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Cricket is worldwide famous, and players playing cricket are surprisingly earning a high chunk of money for their performances in the team. Many cricketers are known for their high salaries. Pat Cummins and Mitchel Starc are the newcomers on the list of Australia Cricket who increased salaries by 7.5%, and IPL teams bring them huge salaries.
Today’s article focuses on the top 10 highest-paid cricketers in the world by salary in 2024.
From the table above, you can see that Virat Kohli is the highest-paid cricketer in the world, but Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are also not much lower than him. India’s current captain, Rohit Sharma, is also in the 6th position on the list and is appreciated. One thing that is common in this table is that all the players play IPL, from which you can guess that the IPL player can make a lot of money.
Let’s take a close look on why the listed players make this much of money.
Learn about: Most Successful Captain in India
Top 10 Highest-Paid Cricketers in the World 2025
| Rank | Cricketer | Country | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | India | $36.2 million |
| 2 | Pat Cummins | Australia | $29.5 million |
| 3 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | $28.7 million |
| 4 | Steve Smith | Australia | $27.4 million |
| 5 | David Warner | Australia | $26.1 million |
| 6 | Rohit Sharma | India | $25.8 million |
| 7 | Jos Buttler | England | $25.2 million |
| 8 | Trent Boult | New Zealand | $24.9 million |
| 9 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | $24.6 million |
| 10 | Kane Williamson | New Zealand | $24.3 million |
1. Virat Kohli – $36.2 million
First things first, Virat Kohli is a Grade A+ player under BCCI, which earns him a good amount salary yearly and also PR match fees. Virat Kohli plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL, which earns him a big chunk of money per year, and when combined, his annual salary is $36.2 million.
Virat is an exceptional cricket player, and luckily, he was born and played cricket in the era of commercialization and social media, which has made him a worldwide star in sports.
He has broken as many records as you can’t even remember sometimes. He is the highest run-scorer in T20Is, he has the record for the fastest 13,000 runs in ODIs, Virat Kohli has scored the most fifties in T20, and many more that if he started to write, all his records then this list would remain untouched.
2. Pat Cummins – $29.5 million
Next on the list is 2023 World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins, who has an annual salary of $29.5 million. Pat Cummins has gained a lot of popularity since he was appointed as Australian Captain, but winning the World Cup in 2023 by defeating India at their home was the reason that he has been all over the head of the selectors of the IPL teams.
In the main auction of IPL 2024, Pat Cummins was the second most expensive player, just after none other than the third player on the list and his fellow fast bowler from Australia, Mitchell Starc.
3. Mitchell Starc – $28.7 million
When it comes to speed and accuracy, Yorker, a few names hover in your mind, and Mitchell Star is one of them. This lethal pacer from Australia has an annual salary of $28.7 million, which is just behind Pat Cummins and was more expensive than Pat Cummins in the IPL 2024 auction, getting a $2.97 million deal from Kolkata Knight Riders.
Starc is the fastest to take 200 wickets in ODI and is also a handy batter as well if the team needs him. Mitchell Starc was a part of Virat Kohli’s RCB in IPL before moving to KKR in 2024.
4. Steve Smith – $27.4 million
When it comes to Test Cricket, one name that always comes to your mind is Steven Smith, another Australian on the list. Smith is a modern-day legend in Test cricket, and his records and averages are enough to tell you about his caliber. You can make an assumption about his talent from the fact that he is not playing this year IPL but is still making $27.4 million yearly.
Steven Smith is the fastest player to score 8,000 Test runs; Smith has scored almost 10,000 runs in his test career so far. He has captained Australia in all three formats, which adds to his tally of why he is among the list of highest-paid cricket players.
5. David Warner – $26.1 million
David Warner is a well-renowned name in cricket, and he has always remained in the limelight because of his brilliant batting performances. David Warner has recently retired from Test cricket but will continue playing in a shorter format for Australia. Warner’s annual salary of $26.1 million is justified by his continuous participation in the T20 Leagues around the globe, including IPL.
David Warner remained with and captained Sunrises Hyderabad for a long period before moving to Delhi Capitals in 2022. Warner is among the top players in IPL with enough records to his name, including the most 50+ scores in IPL, one spot above Virat Kohli.
6. Rohit Sharma – $25.8 million
Current Indian captain and one of the most destructive batters in ODI, Rohit Sharma, is on the sixth spot of this list with an annual salary of $25.8 million. Rohit Sharma is not someone who will need a big introduction; he has done enough in his career that his records speak for him. Rohit is the first batsman to score 3 double centuries in ODIs.
He is the first batter to Score 5 hundreds in T20Is; Sharma is just behind Virat Kohli in terms of most runs in his T20I career. Rohit Sharma’s experience in T20I is the most by any player as he has played the most number of T20I in the history of cricket.
7. Jos Buttler – $25.2 million
Jos Buttler, a.k.a ‘Jos the Boss’ is England’s shorter format captain and wicket-keeper batter. Jos Buttler was one of those player who got more recognition through IPL than their national team. Buttler debuted IPL through Mumbai Indians and made his presence felt loud and clear with runs on board. Jos Buttler has the 3rd highest career strike rate in ODi, along with the most catches by a keeper in an inning(6).
