Earnings of top 10 wealthiest Indian cricketers of 2019

It is no secret that cricket is the most popular sport in India. With the mind-boggling fan following, almost everyone associated with the sport at the ground level earns well. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest cricket board in the world.

Indian cricketers are also paid a hefty match fee. However, apart from playing matches for the national team, Indian cricketers also make exorbitant monetary gains through multiple endorsement deals as well as playing domestic leagues such as the IPL.

Virat Kohli and co. had an action-packed season in 2019. Even when India were on tour in other nations like Australia, the fan support at the stadiums was immense due to the massive Indian diaspora in these nations. Apart from multiple tours, the highlight of the year was the 2019 Cricket World Cup. India reached the semi-finals of the quadrennial extravaganza before bowing out courtesy of a loss against New Zealand.

Regardless, a plethora of Indian players ended up earning overwhelming amounts of money in 2019. In this article, we will be listing out the earnings of the top 10 wealthiest cricketers of 2019.

Note: The data obtained is in accordance with the Forbes list of top 100 Indian Celebrities

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#10 Ravindra Jadeja - ₹ 18.41 crores

Ravindra Jadeja remains one of the most potent Indian all-rounders

Ravindra Jadeja narrowly missed out in making it to the list of top 10 wealthiest cricketers of 2018.

The Indian all-rounder had made ₹15.39 crores in 2018. However, Jaddu, as he is popularly known has made it to the Top 10 this time around with his massive earnings of ₹ 18.41 crores in 2019. In the overall list, Jadeja is ranked 51st – a massive jump from his 68th rank in 2018.

The 31-year-old southpaw was a regular feature in the Indian national team in 2019. His contract was renewed by the BCCI and he is included in Grade A players, who earn a salary of ₹5 crores per year. Jadeja's value has grown drastically over the years and his current net worth is approximately ₹ 45.2 crores.

The star all-rounder was retained by Chennai Super Kings for ₹7 crores ahead of IPL 2020. The Gujarat-born player also has a knack for luxurious cars and bikes. He presently owns an Audi A4 as well as a Suzuki Hayabusa bike.

Jadeja is a three-dimensional player as he is excellent in the field, potent with his spin, and is also a handy lower-order batsman.

A fair share of his income also comes from brand endorsements. Some of the brands Jadeja has associated with include Zeven, Incredible India, Castrol, Asian Paints, Reliance Jio, and Bajaj Almond hair oil.

The exorbitantly rich cricketer has a self-confessed love for horse riding. He owns multiple horses at his farmhouse in Jamnagar.

Ravindra played 15 ODIs in 2019 in which he made 206 runs at an average of 34.33 and strike rate of 96.26. He also made 12 scalps in ODIs at an economy rate of 5.02 in 2019. In addition to the 15 ODIs, Jadeja represented India in 8 Tests and 6 T20Is in 2019.

#9 Shikhar Dhawan - ₹ 19.11 crores

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan's earnings in 2019 were a whopping ₹19.11 crores as compared to the ₹ 16.26 crores in 2018. The classy opening batsman also jumped from Rank 62 in 2018 to Rank 35 in 2019.

A major chunk of Dhawan's earnings comes from the BCCI as he too is a Grade A player. Delhi Capitals paid ₹5.2 crores to retain his services ahead of IPL 2020. The fearless southpaw also has many endorsement deals under his belt. Some of his biggest associations include electronics brand Boat, Canara Bank, Ramsons, Alcis Sports, and Big Bazaar FBB. Dhawan also has his own home decor brand named DaOne.

Gabbar, as he is popularly known, also gets paid a handsome sum for using the MRF sticker on his bat.

Shikhar and his wife Ayesha own a bungalow in West Delhi. His elite collection of cars include the luxurious Mercedes-Benz GL-class SUV along with a Jaguar and BMW. Like Jadeja, Dhawan also owns a Suzuki Hayabusa bike. Overall, the Delhi-born cricketer has an estimated net worth of ₹100 Crores (approximately).

