Introduction

In 2025, cricket has evolved far beyond just being a sport. It is now a billion-dollar industry where players are not just athletes, but global superstars with massive earning potential. The game has blended athleticism with entrepreneurship, creating opportunities far beyond the boundary ropes. From franchise leagues to central contracts, brand endorsements to digital ventures, the top cricketers are making millions every year apart from other benefits. Let’s take a detailed look at the highest paid cricketers in 2025, how they earn their money, and what makes them so valuable in today’s game.

Why Are Cricketers Earning So Much in 2025?

Cricketers today have multiple income streams:

Franchise Leagues: T20 leagues like the IPL, PSL, Big Bash, SA20, and The Hundred offer huge salaries, often in the millions per season. IPL, for example, continues to be the most lucrative league in the world, with top players earning over $3 million for just two months of cricket. Other leagues are following this model, increasing their spending power to attract global talent.
National Contracts: Boards like the BCCI, ECB, Cricket Australia, and PCB pay annual retainers plus match fees. These contracts ensure financial security throughout the year, even when players are not active in leagues. Some boards also offer performance-based bonuses and long-term loyalty benefits.
Endorsements: Many players are brand ambassadors for sportswear, automobiles, mobile companies, and even fintech apps. A popular player with a clean image and massive fan following can earn more from endorsements than match fees. Virat Kohli, for example, earns the majority of his income from brand deals.
Bonuses and Incentives: Awards for best performance, player of the series, or breaking records add to their earnings. Some leagues and boards give huge bonuses for crossing milestones like 1000 runs in a season or 100 international appearances.
Investments & Ownership: Some cricketers have stakes in sports franchises, fitness apps, or tech startups. This trend has grown in the last few years as players look for financial growth beyond the cricket field. Players like Kohli and Rashid Khan have reportedly invested in franchise teams and digital businesses.
Social Media and Online Influence: With millions of followers on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter, cricketers also earn through monetized content and sponsored posts. In 2025, social media has become a strong income stream, especially for younger stars.
Global Cricket Economy Growth: Cricket is expanding beyond traditional markets. New T20 leagues in the USA, UAE, and Europe have entered the scene, providing additional earning opportunities. The competition among leagues to hire top talent has driven salaries even higher.

Together, these factors have made top cricketers among the highest-paid athletes in the world. The days of relying solely on national contracts are gone. Today’s cricketer is a professional athlete, a brand ambassador, a digital influencer, and a smart investor all rolled into one.

Top 10 Highest Paid Cricketers in 2025

1. Virat Kohli – $35 to $38 Million Kohli continues to be a global icon. Despite stepping back from captaincy, he remains one of the most marketable athletes. His earnings include an IPL salary of around $2.5 million, BCCI central contract, and endorsements from Puma, MRF, Audi, and his own fitness brand. He also reportedly has a minor ownership stake in an IPL franchise.

2. Rishabh Pant – $30 to $33 Million Pant shocked the world by signing a record-breaking IPL deal worth ₹27 crore (approx. $3.1 million). Add in his BCCI retainer, multiple brand endorsements (Red Bull, Adidas), and social media presence, and he’s firmly at the top.

3. Pat Cummins – $28 to $29 Million The Australian captain remains a high earner through his Cricket Australia contract, IPL deal, and World Cup win bonuses. He also features in advertising campaigns in Australia, especially around eco-sustainability and wellness.

4. Mitchell Starc – $27 to $28 Million Starc is among the highest-paid bowlers in world cricket. He earns big through his IPL participation, CA contract, and personal deals with Australian brands.

5. Steve Smith – $27 Million (Approx.) Smith may not be the same force in T20s, but he remains a household name in Tests and endorsements. His off-field brand value keeps him in the top 5.

6. Rashid Khan – $22 Million Afghanistan’s superstar spinner is one of the most sought-after players in global leagues. He plays in the IPL, PSL, BBL, and even T10. He also owns a stake in a T10 franchise and has endorsements in South Asia and the Middle East.

7. Babar Azam – $19.5 Million Pakistan’s batting maestro earns from PSL, endorsements, central contract, and investments in Dubai’s real estate market. His calm and composed personality adds to his brand appeal.

8. Jos Buttler – $18 Million England’s limited-overs captain earns through IPL, The Hundred, ECB central contract, and brand deals. He is also a frequent face in high-end automobile and apparel campaigns.

9. KL Rahul – $16 to $17 Million Rahul earns handsomely via IPL (approx. $1.6 million), BCCI contract, and brand deals. He also captains a franchise, which adds to his market value.

