Earlier, cricket was not a cash-rich sport as it was not considered to be a wealthy profession. But that has rapidly shifted, becoming an economic powerhouse, with cricketers starting to earn as much as a celebrity, especially in India. As a result, cricket is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
It is now also the world’s second-most-watched sport, behind football. With their spectacular performances on the pitch, some players entertain their fans and garner a tremendous amount of money, attracting endorsements and deals.
Here are the top 3 highest-paid cricketers in the world
1. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is a highly reputed and best Indian international cricket player who also served as captain of the Indian national cricket team and is ranked first in the list of highest-paid cricketers in the world. Kohli has a net worth of around INR 1010 Crore. He also plays in the Indian T20 League and gets paid INR 18 crores yearly for the Bangalore-based franchise.
Apart from cricket, the 34-year-old earns from many brand endorsements like Cinthol, Manyavar, Boost, Godrej, Head and shoulders, Puma, Nestle, Audi, Colgate, MRF, and many more. He has also invested in Blue Tribe, Chisel Fitness, Nueva, Galactus Funware Technology Pvt: Ltd, Sport Convo, and Digit shares of companies.
2. MS Dhoni
Former India captain MS Dhoni is retired from international cricket but still earns a lot from brand endorsements and Indian T20 League. Dhoni gets paid INR 12 crores every year by Chennai. His net worth is around 750 crores in 2023, making him the second highest-paid cricketer in the world.
A significant accomplishment for any captain, he played in 331 international matches as his country’s representative. Dhoni hung up his boots from international cricket on August 15, 2020, with a post on social media. Dhoni has endorsed many big brands like Cars24, Indian Terrain, RedBus, Colgate, Panerai, LivFast, Indigo Paints, GoDaddy, Bharat Matrimony, Mastercard India, Sumadhura, Snickers India, and many more.
3. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar, popularly known as the ‘God of Cricket’, is a well-known name in the cricketing world and the most renowned celebrity with an apparent dedication and spirit towards sports. He retired from all forms of the game in 2013 and is regarded by many as the best batter.
Tendulkar’s annual income from brand endorsements is close to Rs. 17 to 20 crores. This income makes a large share of earnings of Tendulkar. However, his net worth is more than Kohli and Dhoni, but now he is paid less than the cricketers after his retirement. He has endorsed many brands like Boost, Unacademy, Castrol India, Airtel, BMW, Luminous India, Sunfeast, Britannia, Bajaj, MRF tires, and many more.