Ranking Cricketer Salary | Who is the Highest Paid Cricket Player in the World?

I’ve been a cricket journalist long enough to witness pay packets grow from modest retainers to sums that would make bankers blush. In today’s tournaments, a cricketer salary isn’t just about match fees; it is the result of board contracts, franchise deals, global endorsements and social‑media influence.

The biggest talking point in 2025 is simple – who is the highest paid cricket player? The answer, according to recent reports, is Virat Kohli. His earnings, combining a BCCI contract, a lucrative Royal Challengers Bangalore deal, and multiple endorsements, add up to around £28.55 million a year.

That figure underscores how dramatically cricket earnings have ballooned. This article breaks down the numbers: I’ll rank the world’s top earners, examine how cricket players salary per match varies by country, analyse cricket player monthly salary structures and even touch on pensions.

Each section is peppered with facts, stories and my own observations to help answer the question: who is the most paid cricketer and how do salaries vary across formats and regions?

Global Ranking Of Cricketer Salary – Who Tops The List?

Cricket is no longer an amateur pursuit; it’s a global business. From mega‑deals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to central contracts and sponsorships, the top names make tens of millions.

This highest paid cricketers list for 2025 shows how far the sport has come. Below are the top earners based on combined salaries and endorsements; the numbers are approximate but reveal the hierarchy.

Why such numbers? Because cricket’s commercial boom, driven by broadcast deals and digital rights, has transformed the income landscape. When I started covering cricket, a “cricketer ki salary” might have been a few lakh rupees per year.

Now, “most paid cricketer” is a term reserved for multi‑millionaires. Virat Kohli’s 2025 earnings (around £28.55 million) show the pinnacle.

PUMA wanted to retain Virat Kohli and offered him a deal worth 300cr for the next 8 years, but he didn’t renew the contract. (TOI). pic.twitter.com/MxDfFowLe1

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 11, 2025

Yet, the gulf between top stars and median professionals remains vast. The same ranking also highlights how Australian players dominate the top five – a testament to their influence in the IPL and Big Bash League.

All the names listed are there for a good reason: they play well, are known by many, and bring in sponsors. From my perspective, the mix of big‑money franchise deals and long‑term endorsements has created a market where a single tournament can elevate someone into the highest paid cricket player bracket.

Is this sustainable? Only time will tell, but the 2025 numbers illustrate how far cricket earnings have come.

Per‑match Fees And Monthly Salaries – What Do Cricketers Earn Each Game?

Beyond headline endorsements, the everyday income of a professional depends heavily on match fees and monthly retainers. Understanding cricket players salary per match helps demystify how a cricket player’s monthly salary is constructed.

In India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) uses a tiered system. The BCCI’s 2025 central contract retains players in four categories – A+, A, B and C – with annual retainers of ₹7 crore, ₹5 crore, ₹3 crore and ₹1 crore, respectively.

These retainers underpin the monthly pay packets, but match fees are the real variable. For Tests, players in any grade receive ₹15 lakh for appearing in the playing XI and ₹7.5 lakh when they’re in the squad.

ODI fees are ₹6 lakh for the XI and ₹3 lakh for squad members, while T20I fees are ₹3 lakh for the XI and ₹1.5 lakh for squad players. When fans ask me “how much do cricketers earn per match?” or “how much money cricketers get per match?”, those numbers provide the baseline.

To put it plainly, an Indian Test specialist could earn ₹45 lakh from three Tests in a month, which drives the overall cricketer salary per month into the millions once endorsements are factored in.

However, England’s salary structure is different. A two‑year central contract in 2025 is worth about £700,000–£800,000 for stars like Ben Stokes and Harry Brook, while annual contracts range from £250,000 to £365,000. English players also earn match fees: £12,500–£15,000 per Test, £5,000 per ODI and £4,500 per T20I.

That means a player turning out for five Test matches and five ODIs in a season could pocket more than £100,000 in match fees alone. It’s a huge leap from the days when county wages were the main income; now the cricketer salary England package includes central contracts, win bonuses and a share of commercial revenue.

Australia’s contract system is performance driven. Pat Cummins, as captain, earns around AUD 2 million annually, which includes a base retainer of about AUD 1.5 million and match payments.

Match fees for Australian players are approximately AUD 20,000 per Test, AUD 10,000 per ODI and AUD 8,000 per T20I. With around 10 international Tests scheduled in a season, a frontline player can collect AUD 200,000 in match fees.

When asked by readers “what’s a cricket player’s monthly salary Down Under?”, I often remind them that earnings vary with workload and format. For players who are purely white‑ball specialists, ODI and T20I match fees account for a substantial portion of income.

Comparison Table: Match Fees And Retainers (2025)

These numbers highlight the difference between cricket earnings in South Asia and those in England or Australia. They also illustrate why Indian players often rank among the highest paid: a strong rupee‑denominated contract plus IPL participation means their annual income can dwarf English or Australian salaries, even before endorsements.

For a most earning cricketer in India, combining BCCI retainers, match fees and an IPL deal can result in a cricketer salary that is unrivalled in world cricket.