34-year-old Dhawan amassed 583 runs in the 18 ODIs he played in 2019. He had an impressive strike rate of 91.81 and also scored a couple of centuries in 2019. The Indian opener did not feature in any Test matches last year and, by his standards, his performance was lacklustre in T20Is. He could only score 272 runs in 12 T20Is played in 2019 with a dismal strike rate of 110.57 and average of 22.67.

#8 KL Rahul - ₹23.19 crores

KL Rahul is in fine form currently

With handsome earnings of ₹23.19 crores, KL Rahul comes next in the list. The 27-year-old wicket-keeper batsman rose from Rank 59 (and earnings ₹16.48 crores) to Rank 34 in 2019. He was 9th on the list of earnings of top 10 wealthiest Indian Cricketers of 2018.

Rahul is among the Grade A Players having a contract with the BCCI. One of the fastest-growing players, both on-field and monetarily, Rahul attributes a major share of his income to his contract with Kings XI Punjab in IPL. KXIP paid ₹11 crores to retain the services of the top-order batsman for IPL 2020.

The 2018 Wisden Cricketer of the year, Rahul endorses global sportswear brand Puma. The Karnataka-born player has associated with brands such as Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Cure.Fit, Zenovit and Gully.

The 27-year-old owns a Mercedes AMG C43 sedan which boasts of a powerful V6 engine and can generate 348 BHP. The enigmatic player exudes class and his stylish approach to the game is a great match off-field with the AMG.

Lokesh Rahul did well in 2019 as he amassed 572 runs in 13 ODIs at an average of 47.67 and strike rate of 81.13. Although he could not make much of a mark in the 3 Tests he played last year, the right-handed batsman made a commendable 356 runs in 9 T20Is at an average of 44.50 and brilliant strike rate of 142.40. KL has had a brilliant start to the ongoing cricket season as well and is likely to cement his place in the Indian setup across all three formats in the near future.

#7 Jasprit Bumrah - ₹23.25 crores

Jasprit Bumrah in action

Jasprit Bumrah rose from Rank 60 (and earnings of ₹ 16.42 crores) in 2018 to Rank 33 in 2019 with earnings of ₹ 23.25 crores.

The Indian speedster has become a vital cog for the Indian team in all three formats of the game. His key performances for the team on the field has helped him in making monetary gains off the field as well. As per the latest BCCI contract, Bumrah was included in the Grade A+ players, who will be earning ₹7 crores per year. Apart from Bumrah, only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have Grade A+ contracts.

The Gujarat-born bowler also gets paid ₹7 crores by the Mumbai Indians for his services in the IPL. He has been retained by the franchise ahead of IPL 2020.

Bumrah owns a Range Rover SUV. He has also endorsed multiple renowned brands such as Dream 11, Asics India, Cure.Fit, Skybags, Boat, Royal Stag, Beardo, and Redmi K20 Pro.

The 26-year-old was highly effective with the ball in 2019. Bumrah took 25 wickets in 14 ODIs at a srike rate of 31.88 and impressive economy rate of 4.63. Known for clocking speeds above 140kmph and his lethal yorkers, the pacer also played 3 Tests and 2 T20Is for India in 2019.

#6 Hardik Pandya - ₹24.87 crores

Hardik Pandya

With earnings of ₹24.87 crores in 2019, Hardik Pandya comes in at sixth position on this list. Overall, Pandya has a rank of 31 - down from his Rank 27 in 2018. The critically acclaimed all-rounder also earned less in 2019 as compared to 2018 when he made ₹28.46 crores. This can be attributed to the whole Koffee with Karan debacle due to which he lost out on a few endorsement deals as well as the back injury which kept him out of action for quite some time.

Pandya is included in the list of Grade B players (₹3 crores per year) in BCCI's contract list. The stylish all-rounder was also retained by Mumbai Indians for ₹11 crores ahead of IPL 2020.

He owns a luxury designer house in Gujarat. The 26-year-old also owns a powerful SUV - Land Rover Range Rover Vogue along with the stylish Audi A6 35 TDI Sedan. Pandya recently purchased a Mercedes AMG G63 SUV as well which can produce a maximum of 585 Bhp.

