Top 10 highest-earning Indian cricketers

The following top-earners list is based on the Forbes India’s list of “2013 Celebrity 100” released in 2014 based on their income through various means in 2013.

#10 Harbhajan Singh

Despite being sidelined from the national set-up, Harbhajan Singh, arguably India’s greatest off-spinner, managed to rack up an impressive 9.06 crores in 2013. A key part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) side Mumbai Indians, the ‘Turbanator’ should have benefited from his IPL contract largely.

#9 Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina, one of world’s most consistent T20 batsmen, reportedly earned 16.16 crores in 2013. Although he has been in and out of the national set-up, the Chennai Super Kings star’s expertise in the shortest format has made him the leading run-scorer of all time in the IPL and one of the league’s most wanted players, explaining his spot in top 10.

#8 Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja’s rise in the international circuit has been nothing short of phenomenal when you consider the kind of slow start he had to his international career. An attacking left-handed batsman, who bowls left-arm orthodox, his income for the 2013 season stood at 16.58 crores, surprisingly above Raina.

The 25-year-old all-rounder is a part of the Indian team in all the three formats of the game, and no wonder he finds his place in the list.

#7 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians’ captain, has cemented his spot in the Indian ODI and T20 sides, following the team management’s decision to play him as an opener. In addition to winning the IPL and the Champions League T20 (CLT20) last season, he also became the third batsman to score a double hundred in ODI cricket, against Australia at Bangalore.

As a result, it is only normal that his worth has, of late, been on the up-swing: 16.88 crores in 2013.

#6 Gautam Gambhir

With his latest comeback to the Indian Test side ending on a woeful note, it is difficult to see Gautam Gambhir in the national set-up anymore. However, despite his poor run of form with Team India, Gambhir has made a mark in the IPL, captaining his side Kolkata Knight Riders to glory for the first time, in 2012, and being one of the consistent run-getters. Picked by the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise in the 2011 IPL Auctions for a whopping $ 2.4 million, he has managed to justify the faith by giving them back 2 league titles and, at the same time, scoring runs as a batsman. The southpaw earned 20.78 crores in 2013.

His stocks could rise next year following yet another successful season with the Knight Riders.

#5 Yuvraj Singh

The champion all-rounder isn’t the same force he was once and no longer a part of the Indian set-up. Yuvraj Singh, the Player-of-the-Tournament in World Cup 2011, was diagnosed with cancer as soon as the big event ended, and, while he managed to make a successful recovery and get picked by Pune Warriors India in the IPL, his performances have been modest.

The southpaw is said to have earned 21.6 crores last season.

#4 Virender Sehwag

Despite not being in his prime, Virender Sehwag pocketed a huge sum of 25.64 crores in the 2013 season, thanks, again, to his IPL contract. The discarded Indian opener has moved on from Delhi Daredevils and is currently playing for the Mohali-based Kings XI Punjab in the IPL. If the signals from the national selectors are anything to go by, Sehwag has played his last international match and hence could drop down in the next few years.

#3 Virat Kohli

Touted to be in line to replace MS Dhoni as the national captain, unlike in 2014, Virat Kohli was at his dashing best this year, scoring runs across formats and against all teams. The amount of fame and popularity led to him earning 57.31 crores. In years to come, given his ability and fan-following, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him at the top of the list.

#2 Sachin Tendulkar

It was Sachin Tendulkar’s last year in competitive cricket, yet his earnings stood at a staggering 94.32 crores, helping him take the second spot. The ‘Master Blaster’ is also ranked No.1 in the Forbes list of most famous Indian celebrities.

#1 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Having earned a massive 155.32 crores in 2013, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni occupies the first spot. Apart from being the captain in all the three formats, he also leads Chennai Super Kings, statistically the most consistent side in the IPL. Dhoni is arguably the greatest finisher One Day International (ODI) cricket has seen and that he has managed to deliver consistently in his primarily role as a batsman despite the pressures of captaincy and wicket-keeping has made him an asset to the teams he is a part of.

His new bat sponsorship deal with Spartans Sports has undoubtedly played a role in him standing head and shoulders above the rest.