Here's everything you need to know about Indian cricketers' salaries for the 2023-24 season.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the wealthiest cricket board in the world, known for its extraordinary measures to support its players. Over the years, the BCCI has implemented numerous initiatives to ensure their players receive the best treatment and compensation in the industry. Centrally contracted Indian players receive salaries based on four grades.For the 2023-24 season, the BCCI introduced a new list of contracted players, now totaling 30 cricketers, an increase of four from the previous list. The contract period runs from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. The Grade A+ category, the highest tier, includes four players: Indian captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah. These players typically participate in all three formats of the game. Let's delve into the salaries of centrally contracted Indian players for 2024.
Amount for Players in different categories in 2023-24 season
Grade A+: INR 7 crores (4 Players)Grade A: INR 5 crores (6 Players)
Grade B: INR 3 crores (5 Players)
Grade C: INR 1 crore (15 Players)
Per match fee as per formats
Test Match Fee: INR 15 lakhs | 7.5 lakhs if a member of squad and not included in Playing XI.ODI Match Fee: INR 6 lakhs | 3 lakhs if a member of squad and not included in Playing XI.
T20I Match Fee: INR 3 lakhs | 1.5 lakhs if a member of squad and not included in Playing XI.
Here are the salaries of all 30 centrally contracted Indian cricketers for 2024:
30. Rajat Patidar: (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Rajat Patidar recently made his debut for India in 2024. As on February 29, 2024, he has played one ODI and three tests. Though he didn’t have great numbers to start his career with, he is surely in the scheme of things for India in the future. That is why the BCCI has placed him in the Grade C category, where he earns INR 1 crore per year and then the match fee per game.
29. Avesh Khan: (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Indian pacer Avesh Khan has been in and out of the team across formats. He has been part of a handful of games in the last 12 months or so when India have given rest to the seniors. Avesh has not played test cricket yet, but has been a backup pacer in limited-over cricket. Hence, he is in Grade C, earning INR 1 crore per year with match fee.
28. Prasidh Krishna: (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Tall Indian pacers with good speed and accuracy are not found consistently, and Prasidh Krishna comes with a similar skillset. Hence, the Indian management has always backed the 28-year-old. He has done well in limited-over cricket since his debut and is a backup pacer in ODIs and T20Is. Prasidh also made his test debut more recently in South Africa. Hence, he is in the Grade C category, where he will earn INR 1 crore and match fees additionally.
27. KS Bharat: (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Since Rishabh Pant’s accident, India have tried a number of wicket-keepers in test cricket. One name that has the most chances is KS Bharat. Srikar Bharat has played seven tests in the last 12 months or so, including the WTC final 2023. He falls in the category of Grade C and will earn per year INR 1 crore, apart from the match fee.
26. Arshdeep Singh (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Arshdeep Singh made his debut in 2022, and since then, he has been among the first-choice pacers in the shortest format. He has picked up the most T20I wickets for India since his debut. His good performances also earned him an ODI debut. India have stuck with him regularly in limited-overs cricket. Hence, just like last year, he is in the Grade C category, earning INR 1 crore per year.
25. Sanju Samson (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Sanju Samson is another name who has retained his place in Grade C for 2024. He has been a backup wicket-keeper batter in the white-ball formats and has played odd matches here and there. His fee per year is INR 1 crore, apart from match fees as per the format. Samson is yet to make his test debut for India.
24. Mukesh Kumar (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Since making his debut in July 2023, Mukesh Kumar is probably the only Indian player to have featured in almost all the international series for India. He made his debut in all three formats in the last 12 months and played throughout. Hence, he got his maiden central contract and will be earning INR 1 crore per year as per Grade C contract.
23. Washington Sundar (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Indian spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar has been in and out of the team because of multiple injuries. But whenever he has been fit enough to play, India have picked him in the squad, irrespective of the format. He gives an all-round option to the team and has been part of the team for a couple of years now. Sundar gets INR 1 crore per year and match fees.
