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It’s the birthplace of the Indian Premier League which is the biggest competition of its kind. The interest in cricket brings huge revenue into the game in this country, but who are the richest cricketers in India?
Who is the Richest Cricketer in India?
The figures show that Sachin Tendulkar is the richest cricketer in India. The man known as the Little Master has amassed a fortune which is said to be worth $170 million USD.
Tendulkar would have made significant income from the game while additional revenue is sourced from a number of major brand endorsements.
12 Richest Cricketers in India
Sachin Tendulkar – $170 million
As we saw in the previous section, Sachin Tendulkar is the richest cricketer in India. He was the icon of the game over a long playing career and it’s no surprise to see his name at the top of the list.
As well as his playing income and his payments from endorsements, Sachin has also taken on a number of coaching roles since his last game.
Virat Kohli – $127 million
Unlike Sachin, Virat Kohli is still playing cricket at the time of writing and that contributes to his overall fortune of $127 million. His central contract from the BCCI and his salary from Royal Challengers Bangalore will make a significant contribution.
Kohli is also involved in endorsements and some of the major companies he works with include Audi, Puma and MRF.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni – $113 million
He was the captain of India and Chennai Super Kings for many years, and much of MS Dhoni’s income would have been generated from playing cricket. Of course, he was used for many endorsements across his playing days, and he’s worked with the likes of Colgate, GoDaddy, Star Sports and many others.
Since retiring from international cricket, it’s reported that MSD is making external investments into industries such as clothing and agriculture.
Sourav Ganguly – $80 million
After a long playing career, former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly moved into administration. Most notably, he was the President of the BCCI and that role would have come with a significant salary.
Of course, there have been a lot of endorsements for the likes of Puma, Burnpur Cement and many others.
Virender Sehwag – $40 million
A hard hitting batter at the top of the order, Virender Sehwag was one of the most exciting players to watch. The IPL came along relatively late in his career, but he would still have enjoyed some significant income from this competition.
His fortune of $40 million will be boosted by playing for India, coaching and his many brand endorsements.
Yuvraj Singh – $35 million
A powerful all-rounder who enjoyed most of his success in limited overs cricket, Yuvraj Singh slots comfortably into this list with a fortune of $35 million.
He played IPL cricket for six different franchises, so there would have been a lot of signing on fees, plus his regular playing salary.
Sunil Gavaskar – $30 million
This is an interesting one and, while $30 million is still a significant amount, it underlines the gulf between cricketers of today and those of yesteryear. Sunil Gavaskar was the best Indian batsman of his generation and a great leader through the 1970s.
He works as a commentator in the modern day, but would clearly have earned much more if he’d played in a more recent era.
Kapil Dev – $30 million
Kapil Dev was Sunil Gavaskar’s inheritor in terms of the captaincy and he remains as one of the best all rounders that the game has ever seen. He was also the skipper when India pulled off that remarkable triumph in 1983, when they beat heavy favourites West Indies in the final of the World Cup.
$30 million is an impressive sum, but Kapil Dev would have been hugely in demand if he had played in the IPL era.
Zaheer Khan – $25 million
A very effective swing and seam bowler for India and his domestic teams, Zaheer Khan was a determined opponent who never let his sides down. He played for three IPL franchises and enjoyed stints in English county cricket with Surrey and Warwickshire.
Zaheer Khan also played in 292 international matches for India, and his time with the senior team would have helped to boost his earnings.
Suresh Raina – $25 million
Suresh Raina matches Zaheer Khan’s net worth at $25 million. A left handed batsman, he was a great servant for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, and he contributed to much of that team’s success.
He played in over 300 international matches, enjoyed lots of brand endorsements, and was a reliable and productive scorer of runs who was clearly highly valued.
Yusuf Pathan – $24 million
Yusuf Pathan could split opinion at times. He was capable of some exceptional contributions with bat and ball, but lacked the consistency to impress over long periods of time.
Despite those concerns, the all-rounder played for three IPL franchises and he made 57 appearances for India in One Day Internationals. Those salaries, signing fees and endorsements would have boosted his revenue to that impressive figure of $24 million.
Rohit Sharma – $20 million
Along with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma is the only cricketer on this list to still be playing at the time of writing. He is also the current captain of India and will earn significantly from his central contract.
Rohit has also skippered the Mumbai Indians to each of their five wins in the IPL. He will have boosted his income from endorsements, but Rohit Sharma is probably one of the biggest earners in pure cricketing terms.
Conclusion
The list here includes many of the icons of Indian cricket from the last twenty years. In terms of the Indian Premier League, they would be included among the most valuable players, and franchise teams would pay a premium for the likes of Kohli, Ganguly, Dhoni, Tendulkar and others.
For most players, they will be in demand in terms of advertising and endorsements. It’s a well worn path for most, but some of these figures are truly eye-watering. Who will join this list in the near future?
Indian cricket goes from strength to strength and a number of players have the capability to break into the top 12 in the years that follow.