Jos Buttler has scored a barely believable 863 runs in the 2022 IPL season playing for RR, which includes 4 hundred. Jos is a genius in a shorter format, and his leadership quality has benefited England as he won the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
8. Trent Boult – $24.9 million
After a long list of batters, you’ll witness two of the most prime bowlers in the history of cricket. Trent Boult from New Zealand is a nightmare to the batter, and you can’t keep Boult out of the game; he can bowl in initial overs, middle overs, and even in the death overs; on top of everything, he is a gun fielder.
Although Trent Boult has chosen to play only main events for the New Zealand team, he is always in the headlines due to his participation in the T20 Leagues in the world, especially in the IPL. He has a Monmouth annual income of $24.9 million.
9. Jasprit Bumrah – $24.6 million
Jasprit Bumrah is the other bowler that I mentioned in the previous paragraph. If you asked Jasprit Bumrah to deliver 6 yorkers in an hour, he would do it with ease. Bumrah can also be a 3D bowler like Trent Boult, as he can bowl for you in every situation.
Mumbai Indians picked him in IPL, and he has never been released ever since, which tells how much of a weapon he is for MI. He is an A+ player under BCCI’s contract, which helps him earn a total of $24.6 million salary annually.
10. Kane Williamson – $24.3 million
Kane Williamson is one of those cricketers which you can hate even if he is playing in the opponent’s team as he is so humble and down to earth as if he is here to carry on MS Dhoni’s legacy but in New Zealand’s color. Kane has been the captain of the New Zealand Cricket Team since 2016; Williamson is the fastest player to score 6000 runs for New Zealand. Kane Williamson holds the number one spot in the ICC Test Rankings.
Kane is one of the most valuable players for New Zealand and has always contributed to his team in winning matches. Under Kane Williamson’s Captainship, New Zealand won the first Test Championship in the history of cricket. Williamson plays for Gujarat Titans in IPL and has an annual salary of $24.3 million.
How Cricketers Make Money?
Cricket is not just a sport; it has become a global phenomenon that generates massive revenue. As a result, cricketers today have various avenues to earn money, making it one of the most financially rewarding sports for top players. Let’s delve deeper into the key ways through which cricketers, especially the highest-paid ones, make their money:
- Salaries and Contracts: The highest-paid cricketers receive substantial salaries from their national cricket boards and franchise teams. They often sign lucrative contracts that guarantee them a significant portion of their earnings.
- Sponsorships: Being a high-profile sport, cricket attracts major sponsorships from renowned companies. The highest-paid cricketers are in high demand for endorsement deals, and they sign contracts with leading brands in various industries. From sports equipment manufacturers to global consumer goods companies, cricketers lend their names and faces to these brands, earning substantial sums in the process.
- Player Endorsements: When a cricketer becomes a household name, they open up opportunities for additional endorsement deals. Top players are sought after by luxury brands, fashion houses, and lifestyle products for ambassador roles. These endorsements contribute significantly to the overall income of the highest-paid cricketers.
- Prize Money: Winning tournaments and series comes with its rewards. The highest-paid cricketers, who often represent strong and successful teams, earn hefty prize money when their teams emerge victorious in major competitions. This money serves as a valuable addition to their earnings.
- T20 Leagues and Franchise Cricket: The emergence of T20 leagues around the world has revolutionized cricketers’ income potential. Participating in these leagues, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Big Bash League (BBL), and Caribbean Premier League (CPL), offers players astronomical sums, especially for the highest-paid cricketers who are much sought after by franchises.
- Brand Ambassadorships: Apart from endorsement deals, cricketers also become brand ambassadors for companies and products. They might represent a brand over an extended period, further solidifying their financial standing.
- Media Engagements: Top cricketers are often invited to appear in TV shows, commercials, and public events. These appearances come with substantial fees, adding to the cricketers’ earnings.
- Social Media Influence: The highest-paid cricketers often have a massive following on social media platforms. They can leverage their popularity by collaborating with brands for sponsored posts and promotional content, commanding considerable fees for such engagements.
FAQs About Highest Paid Cricketer
Q1. Who is the highest paid cricketer in the world?
The highest paid cricketer in the world is Virat Kohli. He earns a monthly salary of $690,000 from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as part of his A+ contract. He also has lucrative endorsement deals with brands such as Puma, Myntra, Uber India, Manyavar, Ausi, MF, MPL, Philips India, Hero, and Vicks. These deals add another $31 million to his annual earnings.
Q2. How much does the highest paid cricketer earn?
The highest paid cricketer in the world, Virat Kohli, earns an estimated $37.9 million per year. This includes his salary from the BCCI and his earnings from endorsements.
Why is Virat Kohli the highest paid cricketer in the world?
Virat Kohli is the highest paid cricketer in the world because he is one of the most successful and popular cricketers in the world. He is the captain of the Indian national team and he is one of the best batsmen in the world. He is also very popular off the field and he has endorsement deals with some of the biggest brands in the world.