22. Jitesh Sharma (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
After playing nine T20Is in the last 12 months, Jitesh Sharma makes his way into BCCI’s central contracts. Jitesh has been a backup wicket-keeper for India in T20I cricket, and he has done a pretty good job with the limited chances he has got. That has benefited him, and he will be getting INR 1 crore per year apart from match fees.
21. Ravi Bishnoi (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi is another player who has gotten his maiden central contract this year. He has been included in Grade C by the BCCI. Bishnoi is a regular player for the Indian team in the shortest format of the game. India have picked him as a backup spinner in T20Is, and he was named Man of the Series in the five-match T20I series against Australia at home. Bishnoi will be earning INR 1 crore this year apart from match fee.
20. Shivam Dube (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Despite making his debut in 2019, all-rounder Shivam Dube was not part of the central contracts in 2023. But his IPL success and an injury to Hardik Pandya gave him a chance to sneak into the Indian T20I squad, and he grabbed the chance with both hands. Dube has been included in Grade C list of contracts for 2023-24 season and he will earn INR 1 crore apart from match fee.
19. Shardul Thakur (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Shardul Thakur is another Indian cricketer who has retained his place in the Grade C category for 2024. The bowling all-rounder has been part of the Indian squad across formats and even played in the WTC 2023 final and the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023. Hence, he is being paid INR 1 crore along with the match fee by the Indian cricket board for the ongoing season.
18. Ruturaj Gaikwad (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Ruturaj Gaikwad is a new name in the Grade C category for 2024. He has been rewarded for some good performances in limited opportunities he has got so far. Gaikwad led India to Gold medal in the Asian Games 2023 and captained India on a few occasions. He is an upcoming star for India, and he will earn 1 crore along with the match fee.
17. Tilak Verma (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Tilak Varma is one name that has done well in the last 12 months. He has played four ODIs and 16 T20Is in this period for India. The left-hander is part of India’s second-string side in white-ball cricket, and we might see him regularly in the coming years. That is why he has earned his maiden central contract from the BCCI and is in Grade C for 2024.
16. Rinku Singh (Grade C) – INR 1 crore + match fees:
Another name that has earned a maiden central contract from the BCCI is Rinku Singh. He is probably the most exciting cricketer to watch out for in recent times. Rinku has certainly done a tremendous job for India in the last 12 months. He has played 2 ODIs and 15 T20Is. Rinku has an average of 89 and a strike rate of 176.23 in T20Is. So apart from the match fee, he will earn INR 1 crore in 2024.
15. Yashasvi Jaiswal (Grade B) – INR 3 crores + match fees:
Yashasvi Jaiswal has had an incredible last few months. In just 25 international matches, he has scored four centuries, including two double hundreds. Notably, he was not in the central contracts for 2023, but made an incredible entry and has been named in Grade B directly, which features some other big names. With his performances, he is one of the few players who directly got a Grade B contract from the BCCI. He will earn INR 3 crore, and the match fee is additional.
14. Axar Patel (Grade B) – INR 3 crores + match fees:
Overall, it hasn’t been good the last 12 months for all-rounder Axar Patel. He missed the ICC Cricket ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 due to an injury at the last moment, and now he has been demoted from Grade A to Grade B. In 2023, he was more active, largely because Ravindra Jadeja was injured. But now, he is part of the team but gets fewer games to play, that might be the reason for his demotion. Nevertheless, he will earn INR 3 crore with the match fee in 2024.
13. Kuldeep Yadav (Grade B) – INR 3 crores + match fees:
Kuldeep Yadav has made a jump in the newly announced central contracts by the BCCI. The wrist spinner was in Grade C in 2023, and now he is in Grade B for 2024. His good performances in the last 12 months across formats have been noticed by the BCCI. Hence, he will earn INR 3 crore and the match fee for 2024.
12. Rishabh Pant (Grade B) – INR 3 crores + match fees:
Rishabh Pant has also been demoted in the latest central contracts. Well, since his accident in December 2022, he has been out of action and recovering, but still, it is a great step by the BCCI that he is still in the central contracts and the board has placed him in Grade B. There is still uncertainty about his return to the Indian team, but he will earn INR 3 crore in 2024.