Some of his brand endorsements include Gulf Oil, Star Sports, Gillette, clothing brand Sin Denim, Boat, and Oppo smartphones.

The Surat-born player only played 12 ODIs in 2019 in which he amassed 287 runs at an average of 31.89 and an impressive strike rate of 118.11. Pandya also registered 14 scalps in these ODIs with an economy rate of 5.57. In addition to these 12 ODIs, Pandya played 5 T20Is in 2019.

#5 Rishabh Pant - ₹29.19 crores

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant did not even feature in the 2018 Celebrity 100 and broke into the elite list for the first time in 2019 with earnings of ₹29.19 crores. The hard-hitting WK-batsman was always in the limelight throughout the year.

The 22-year-old is included in the Grade A players in BCCI's annual contract list. Pant was also retained by the Delhi Capitals for a whopping ₹15 crores ahead of IPL 2020.

The southpaw rose quickly on the international circuit after his impressive IPL performances. Some of the popular brands that Pant is associated with include Adidas and SG. The youngster also became the brand ambassador of JSW Steel in a three-year deal. Like many fellow top Indian cricketers, Rishabh is also a proud owner of the luxurious Mercedes Benz GLC SUV.

He played 12 ODIs in 2019 in which he scored 305 runs at an average of 27.73 and strike rate of 102.69. The Uttarakhand-born player also amassed 252 runs in 16 T20Is at a strike rate of 124.75. His most memorable knock of 2019 has to be his 159* against Australia in the 4th Test of the series in January 2019.

Pant’s unorthodox shots seem to work well in the IPL. However, KL Rahul is fast becoming the first choice wicketkeeper in the Indian team. Rishabh will be looking to make a mark in the upcoming IPL to secure a place in the Indian team ahead of the World Twenty20 later this year.

#4 Rohit Sharma - ₹54.29 crores

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma's earning also grew quite a lot as compared to 2018. The star Indian opener made ₹31.49 crores in 2018 but has netted ₹ 54.29 crores in 2019. The explosive batsman is one of the three A+ Grade players (₹7 crores per year) in BCCI's annual contract list. Sharma's rank also improved in the overall Celebrity 100. He rose from Rank 23 in 2018 to Rank 11 in 2019.

The Mumbaikar also earns a fair share of his income from his IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, who have also paid a hefty sum of ₹15 crores to retain him ahead of IPL 2020.

Rohit has also endorsed an array of top brands such as Lays, Adidas, Maggi, Nissan, Relispray, Ceat, Oppo, and Hublot. The stylish right-hander owns a 6000 square feet apartment in Worli, which is worth close to INR 30 crore.

The highly credited Indian batsman has a great collection of cars, which include the Toyota Fortuner, BMW M5, BMW X3, an Audi, a Mercedes, as well as a Nissan.

In what was a fantastic year for Rohit, he played 28 ODIs in 2019 amassing 1490 runs at a mind-boggling average of 57.31 and strike rate of 89.92. He also scored 556 runs in the 5 Tests he played last year at an average of 92.67 and strike rate of 75.96. Finally, the stylish 32-year-old played 14 T20Is in 2019 in which he scored a total of 396 runs at a strike rate of 138.46.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar - ₹76.96 crores

Sachin Tendulkar during Bushfire Cricket Bash – Ponting XI v Gilchrist XI

Sachin Tendulkar retired from International cricket way back in 2013 but he still earns through multiple avenues. The Little Master was ranked 3rd in the list of earnings of top 10 wealthiest Indian Cricketers of 2018 and finds himself in the third position as part of the 2019 rankings as well. He was 9th on the overall 2018 Celebrity 100 and interestingly remains in the same spot in the overall 2019 Celebrity 100.

However, Tendulkar's earnings have taken a marginal dip. He became richer by ₹80 crores in 2018 but grossed ₹76.96 crores in 2019. The 46-year-old remains so high on the list thanks to his investments and multiple endorsement deals. Sachin has been associated with brands such as Adidas, Coca Cola, and BMW India.