10. Glenn Maxwell – $15 to $16 Million Maxwell remains a key entertainer in T20 leagues. Apart from IPL and BBL income, he endorses major food chains, tech products, and is part of a sports startup.

Highest Paid IPL Players in 2025

The 2025 IPL auction saw some record-breaking bids, reflecting how franchise teams are willing to invest heavily in match-winners:

Rishabh Pant: ₹27 crore (~$3.1 million)
Shreyas Iyer: ₹26.75 crore (~$3.07 million)
Venkatesh Iyer: ₹23.75 crore (~$2.72 million)
Pat Cummins, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal: ₹18 crore (~$2.06 million each)
Jos Buttler: ₹15.75 crore (~$1.81 million)

How Do Other Leagues Compare?

PSL 2025:

Platinum players like David Warner earn up to $300,000
Pakistani stars (Babar, Shaheen, Rizwan) earn around $220,000

Big Bash League (BBL):

Top earners like Maxwell and Starc make between AUD 1.7 to 1.8 million

The Hundred (England):

Salaries increased to £200,000 and may reach £300,000 in coming years

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL):

Shakib Al Hasan earns close to $4.5 million from the league and endorsements

Comparing National Board Salaries

India (BCCI): Top players get around $1 million annually (excluding match fees)
Australia: Central contracts offer up to AUD 2 million
England: Players earn around £250,000 to £500,000
Pakistan: A+ category pays approx. $10,000/month
New Zealand: Top earners make $300,000 to $400,000 NZD

The Role of Endorsements

For most top cricketers, brand deals contribute 40-60% of total income:

Virat Kohli: Puma, MRF, Audi, and his own ventures
Rashid Khan: Endorses telecom and beverage brands in UAE, Afghanistan, and India
Jos Buttler: Car and apparel brands
Rishabh Pant: Red Bull, Adidas, fantasy sports apps

Women Cricketers Also Rising

2025 also sees the rise of women cricketers:

Australia’s Big Earnings & WPL Surge

Cricket Australia’s 2024–25 contract list includes 17 players, with the top-tier contract at A$800,000, potentially surpassing A$1 million once WPL and The Hundred deals are added. Alyssa Healy is expected to claim that spot.
Under the same MoU, the next six highest-paid players receive roughly A$500,000, and notable players like Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, and Annabel Sutherland earn around A$400,000+ through combined league contracts .

WBBL Salary Cap Doubles

As part of the new five-year MoU, the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) salary cap jumped to A$732,000 per team, doubling from previous levels—boosting average player earnings.

England’s Historic Pay Parity

From 2025, the ECB introduced equal starting salaries for female domestic players across 'Rookie' and 'Senior Pro' categories, with a minimum investment of £500,000 per county.
Separately, a 30 % pay rise was awarded to England women’s central contracts, with new deals ranging between £90,000–£130,000, accompanied by an annual £5 million investment into the women’s domestic setup.

Bangladesh Creating Stability for Women Players

In December 2024, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) upgraded pay tiers for women’s central contracts (Oct 2024–Jun 2025), with monthly salaries now at BDT 120k (~US $1,000) for Grade A, and incremental increases across other grades.
A new bonus system rewards wins against higher-ranked opponents in ODIs/T20Is.

WPL 2025 – Big Auction Numbers

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 saw stunning auction prices:

Smriti Mandhana — ₹3.4 Cr (~US $386k)
Ashleigh Gardner, Nat Sciver-Brunt — ₹3.2 Cr (~$368k) each
Deepti Sharma — ₹2.6 Cr (~~$314k), Jemimah Rodrigues — ₹2.2 Cr (~~$265k)

These figures rival or exceed many men’s domestic salaries.

Global Central Contract Comparison (via reddit user data):

Australia: $350k–$560k
England: $112k–$162k
New Zealand: $92k–$106k
West Indies: $50k–$75k
(USD equivalent for 2025)

Conclusion: A Golden Era of Cricket Wealth

Cricketers in 2025 are not just athletes. They are brands, businessmen, and influencers. With the growth of global leagues and the digital economy, their earning potential is only increasing. The IPL remains the centerpiece, but other leagues are catching up. Endorsements, ownerships, and social media reach now play as big a role as centuries and wickets.

This new financial landscape has raised the standards of professionalism, fitness, and performance. Young players now enter the game dreaming not just of glory—but of global wealth and impact.

As cricket continues to expand across new markets, the earning ceiling for players may only rise from here.

Haroon Rahim

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