In the fiercely competitive world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where on-field battles are nothing short of epic, a silent but equally intense contest unfolds beneath the surface. It’s a race for the most lucrative contracts and earnings. While the cricketing skills of players are indisputable, the business aspect of the IPL is equally captivating. In this article, we delve into the intriguing universe of IPL captains who now earn more than the iconic MS Dhoni.
IPL Captains Who Earn More Than MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni
Before we explore the captains who’ve outperformed MS Dhoni in terms of earnings, let’s pay homage to the man himself. MS Dhoni, often hailed as “Captain Cool,” stands as an icon in IPL history. Not only is he a cricketing legend, but he’s also one of the most triumphant captains the IPL has witnessed. Dhoni has steered the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for numerous seasons, guiding them to five IPL titles—a testament to his leadership and cricketing acumen.
CSK tasted the sweet nectar of victory in the IPL during the years 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and most recently in 2023. This unwavering consistency and success have firmly established CSK as one of the IPL’s most dominant franchises. MS Dhoni, with his shrewd captaincy, played a pivotal role in etching CSK’s name in the annals of IPL history.
Ravindra Jadeja
While MS Dhoni remains an IPL legend, the cricketing landscape is ever-evolving, with new stars emerging. One such luminary is Ravindra Jadeja. With an astounding salary of Rs 16 crore, Jadeja has eclipsed MS Dhoni in terms of earnings. In a surprising twist, Jadeja was CSK’s top pick during the IPL 2022 mega-auction, whereas Dhoni was relegated to the second-choice retention. This changing of the guard marked a significant shift in the earnings hierarchy at CSK.
However, Jadeja isn’t the sole player who now earns more than Dhoni in the IPL. Ben Stokes and Deepak Chahar also boast higher paychecks, relegating Dhoni to the fourth spot among the highest earners in the CSK lineup.
The trend of captains surpassing Dhoni in earnings isn’t limited to CSK. Several IPL captains from different franchises have inked lucrative contracts. Let’s take a closer look at some of these high earners:
KL Rahul
KL Rahul, a dynamic batsman and the skipper of the Lucknow Super Giants, currently holds the crown for the highest-earning IPL captain. Before the IPL 2022 mega-auction, Lucknow Super Giants secured his services for a staggering Rs 17 crore. Rahul’s leadership prowess shone as he guided LSG to the second round of IPL 2022. Regrettably, an injury sidelined him for the second phase of IPL 2023.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, captain of the Mumbai Indians, is another player who now earns more than MS Dhoni. Under Rohit’s leadership, Mumbai Indians have clinched five IPL titles, with their most recent triumph in 2020 when they conquered the Delhi Capitals in the final.
Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant, renowned for his explosive batting and captaincy, was Delhi Capitals’ first-choice retention prior to the IPL 2022 mega-auction. With a hefty salary of Rs 16 crore, Pant led Delhi in IPL 2021 and 2022. Although an injury kept him out of IPL 2023, he’s anticipated to make a robust comeback in IPL 2024.
Hardik Pandya
Gujarat Titans made a strategic move by acquiring Hardik Pandya’s services before the IPL 2022 mega-auction. With a salary of Rs 15 crore, Pandya not only guided Gujarat to a championship in their debut season but also steered them to the IPL 2023 final, where they narrowly missed the title.
Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson, the captain of the Rajasthan Royals, is another high earner in the IPL. He was the first-choice pick for Rajasthan Royals before the IPL 2022 mega-auction, boasting a salary of Rs 14 crore. Under his leadership, Rajasthan reached the final of IPL 2022, where they encountered a valiant challenge from Gujarat Titans.
Shreyas Iyer
Kolkata Knight Riders made a strategic move by securing the services of Shreyas Iyer for Rs 12.25 crore during the IPL 2022 mega-auction. Iyer captained the team in IPL 2022 but had to sit out IPL 2023 due to a back issue. Nevertheless, he’s set to return as the skipper for IPL 2024.
