With the rapid growth of cricket, the earnings of top players have reached unprecedented heights. As of August 2025, here are the world's top fifteen highest-paid cricketers.
Virat Kohli continues to be the most marketable cricketer in India, and his earnings reflect both his prominence and performance. He is widely acknowledged as a modern cricket great, second only to Sachin Tendulkar in terms of historical significance. Kohli ranks among the highest-earning players worldwide.
His BCCI A+ central contract is valued at approximately ₹7 crore ($820,000) per year, while his IPL salary with RCB amounts to ₹21 crore ($2.52 million). Nevertheless, his true financial prowess is derived from endorsements and business ventures across sports brands, fitness, hospitality, and real estate. His total annual income easily exceeds hundreds of crores, with a net worth estimated at ₹1050 crore ($127 million).
Cummins, recognized as one of Australia's iconic cricketers, earns roughly $2 million each year from his national contract. In the 2024 IPL auction, he was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹20.5 crore ($2.46 million) and appointed as captain. Alongside significant sponsorship agreements with brands such as Nike and Gatorade, his total annual income surpasses $4.5 million.
In the 2025 IPL auction, Pant was signed by LSG for ₹27 crore, making him the highest paid player in IPL history. Adding his BCCI A contract worth around ₹5 crore, his total annual earnings reach nearly ₹32 crore ($3.74 million).
Iyer's IPL contract is estimated to be between ₹14–15 crore, in addition to a national contract valued at around ₹3 crore. This results in his total annual income being nearly ₹18 crore ($2.15 million). While this figure is somewhat lower than previous media estimates of ₹26.75 crore, he continues to be listed among the top earners.
Ravindra Jadeja and Bumrah are classified as BCCI A+ players, receiving an annual income of ₹7 crore from central contracts. In addition to their IPL earnings of ₹16 crore, each player has a total yearly income of approximately ₹23 crore ($2.75 million).
The former captain of the Indian cricket team earns ₹7 crore from his BCCI contract and about ₹16 crore from the IPL. Consequently, his total annual income exceeds ₹23 crore ($2.75 million).
These rising and mid-career stars each command IPL contracts between ₹12–15 crore, plus BCCI contracts worth ₹3–7 crore. Their annual earnings are estimated at ₹18–22 crore ($2.15–2.65 million).
With IPL contracts falling within the ₹10 to ₹12 crore bracket, along with national contracts, these athletes earn approximately ₹15 to ₹20 crore ($1.8 to $2.4 million) each year.
In 2025, Siraj signed with Gujarat Titans for ₹12.25 crore. Along with his central contract and endorsements, his yearly earnings surpassed ₹15 crore. His current net worth is estimated at ₹57 crore ($7 million).
As a rising star, Abhishek earned an IPL salary of ₹14 crore, plus a BCCI Grade C contract of ₹1 crore. His annual income is about ₹15 crore ($1.8 million). His net worth is rapidly growing, already estimated at ₹12–15 crore ($1.5–2 million).
Australia: Pat Cummins earns around $2 million; other prominent players such as Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc receive between $1.2–1.5 million.
England: Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Jos Buttler have earnings ranging from £800,000 to £1,000,000 ($1–1.25 million).
New Zealand: Kane Williamson's earnings are approximately $450k–500k.
Pakistan: Babar Azam's income is around $375k–400k.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada earn between $350k and $400k.
Q: Who is the highest paid cricketer in the world?
A: Virat Kohli.
Q: Who is the highest paid cricketer in the IPL?
A: In the 2025 IPL auction, Rishabh Pant became the highest-paid player in IPL history with a contract worth ₹27 crore ($3.2 million).
Q: What is the salary of Kohli?
A: Kohli earns around ₹7 crore ($820k) from his BCCI A+ contract and ₹21 crore ($2.52 million) from IPL. In addition, his endorsements and business ventures bring in tens of millions of dollars annually.