Inside The BCCI Contract System – India’s Top Earners

India’s obsession with cricket has produced not just world‑class players but also world‑class salaries. The BCCI’s contract structure and the IPL’s financial clout make the country’s stars some of the richest athletes on the planet.

On being asked by fans who is the most earning cricketer in India, the first two names that come to my thoughts are: Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant. Kohli’s blend of national contract, IPL salary, and endorsements gives him the highest overall earnings. Pant, after signing a record IPL deal and earning an annual retainer worth ₹5 crore, sits close behind.

BCCI Contract Categories & Monthly Salary Impact

• A+ contracts: Reserved for players who play all three formats regularly. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja currently occupy these spots. The annual retainer is ₹7 crore, translating to about ₹58 lakh per month before match fees and endorsements.
• A contracts: Worth ₹5 crore a year and include names like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. Even at this level, the cricketer salary in India is substantial. All of these players also receive ₹15 lakh per Test and ₹6 lakh per ODI therefore monthly earnings can easily reach 1 crore during a season.
• B & C contracts: Pay ₹3 crore and ₹1 crore annually respectively. This category includes promising talents such as Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma. For them, a good IPL contract can make up the difference; a ₹1 crore annual retainer might be dwarfed by a ₹10 crore IPL salary. This gap highlights why the question “cricketer salary per month” cannot be answered without considering franchise income.

India’s Top Earnings Table (Contracts & IPL)

These figures show why India dominates the narrative around highest earning cricketer and most paid cricketer. With the combination of a strong currency, a lucrative league and a billion‑strong audience, the BCCI can afford to pay more than any other board.

The question “who is the highest paid cricketer in the world?” regularly points back to an Indian star.

IPL 2025 – Auction Fever And The Highest Paid Cricket Player

Covering the IPL auction is like watching a high‑stakes poker game. Paddles rise, franchises jostle and millions change hands in seconds.

In 2025, the spotlight fell on wicket‑keeper batter Rishabh Pant. In IPL 2025, he was the highest paid cricket player with a record price of 27 crores.

Shreyas Iyer nearly matched him, going for ₹26.75 crore, while Venkatesh Iyer fetched ₹23.75 crore. Heinrich Klaasen and Nicholas Pooran commanded hefty sums as well. As a journalist, I was astonished at the fervour.

The cheering in the room when Pant’s price crossed ₹25 crore reminded me of an auction at Sotheby’s – except the commodity was a human talent rather than art.

Top five bids (IPL 2025)

1. Rishabh Pant – ₹27 crore (Lucknow Super Giants)
2. Shreyas Iyer – ₹26.75 crore (Kolkata Knight Riders)
3. Venkatesh Iyer – ₹23.75 crore (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
4. Heinrich Klaasen – ₹20 crore (Punjab Kings)
5. Nicholas Pooran – ₹20 crore (Chennai Super Kings)

These prices dwarf even the highest central contract. They also highlight how a highest paid cricket player 2025 can change from one league to another: internationally it might be Kohli, but in the IPL it’s Pant.

Questions such as “most paid cricketer in the world” or “highest paid cricket player 2025” need context – are we talking about a year, a tournament, or overall income? From my seat in the auction hall, the excitement underlined cricket’s financial boom and how quickly fortunes can swing.

The phenomenon has also spurred debates about player workload and whether the board should cap salaries. But there’s no denying that the IPL has redefined the cricketer salary landscape.

Rishabh Pant & The 2025 IPL Mega‑deal

The highest paid cricket player in IPL 2025 is Rishabh Pant, who fetched ₹27 crore in the 2025 mega auction. Being bought by Lucknow Super Giants at that price made him the most expensive player in IPL history.

🚨 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁 🚨

𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝘽𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣 🥁 🥁

𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘁 to 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 for a gigantic 𝗜𝗡𝗥 𝟮𝟳 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗲 🔝⚡️ #TATAIPLAuction | #TATAIPL | @RishabhPant17 | @LucknowIPL |… pic.twitter.com/IE8DabNn4V

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 24, 2024

In the same auction, Shreyas Iyer earned ₹26.75 crore, and Venkatesh Iyer went for ₹23.75 crore. Such astronomical numbers mean that a cricketer salary can skyrocket in a single afternoon.

In fact, some domestic players who have never played for India earn more from the IPL than centrally contracted stars. This reality fuels debates over fairness, but from a player’s perspective it’s a dream come true.

Women’s Cricket & Big Bash League – Breaking New Ground

A decade ago, the phrase “highest paid female cricketer” would have elicited a laugh. Today, thanks to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and pay parity initiatives, women are signing six‑figure contracts.

Smriti Mandhana remains the highest paid female cricketer in WPL 2025, earning ₹3.40 crore from Royal Challengers Bengaluru. She is followed by Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver‑Brunt, both on ₹3.20 crore.

