Indian cricket fans often discuss Indian cricket coach salary because the national team’s coach oversees the most-watched side in world cricket. After guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to the IPL title in 2024, Gautam Gambhir replaced Rahul Dravid as India’s head coach on 9 July 2024.
Dravid, who had been in charge since November 2021, stepped down after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup. Media reports cited by GQ India and DNA estimated that Dravid earned around ₹12 crore per year in this role.
When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) advertised the vacancy, it described the remuneration as “negotiable and commensurate with experience”. As a result, public sources provide a range rather than an official figure; this article uses those estimates and notes that all numbers are reported, not confirmed by the BCCI.
Indian Cricket Coach Salary in 2025
When Gambhir was appointed, multiple outlets reported that the indian cricket coach salary would increase. CricTracker noted that the BCCI offered Gambhir a contract worth ₹14 crore annually, higher than Dravid’s ₹12 crore package.
The BCCI has not officially announced such a figure, though it is in line with the board being known to reward top coaches handsomely. Converting ₹14 crore to U.S. dollars (about ₹83.5 per USD in 2025) gives roughly US $1.68 million.
By comparison, Dravid’s reported ₹12 crore salary equates to about US $1.44 million. The contract period runs 3½ years, from 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2027, according to the job description.
Because the BCCI emphasises that remuneration is negotiable, these amounts should be treated as estimates.
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Who Pays the Salary? (BCCI System)
The india national cricket team coach salary is paid entirely by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The BCCI is the world’s wealthiest cricket board and sets the remuneration of the head coach and support staff.
In its advertisement for the head‑coach role, the BCCI explained that candidates should have played a minimum of 30 Tests or 50 ODIs or have equivalent coaching experience, be under 60 years of age and hold a BCCI Level 3 certificate or equivalent. The board said the salary is “negotiable and will be commensurate with experience”.
For the 2024 recruitment, the contract runs for 3½ years, with performance evaluations carried out by the Cricket Advisory Committee. The renewal is based on the results in all formats, the coach managing the support staff and discipline, and the discretion on the part of the board.
Salary Breakdown
Only limited details of the Indian cricket team coach salary structure are publicly available. Reports suggest the package includes:
- Base annual salary: The base salary of Dravid was stated to be ₹12 crore annually, and media reports suggest that Gambhir has a ₹14 crore base salary.
- Performance incentives: According to CricTracker, Gambhir’s contract provides extra bonuses for winning major ICC tournaments such as the Champions Trophy 2025 and the 2027 World Cup. Dravid reportedly declined his full T20 World Cup bonus so it could be shared with other coaches; however, specific amounts were not disclosed.
- Daily allowances: In 2019, the BCCI doubled the coach’s overseas daily allowance to US$250 (around ₹20,814). This allowance covers meals and incidental expenses during tours.
- Travel and accommodation: The head coach is flown in business class and also lodges with the team in five-star hotels. The package normally consists of a driver, laundry services and other amenities.
- Support staff remuneration: During Dravid’s tenure, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar earned around ₹3.5 crore annually, while batting coach Vikram Rathour earned ₹2.5–3 crore.
Comparison With Former India Head Coaches
The table below summarises reported salary ranges for recent head coaches:
| Coach | Tenure | Reported annual salary (INR) | Notes |
| Gautam Gambhir | 2024‑2027 | ₹14 crore (estimate) | Appointed July 2024; contract is negotiable. |
| Rahul Dravid | 2021‑2024 | ₹12 crore | Salary based on DNA and Sportskeeda reports; stepped down after T20 World Cup 2024. |
| Ravi Shastri | 2017‑2021 (plus earlier stints) | ₹9.5–10 crore | Received a 20 % hike in 2019; earlier contract paid ₹8 crore annually. |
| Anil Kumble | 2016‑2017 | ₹6.25 crore | Served one year before resigning. |
| Greg Chappell | 2005‑2007 | around US $175,000 (≈₹1.3 crore) | Salary reported in the mid‑2000s; lower due to the era’s financial scale. |
The data show that the Indian cricket team head coach salary has grown significantly over time. Shastri’s 2019 contract made him the highest‑paid coach in the world, but Gambhir’s reported deal could surpass it.
Comparison With Other Top National Team Coaches
Media reports on global cricket coaches’ earnings provide context for the indian cricket coach salary:
| National team coach | Appointment (year) | Reported annual salary (INR) | Notes |
| Brendon McCullum (England) | Test coach 2022; all formats from Jan 2025 | ₹16.08 crore (four‑year contract) | Highest among peers; experienced negotiator with England & Wales Cricket Board. |
| Gautam Gambhir (India) | 2024 | ₹14 crore (estimated) | The contract includes incentives and travel benefits. |
| Rahul Dravid (India) | 2021 | ₹12 crore | Predecessor to Gambhir; salary included base pay and bonuses. |
| Andrew McDonald (Australia) | 2022 | ₹6.5 crore | Led Australia to 2023 WTC and ODI World Cup titles. |
| Ravi Shastri (India) | 2017 | ₹9.5–10 crore | Historically highest paid. |
| Gary Stead (New Zealand) | 2018 | ₹1.74 crore | Guided New Zealand to WTC 2021 title. |
| Chris Silverwood (Sri Lanka) | 2022 | ₹50 lakh per year | Two‑year contract; relatively modest due to Sri Lanka’s finances. |
| Chandika Hathurusingha (Bangladesh) | 2023 | Approximately ₹25 lakh per month (~₹3 crore per year) | Figures are reported; contract details limited. |
Why Is the Salary Set at This Level?
Several factors explain why the indian cricket coach salary is among the highest in international cricket:
- Workload across formats: The head coach manages India’s schedule in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Each year, the team has to play 10 months of cricket, which means that it has to be continuously traveling and planning.
- High expectations and scrutiny: The Indian team in question has the expectations of more than a billion fans. The coach must deliver success in ICC tournaments and bilateral series while balancing player workload.
- Financial capacity of the BCCI: The BCCI can provide high-quality remuneration with big broadcast deals and the Indian Premier League. The board uses salary packages to attract top coaching talent and compete with other lucrative leagues.
- Global salary benchmarks: There are other best coaches like Brendon McCullum and Andrew McDonald who make multi-crore salary. The coach of India has no choice but to be paid in order to stay competitive.
- Performance incentives: Winning the ICC trophies attracts the coach to more bonuses. These incentives ensure that the pay of the coach is pegged on the success of the team.
When Salary Details Are Not Fully Public?
The Indian cricket team coach salary is negotiated privately between the coach and the BCCI. While media reports provide ranges, the board rarely discloses exact figures.
For example, the BCCI’s advertisement for the head‑coach role simply stated that remuneration was “negotiable and will be commensurate with experience”. Even for Gambhir’s contract, reports vary from ₹12 crore to ₹14 crore.
These estimates are based on previous contracts, comparisons with Dravid’s salary and the BCCI’s financial strength. Until official documents are released, fans should treat the numbers as indicative.
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