In the fast-paced world of professional sports, the financial stakes have never been higher. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world of Indian cricket, where the country's top players are commanding record-breaking salaries and endorsement deals.
The Biggest Earners
Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah are the four players listed in the Grade A+ contract, which fetches them Rs 7 crore per annum. Moreover, they command a match fee of Rs 15 Lakh for every Test appearance, Rs 6 Lakh for ODI, and Rs 4 lakh for T20I. The match fee remains the same for players irrespective of the grading. These players are also the star faces of franchises in the Indian Premier League.
Overall, these five players earn a significant amount of money from their contracts with the BCCI, in addition to any income they may receive from endorsements, sponsorships, and other sources. Their salaries not only reflect their talent and contributions to Indian cricket but also highlight the financial rewards that come with being a top-tier cricketer in one of the world's leading cricketing nations.
How Much Grade A Players Make?
As of now, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Mohd. Shami, Rishabh Pant, and Axar Patel are all contracted players with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Grade A. Players in this category are paid an annual retainer fee of INR 5 crore. Additionally, they receive match fees for each international game they play, as well as bonuses for various achievements on the field.
Players In Grade B
Cheteshwar Pujara, K L Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Mohd. Siraj, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill are all talented cricketers who have earned a spot in the Grade B category of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) contracts. In the Grade B category, players typically earn an annual retainer fee of INR 3 crore (approximately $400,000). This amount is given to the players irrespective of their participation in matches or series, and serves as a base salary for their contributions to the Indian cricket team.
However, Pujara is likely to be excluded from the contract list for this year, while the likes of Shubman Gill and Mohd Siraj will be promoted to higher category.