Indian batter smriti mandhana will earn double in WPL than PSL highest-paid players. pic.twitter.com/cpqMvDzFrj

— Dr. Ajayita (@DoctorAjayita) February 14, 2023

Deepti Sharma earns ₹2.60 crore, while Jemimah Rodrigues takes home ₹2.20 crore. When I watched Mandhana sign her deal, I couldn’t help but feel proud; this is a player who, only a few seasons ago, earned pennies compared with her male counterparts.

The WPL has elevated the cricketer salary of women and proven there’s a market for their skills. Meanwhile, the highest paid cricketer in BBL comes from a different part of the world.

After the 2025/26 Big Bash League draft, players in the platinum category can earn up to A$420,000 (US$270,000) depending on availability. The top names – Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Chris Jordan, Sam Curran, Haris Rauf, Lockie Ferguson, Finn Allen, Colin Munro, Jamie Overton, Tom Curran and Luke Wood – all command approximately $270,000 each.

Although these figures are lower than the IPL, they represent a significant rise for Australian domestic cricket. It’s notable that the highest paid cricketer in BBL category includes several Pakistani stars; their presence boosts the league’s profile and adds to the cross‑border appeal.

WPL 2025 – Top Earners

These numbers may seem small compared with men’s salaries, but when you consider that international women previously earned little more than travel allowances, they represent a revolution. The WPL and new central contracts are slowly closing the gap between men’s and women’s cricketer salary figures.

Retirement, Pensions And Life After Cricket

One of the most common questions I get is: “Will cricketers get money after retirement?” Yes – at least in India. In 2022, the BCCI revised its pension plan giving retired players and umpires more monthly pensions.

Former first‑class cricketers now receive ₹30,000 per month, retired Test players draw ₹60,000 per month, and those who previously earned ₹50,000 now benefit from ₹70,000. Women internationals receive ₹52,500 per month, while first‑class women who retired before 2003 get ₹45,000.

The highest bracket – players who retired before 1993 with more than 25 Tests – earn ₹70,000. Kapil Dev and other legends have praised the initiative for honouring the game’s pioneers.

A recent report about Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement noted that he will receive a monthly pension of ₹70,000, placing him in the top bracket. The piece quoted former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly saying it is the board’s duty to look after players once their playing days are over.

This is encouraging to me as a journalist. Cricket is physically taxing; by the time players retire, many are in their late thirties with limited job prospects. Knowing that there is a safety net encourages them to focus on the game without worrying about long‑term financial stability.

What about the other boards? The PCA in England has programs to help players transition, but it does not provide a formal pension like the one in India. Also, players often use their savings or start coaching.

Australia provides some welfare support through its players’ union, but there is no fixed monthly pension like the BCCI’s. In addition, when readers ask “Will cricketers get money after retirement?”, the answer depends on which board they played for. In India, at least, the answer is yes.

Amit Mishra’s Thoughts

The magnitude of the figures and the narratives surrounding them astound me as I consider the world of cricketer salaries in 2025. From Virat Kohli’s £28.55 million annual income to Smriti Mandhana’s ₹3.40 crore WPL salary, the sport has come a long way.

Cricket is now a billion‑dollar industry, and the players at the top are celebrities in every sense. But beyond the glitz, I’m equally fascinated by the structure: the BCCI’s tiered contracts and match fees, England’s mixed contracts and Australia’s performance‑based payments.

I really like the pension system that makes sure players are taken care of after they stop playing.  Is there a bad side?  Maybe. The difference between the top-paid cricket player and a new local player is still very big.

Players who are younger are known to pursue leagues at times instead of the national duty and financial temptations may affect attention. Yet the overall trend is positive: there’s more money in the game, more opportunities for women, and better long‑term support.

FAQs

• Who is the most paid cricketer in the world in 2025?
  Virat Kohli is the highest paid cricket player in 2025, making around £28.55 million each year from his BCCI contract, IPL salary, and endorsements.
• How much do Indian cricket players earn per match?
  Under the BCCI system, a player in the playing XI receives ₹15 lakh for a Test, ₹6 lakh for an ODI and ₹3 lakh for a T20I. Squad members earn half these amounts. These figures form part of a cricket player’s salary per match and heavily influence a cricketer’s salary per month.
• What is the cricketer salary in England?
  England’s two‑year central contracts pay around £700,000–£800,000, while annual contracts range from £250,000 to £365,000. Match fees are approximately £12,500–£15,000 per Test, £5,000 per ODI and £4,500 per T20I.
• Who is the highest paid female cricketer?
  In 2025 the highest paid female cricketer is India’s Smriti Mandhana, earning ₹3.40 crore in the Women’s Premier League. Ashleigh Gardner and Nat Sciver‑Brunt follow with ₹3.20 crore each.
• Do cricketers receive money after retirement?
  Yes. The BCCI’s pension scheme pays former Test players ₹60,000 per month and those who previously earned ₹50,000 now receive ₹70,000. Moreover, Women internationals get ₹52,500 and first‑class players ₹30,000 or ₹45,000 depending on era. In addition, this scheme ensures that cricket earnings continue even after retirement, answering the question “will cricketers get money after retirement?”.