₹250 crore Mumbai properties.
Dhoni accumulated ₹1050 crore through CSK’s ₹12-15 crore annual salary across 15 IPL seasons totaling ₹209 crore, BCCI contracts generating ₹200 crore over 15-year international career, business ventures including SEVEN apparel (₹100Cr valuation), Dhoni Entertainment, ISL team Chennai FC, and RPG Group investments totaling ₹300 crore.
His endorsement portfolio with Pepsi, TVS, Dream11, Cars24 earns ₹3-6 crore per brand creating ₹150 crore combined value.
Kohli’s ₹1050 crore stems from IPL earnings totaling ₹212 crore across 18 RCB seasons, BCCI contracts generating ₹150 crore since 2008, endorsement deals worth ₹1500+ crore lifetime value (₹200Cr annually current), business ventures including One8 restaurant chain (₹180Cr valuation), Wrogn apparel, and Chisel Fitness gyms creating ₹250 crore entrepreneurial wealth.
His Delhi real estate portfolio values ₹150 crore including ₹80 crore Gurugram penthouse.
BCCI Central Contract Structure
India’s cricket board operates cricket’s second-highest paying system after England ECB with 34 players sharing ₹133 crore annual retainer pool. Four-tier grading rewards consistent multi-format performers while accommodating white-ball specialists.
BCCI 2024-25 Contract Breakdown:
Grade A+ (₹7 crore annual – 4 players): Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (reduced from A+ after Test retirement March 2025), Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja.
Grade A (₹5 crore annual – 8 players): Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
Grade B (₹3 crore annual – 11 players): Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Grade C (₹1 crore annual – 11 players): Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Abhishek Sharma, Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep.
Match Fees: Test – ₹15 lakh per game, ODI – ₹6 lakh per match, T20I – ₹3 lakh per appearance.
Australia’s CA pays $1.1 million (₹9.15Cr) maximum versus India’s ₹7 crore top tier, though BCCI’s larger roster spreads ₹133 crore across 34 players compared to CA’s ₹215 crore among 23.
England’s ECB £900,000 (₹9.45Cr) maximum slightly exceeds BCCI’s Grade A+ demonstrating competitive international positioning despite IPL’s overwhelming franchise earnings dwarfing board payments.
IPL and Franchise League Earnings
Indian Premier League dominates global cricket economics with ₹650+ crore distributed across 250+ contracted players for 2025 season. Pant’s record ₹27 crore LSG deal establishes new salary ceiling exceeding previous ₹24.75 crore benchmark.
Top IPL 2025 Salaries: Rishabh Pant (LSG – ₹27Cr), Shreyas Iyer (PBKS – ₹26.75Cr), Venkatesh Iyer (KKR – ₹23.75Cr), Arshdeep Singh (PBKS – ₹18Cr), Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS – ₹18Cr), Ravindra Jadeja (CSK – ₹18Cr), Virat Kohli (RCB – ₹21Cr retained), Rohit Sharma (MI – ₹16.3Cr retained).
Overseas T20 Participation: Indian cricketers restricted from participating in BBL, CPL, PSL, SA20, The Hundred, ILT20 per BCCI regulations creating IPL monopoly on franchise earnings. Retired internationals including Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh earn $50,000-$150,000 annually from overseas leagues post-BCCI contract release.
Combined IPL salaries for India’s 34 centrally contracted players total ₹385 crore creating average ₹11.3 crore franchise income supplementing ₹3.9 crore average BCCI salary. Elite performers earning ₹20+ crore IPL deals generate 3-4x more from franchises than board contracts demonstrating league’s financial dominance over international cricket.
Tournament Bonuses and Incentive Structures
BCCI implements substantial performance-based bonuses rewarding ICC tournament success and bilateral series victories. T20 World Cup 2024 victory distributed ₹125 crore across squad members beyond base contracts.
ICC Tournament Bonuses: T20/ODI World Cup victory – ₹5-8 crore per player squad distribution, Test Championship final win – ₹4-6 crore individual payments, ICC tournament progression – ₹50 lakh-1 crore knockout stage bonuses.
Bilateral Series: Home series victories – ₹20-50 lakh per player, overseas series wins – ₹50 lakh-1 crore recognizing difficult touring conditions, whitewash achievements – ₹1-2 crore additional.
Individual Milestones: Test centuries – ₹20 lakh, ODI centuries – ₹15 lakh, T20I fifties – ₹10 lakh, five-wicket hauls – ₹15-20 lakh depending on format.
Captaincy Premiums: Test captain receives ₹50-75 lakh annual supplement, limited-overs captains earn ₹40-60 lakh additional recognizing leadership responsibilities and media obligations.
IPL playoff bonuses distribute ₹50 lakh-2 crore per championship run with Mumbai Indians’ five-title success generating ₹8-10 crore lifetime playoff earnings for Rohit Sharma beyond ₹209 crore base contracts. CSK’s consistent final appearances earned MS Dhoni estimated ₹12-15 crore playoff bonuses across 13 qualifying seasons.
FAQs
Who is India’s highest-paid cricketer?
Virat Kohli earns ₹227+ crore annually combining ₹6 crore BCCI Grade A contract, ₹21 crore RCB IPL salary, and ₹200 crore endorsements from 30+ brands including Puma, MRF, Audi, Manyavar. His total compensation surpasses all Indian cricketers despite Grade A+ to Grade A demotion following Test format retirement.
How much does BCCI pay centrally contracted players?
BCCI pays 34 players across four grades: Grade A+ (₹7 crore – 4 players), Grade A (₹5 crore – 8 players), Grade B (₹3 crore – 11 players), Grade C (₹1 crore – 11 players). Match fees add ₹3-15 lakh per game creating total earnings of ₹1.5-8 crore annually before IPL and endorsement income.
Which Indian cricketer has highest IPL salary in 2025?
Rishabh Pant commands IPL’s highest-ever salary at ₹27 crore from Lucknow Super Giants following record 2025 auction purchase. Shreyas Iyer (PBKS – ₹26.75Cr) and Venkatesh Iyer (KKR – ₹23.75Cr) complete top three, surpassing Virat Kohli’s ₹21 crore RCB retention as highest-paid retained player.
What is Virat Kohli’s total net worth?
Virat Kohli’s net worth stands at ₹1050 crore ($125 million) accumulated through 18 IPL seasons earning ₹212 crore total, BCCI contracts generating ₹150 crore since 2008, endorsement lifetime value exceeding ₹1500 crore, and business ventures including One8 restaurants (₹180Cr valuation), Wrogn apparel, Chisel gyms creating ₹250 crore entrepreneurial wealth.
Why do Indian cricketers earn more than other nations?
BCCI’s ₹15,000+ crore annual revenue from IPL broadcast rights (₹48,390 crore over five years), ICC events, bilateral series creates unmatched financial capacity. IPL’s ₹650+ crore player salary pool exceeds combined wage bills of BBL, CPL, PSL, SA20, The Hundred, demonstrating Indian cricket’s commercial dominance generating 10-20x higher player compensation than other cricketing nations.
