Ravi Shastri Reveals the Impressive Earnings of Top Indian Cricketers

In a recent podcast, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri made a shocking revelation about the earnings of top Indian cricketers. Speaking on the "Stick to Cricket" podcast, alongside former England cricketers like Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan, Shastri disclosed how much players like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Sachin Tendulkar make. His statement stunned the listeners particularly former cricketers like David Lloyd.

According to Shastri, these top players earn an impressive amount, largely through endorsements. "They earn a lot... They earn a lot through endorsements, for sure," said Shastri. "Upwards of Rs 100 crores. Which I would say is 10 million pounds." This revelation left Lloyd in disbelief, who exclaimed, "Wow!" when he heard the figures.

Shastri elaborated further explaining how top cricketers manage to juggle numerous endorsements. "Someone like MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar at his peak could easily do over 15 to 20 ads in a year," he said. He explained that these players often shoot ads in just one day and then have the flexibility of airing them multiple times, thanks to their high profile and popularity.

Besides endorsements, players in the Indian cricket team also earn a handsome salary from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCCI offers annual central contracts that are divided into four grades. Top players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rohit Sharma fall under the A+ grade, which commands an annual salary of Rs 7 crore. Players in grade A earn Rs 5 crore while grade B players make Rs 3 crore and those in grade C get Rs 1 crore.