Over the years, the IPL have made several middle-class boys into young millionaires, throwing up a number of rags to riches stories after every auction. The riches of it are almost unimaginable.
Every player now, Indian or non-Indian, now dreams of bagging a hefty IPL contract and turn their dreams into reality. Some perform well and continue on their path upwards, some get stuck, while some couldn’t live up to the expectations and fade away from the public’s eye.
There are 3 players who have been a constant in the IPL and year after year turned up to win games for their team. These three players have made the most money in salaries – each now over 150 crores – just from the IPL.
3. Virat Kohli- 158.2 crore
Virat Kohli remains the only player in the history of the IPL to play all the 14 seasons for a single franchise – Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kohli, who stepped down as RCB’s captain last season, has been retained for 15 crore for IPL 2022. This salary, though, is 2 crore less than what he had been contracted from 2018 to 2021.
Kohli, India’s under-19 captain then, was picked up by RCB during the U-19 players’ draft for Rs 12 lakh back in 2008. He was the only player to be retained by RCB in 2011 on a contract of 8.28 crore per season from 2011 to 2014.
In 2015, his contract price increased to 12.5 crore per season till 2017, before in 2018, he became the highest-paid player in the IPL at 17 crore. That price tag was carried until last year, and now after stepping down as the skipper, he has been retained at 15 crore.
His total earning from the IPL salaries, including the 2022 season retention, is INR 158.2 crore.
2. Rohit Sharma-162.6 crore
Rohit Sharma proved his incredible talent and ability during the 2007 T20 World Cup, and that drew him a bid of 3 crore in 2008 from Deccan Chargers, the now-defunct franchise. Sharma was part of the side that won the 2009 IPL and was with the Chargers till 2010.
Mumbai Indians then roped in the right-handed batsman for 9.2 crore in 2011 and handed him the captaincy in 2013, when he led the Ambani-owned franchise to their maiden IPL title. Rest is history, as Sharma is now the most successful IPL captain with 5 titles in his bag.
In 2014, his contract was hiked to 12.5 crore and in 2018 to 15 crore per season. He has been retained ahead of the IPL 2022 for 16 crore, totalling his overall earning from IPL salaries to 162.6 crore.
1.MS Dhoni-164.8 crore
MS Dhoni has become the adopted son of Chennai having led the Chennai Super Kings to 4 IPL titles.
After captaining India to the 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, CSK bought Dhoni for 6 crore, making the Ranchi-born the costliest player in the first auction. CSK won their first title in 2010, and Dhoni, in 2011, was retained for 8.28 crore; CSK won their second title that year.
His stock continue to rise and in 2014, he was retained at 12.5 crore contract per season. While CSK was suspended for a couple of years, in 2016 and 2017, Dhoni received the same amount from his new franchise, Rising Pune Supergiants.
When CSK returned in 2018, and Dhoni returned to captain them, he was picked first at a salary of 15 crore for four seasons. He led them to two more titles- in 2018 and 2021.
For IPL 2022, which is expected to be the last tournament for MS Dhoni, he has been retained as the second pick for 12 crore – after Ravindra Jadeja who is retained for 16 crore.
MS Dhoni’s total earnings from the IPL contracts is now a whopping 164.8 crore.
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