The legendary batsman also co-owns an ISL franchise and also has a share in two premium hotels in Mumbai. Luxurious and top-end cars such as Ferrari 360 Modena, Nissan GT-R, BMW X5M, and BMW i8 have been part of Sachin's garage. The former Indian captain's net worth is estimated to be around ₹834 Crores (INR), as per Bitoffun.

#2 MS Dhoni - ₹135.93 crores

MS Dhoni during a net session

MS Dhoni netted ₹101.77 crores in 2018 but made a whopping ₹135.93 crores in 2019. Dhoni is one of the biggest names in the brand market and is one of the most successful Indian captains of all time.

The 38-year-old was retained by CSK for ₹15 crores ahead of IPL 2020. However, the veteran wicket-keeper batsman has been excluded from BCCI's latest annual contract list. Earlier, he was included in the list of Grade A players.

Dhoni continues to earn massive amounts from a plethora of endorsement deals. He has been associated with brands such as Reebok, Aircel, Ashok Leyland, Boost, Amrapali Group, Pepsi, Gulf Oil, Big Bazaar, TVS Motors, Dabur Chyawanprash, Exide Batteries, Sonata Watches, and Lays. The list is seemingly endless so one can only imagine how much Dhoni earns as each contract is worth multiple crores.

One of the shrewdest brains in the game, Dhoni is a self-confessed bike aficionado but has an enviable collection of cars as well. Some of his rides include Mercedes Benz GLE, Land Rover Freelander 2, Ferrari 599 GTB, Audi Q7, and Hummer H2. Meanwhile, Dhoni's bike collection includes Confederate Hellcat X32, the Harley Davidson Fatboy, a Kawasaki Ninja ZX14R, Ducati 1098, and Kawasaki Ninja H2 among many other top-end bikes.

The Ranchi-born player played 18 ODIs in 2019. He amassed 600 runs in these matches at a strike rate of 82.30 and average of 60.00. He also scored a total of 130 runs in the 5 T20Is played last year.

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#1 Virat Kohli - ₹252.72 crores

Virat Kohli plays a shot during New Zealand v India - ODI: Game 1

Indian skipper Virat Kohli is not only on the top of this list, but he is also Rank 1 on the overall 2019 Celebrity 100 with his massive earnings of ₹252.72 crores. In 2018, Kohli was placed second in the Celebrity 100 with earnings of ₹228.09 crores after Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who had made ₹253.25 crores took the top spot.

The 31-year-old batsman has grabbed the pole position now. He is one of the three Grade A+ players in BCCI's annual contract list. Kohli was also retained for ₹17 crores by Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of IPL 2020.

The Delhi-born cricketer is among the most influential people in the world and this helps him in bagging multi-crore endorsement deals. Luxury watch brand Tissot, MRF, Puma, Colgate-Palmolive, Manyavar, American Tourister, Volini, Uber, Hero motoCorp, Boost, and Audi are some of the brands Kohli has been associated with.

Virat owns some of the most luxurious cars that include Audi R8 LMX, Audi A8 LW12, Audi R8 V10 Plus, Audi Q7, Audi S6, AudiS5, and the Land Rover Range Rover Vogue.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma also have a sea-facing apartment in Worli that is estimated to be around ₹9 crores. Meanwhile, Kohli also owns a luxurious bungalow in Delhi that is estimated to be ₹80 crores.

The poster boy of Indian cricket is also the most valuable celebrity in India presently.

Kohli's excellent performances on the field continue to increase his popularity. The top-order batsman played 26 ODIs in 2019 in which he scored a fantastic 1377 runs at an average of 59.87 and strike rate of 96.36. Virat also amassed 612 runs in the 8 Test matches he played. Last year, the Indian skipper scored 466 runs in 10 T20Is at a mind-boggling average of 77.67 and strike rate of 147.94.

The stylish batsman also has a stake in Indian Super League club FC Goa and also owns a gym chain.