11. Suryakumar Yadav (Grade B) – INR 3 crores + match fees:
Suryakumar Yadav is currently battling an injury, but he is among the first-choice players in the shortest format of the game. He will be a key player for India at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. But he hasn’t had much effect in the other formats. SKY has also led India in the last few T20I series. He has retained his position in Grade B and will earn INR 3 crore in 2024 apart from match fee.
10. Hardik Pandya (Grade A) – INR 5 crores + match fees:
Hardik Pandya is among the first-choice players in limited-overs cricket and is touted as the next captain for India. Hence, despite him missing a number of games in the last year or so, the BCCI has kept him in the Grade A category. The all-rounder will earn INR 5 crore and also get paid additional match fee in 2024.
9. Shubman Gill (Grade A) – INR 5 crores + match fees:
India’s next superstar, Shubman Gill, has also made a jump in the newly announced central contracts by the BCCI. He was in Grade B last year, and now he has been promoted to Grade A for 2024. It is largely because of the incredible year he had across formats, and he ended up being the highest run-scorer in 2023. Gill will earn INR 5 crore apart from match fee in 2024 from the BCCI.
8. KL Rahul (Grade A) – INR 5 crores + match fees:
Veteran star KL Rahul has also made a jump from Grade B to Grade A in central contracts for 2023-24 season. Since his return from injury, he has been incredible for India and has scored runs in bulk. Rahul is currently recovering from an injury, but he is among the first-choice players for the national side. He will earn INR 5 crore apart from match fee in 2024.
7. Mohammed Siraj (Grade A) – INR 5 crores + match fees:
Just like Gill and Rahul, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj had an exceptional 2023 with the ball across formats. He has now become India’s main bowler, along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, in all three formats and has been doing well. Siraj was in Grade B last year, and now he will earn INR 5 crore with Grade A cotract in 2023-24.
6. Mohammed Shami (Grade A) – INR 5 crores + match fees:
Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has been incredible over the years for India and is one of the main reasons for India’s success. Shami has been in Grade A for a consecutive year now. He was India’s highest wicket-taker in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and is currently out of action due to injury. Shami will earn INR 5 crore in 2024 apart from match fee.
5. Ravi Ashwin (Grade A) – INR 5 crores + match fees:
Veteran spinner Ravi Ashwin is another player who has retained his place in Grade A for 2023-24. Ashwin has been a key player for India in test cricket and also played in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. However, he is not considered for T20Is anymore, but he is still a key player for the other two formats, mainly in tests. He will be earning INR 5 crore in 2024.
4. Ravindra Jadeja (Grade A+) – INR 7 crores + match fees:
Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is on BCCI’s top category list. He has been the go-through player for India across formats and a key performer. He has won a number of games for the national team, which is why he is a highly rated and proven customer. Jadeja will be earning INR 7 crore in 2024 apart from match fee.
3. Jasprit Bumrah (Grade A+) – INR 7 crores + match fees:
Jasprit Bumrah is one of the biggest names in modern-day cricket because of what he has done in all three formats. The ace pacer is the leader of the pace for India in all three formats and the biggest weapon for the team. Hence, he has rightfully retained his place in the Grade A+ category. He will earn INR 7 crore apart from match fee in 2024.
2. Virat Kohli (Grade A+) – INR 7 crores + match fees:
It will not be the wrong statement to say that Virat Kohli is the biggest brand, not just in Indian cricket, but across the globe. That is why even the BCCI knows how valuable he is for the Indian team. Even his individual performances have been incredible in the last year or so. The BCCI will pay him INR 7 crores this year apart from match fee. However, he earns way more than that with brand endorsements, promotions, events, and other things.
1. Rohit Sharma (Grade A+) – INR 7 crores + match fees:
Without a doubt, Indian captain Rohit Sharma is on Grade A+ list. Individually as well, he deserves to be in this category. He led India to the finals of the ICC WTC and the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023. Although it didn’t end in India’s favour, Rohit’s captaincy was brilliant. The Indian captain will earn INR 7 crore, the captain’s bonus (25 to 30 percent per match), apart from match fee in 2024.
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