Amid a debate over club versus country in Indian cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) unveiled its central contracts for the 2023–24 season, spanning from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024.
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer Omitted from Central Contracts
Two notable omissions from the contract list were Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer. The BCCI did not specify the reasons for their exclusion, but it comes amidst concerns over players prioritizing lucrative leagues like the IPL over domestic competitions like the Ranji Trophy.
Comparing IPL Salaries with BCCI Contracts
The IPL's financial allure is undeniable, with players from India and around the world earning substantial sums for their participation. In many cases, Indian players earn more from their IPL contracts than from their BCCI central contracts.
Comparison of Earnings
Grade A+ Players
- Rohit Sharma: BCCI Contract - Rs. 7 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 16 Crore from Mumbai Indians
- Virat Kohli: BCCI Contract - Rs. 7 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 15 Crore from Royal Challengers Bangalore
- Jasprit Bumrah: BCCI Contract - Rs. 7 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 12 Crore from Mumbai Indians
- Ravindra Jadeja: BCCI Contract - Rs. 7 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 16 Crore from Chennai Super Kings
Grade A Players
- R Ashwin: BCCI Contract - Rs. 5 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 5 Crore from Rajasthan Royals
- Mohammed Shami: BCCI Contract - Rs. 5 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 6.25 Crore from Gujarat Titans
- Mohammed Siraj: BCCI Contract - Rs. 5 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 7 Crore from Royal Challengers Bangalore
- KL Rahul: BCCI Contract - Rs. 5 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 17 Crore from Lucknow Super Giants
- Shubman Gill: BCCI Contract - Rs. 5 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 8 Crore from Gujarat Titans
- Hardik Pandya: BCCI Contract - Rs. 5 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 15 Crore from Mumbai Indians
Grade B Players
- Surya Kumar Yadav: BCCI Contract - Rs. 3 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 8 Crore from Mumbai Indians
- Rishabh Pant: BCCI Contract - Rs. 3 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 16 Crore from Delhi Capitals
- Kuldeep Yadav: BCCI Contract - Rs. 3 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 2 Crore from Delhi Capitals
- Axar Patel: BCCI Contract - Rs. 3 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 9 Crore from Delhi Capitals
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: BCCI Contract - Rs. 3 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 4 Crore from Rajasthan Royals
Grade C Players
- Includes 15 athletes with varying contracts and IPL salaries
- Notable players include Sanju Samson (BCCI Contract - Rs. 1 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 14 Crore from Rajasthan Royals) and Washington Sundar (BCCI Contract - Rs. 1 Crore; IPL Salary - Rs. 8.75 Crore from Sunrisers Hyderabad)
- Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel: Not currently under an IPL contract
Will be inducted into the BCCI contracts if and when they play for India in the Dharamshala Test vs England, meeting BCCI's minimum match criteria.
Impact on Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer
Ishan Kishan, previously in Grade C, earned Rs. 15.25 crore from Mumbai Indians. Shreyas Iyer, previously in Grade B, had an IPL salary of Rs. 12.25 Crore from Kolkata Knight Riders.
Cricket's Wealthiest Players
- Sachin Tendulkar - $150 million
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni - $110 million
- Virat Kohli - $93 million
- Saurav Ganguly - $50 million
- Virendra Sehwag - $45 million
- Yuvraj Singh - $35 million
- Suresh Raina - $25 million
- Rahul Dravid - $23 million
- Rohit Sharma - $22 million
- Gautam Gambhir - $19 million
International Cricketers' Earnings
Dean Elgar
Monthly Salary: $440,000
Net Worth: $40 million
Joe Root
Monthly Salary: $400,000
Net Worth: $3.3 million
Eoin Morgan
Monthly Salary: $320,000
Net Worth: $15 million
Aaron Finch
Monthly Salary: $150,000
Net Worth: $5.5 million
Kraigg Brathwaite
Monthly Salary: $80,000
Net Worth: $9 million
Temba Bavuma
Monthly Salary: $70,000
Net Worth: $2.3 million
Kieron Pollard
Monthly Salary: $47,000
Net Worth: $15 million
Kane Williamson
Monthly Salary: $37,000
Net Worth: $10 million
In the international arena, players like Dean Elgar (Net Worth: $40 million) and Joe Root (Net Worth: $3.3 million) earn considerable sums, showcasing the global reach of cricket's financial rewards.
While BCCI contracts hold significance in a player's career, the allure of the IPL's financial rewards often surpasses them. This comparison sheds light on the evolving dynamics of cricket, where players are increasingly drawn to the financial gains of franchise leagues like the IPL.
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