Indian cricketers and their salaries 2019-20

One of the biggest talking points in January 2020 has been the annual contracts of the Indian players (both men and women). The absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni from the list has been one of the big eye-catchers. He’s been on a sabbatical since the end of the 2019 World Cup and it’s unclear whether he will return to international cricket.

Meanwhile, there were quite a few other notable exclusions. Dinesh Karthik, Ambati Rayudu and Khaleel Ahmed who were a part of the contract list last time (2018-19) didn’t find a place. On the other hand, there were six new entrants in the list and two players got upgrades from the previous season as well.

In all 27 players were handed contracts in four categories – Grade A+ (INR 7 crore), Grade A (INR 5 crore), Grade B (INR 3 crore) and Grade C (INR 1 crore). There are only three players in the highest category (Grade A+) while there are 11 in Grade A. Meanwhile, Grade B has five players and Grade C has eight. Here is the list of all 27 players and their respective salaries for the 2019-20 season. This contract is valid between October 2019 and September 2020.

1. Virat Kohli – INR 7 crore

Virat Kohli is arguably the most important man in Indian cricket. The Indian skipper is one of the role-models of this generation. There is little doubt that he will go down as one of the greatest. In fact, he is perhaps the best batsman across formats at the moment.

Kohli is the only player in the history of the game who has an average of 50 or more in each of the three formats. He is an absolute run-machine. The Delhi-born cricketer has been India’s premier batsman across all three formats for the last few years. He finished 2019 as the highest run-getter in international cricket.

Moreover, being the captain of the side and also, the best batsman across all three formats, it is no surprise that Kohli is in the topmost bracket. His annual salary is ₹7 crore.

2. Rohit Sharma – INR 7 crore

Rohit Sharma retains his position in the Grade A+ category. The Indian white-ball vice-captain has been in fabulous form in the recent past. He’s been scoring runs everywhere and in every format as well.

The Mumbaikar has been at the top of his game in the shorter formats. Ever since he started opening the batting, he’s become very consistent and is one of the best openers in white-ball cricket. Along with Kohli, he has been one of the reasons why India have been successful with the bat. Meanwhile, he’s found a new lease of life in Test cricket and that has come with him moving up the order.

Rohit has started opening in Test cricket as well and he started his new role in the longest format with a bang as well. He smoked three tons against South Africa at home to announce himself as a Test opener. Thus, he is one of the only few cricketers who feature regularly in the starting XI of all three formats.

3. Jasprit Bumrah – INR 7 crore

Ever since the Grade A+ category came into picture, Jasprit Bumrah has been a constant in that topmost bracket. The rise of Bumrah has been phenomenal. Moreover, the way he’s grown into the role of India’s premier bowler across formats has been remarkable.

When he first started off, he was deemed as a T20 bowler and then a pure white-ball specialist. Thus, when he was picked in the Test team, there was quite a bit of criticism. However, Bumrah has squashed all those doubts and criticism and has shown that he can adapt and do well in all three formats.

A back injury hampered the Gujarat fast bowler for more than four months towards the end of 2019. But he’s made a decent comeback to international cricket and will continue to lead India’s pace attack in all three formats. Thus, his annual salary comes in the highest grade i.e. ₹7 crores.

4. Ravindra Jadeja – INR 5 crore

In the recent past, Ravindra Jadeja has been crucial to the balance of the Indian team across formats. With Hardik Pandya frequently injuring himself in 2019, Jadeja played at the No. 7 spot in white-ball cricket.

In Tests, he was preferred over Ravichandran Ashwin in the Caribbean as the first-choice spinner. While he has copped a lot of criticism, Jadeja has done well with both bat and ball and has improved a lot.

He almost won India the 2019 World Cup semi-final with a fine knock and he has bowled well too. Once again, he is one of the top cricketers who plays all three formats. However, his spot isn’t certain and hence, he slots in the INR 5 crore bracket.

5. Ravichandran Ashwin – INR 5 crore

Having fallen out of white-ball cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin has become a Test specialist for India. It’s been more than two and a half years since the Tamil Nadu off-spinner featured in a white-ball game for the ‘Men in Blue’.

Even in Test cricket, he’s fallen off the radar slightly. While he’s still in the team, there’s a bit of uncertainty over his spot when India travel overseas.

Over the last year or so, India have preferred Ravindra Jadeja over Ashwin outside India. In fact, the off-spinner didn’t play a big role in the 2019-20 home season either with the fast bowlers doing the bulk of the bowling. However, he is one of India’s premier spinner in red-ball cricket.

6. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – INR 5 crore

Over the last 18 months, injuries have hampered Bhuvneshwar Kumar big time. He’s constantly nursing one or the other injury and has been on the sidelines more often than not. Even now, he’s been ruled out due to a groin injury.

However, he still remains one of the premier fast bowlers in Indian cricket. The Meerut lad has been one of India’s first-choice pacers in white-ball cricket. He forms a potent pair with Jasprit Bumrah and the duo have done well together.

He hasn’t played Test cricket for more than two years now but he’s always lingering around. Bhuvneshwar will be looking to return to full fitness in the near future. He annual salary is ₹5 crore.

7. Cheteshwar Pujara – INR 5 crore

There’s been a conscious effort to recognise players who feature only in one format and Test cricket, in particular. The performances of Cheteshwar Pujara has been one of the reasons for that. Pujara has been the rock in the side and has done really well.

It isn’t easy to go through his defences and his contributions have been quite significant. India’s Test No. 3 did superbly in Australia and was the player of the series in India’s historic series win down under.

Pujara has an average of 49.48 in Test cricket and is one of the mainstays in India’s Test side. Hence, he earns ₹5 crore as his salary per year.

8. Ajinkya Rahane – INR 5 crore

Here is another player who has been reduced to a Test specialist and earns ₹5 crore per year. In fact, it wasn’t long ago that he was India’s backup opener in white-ball cricket as well. But the inconsistency in the shorter formats has seen the axe fall on him.

However, he is one of India’s premier Test batsman and forms the core of the Indian middle-order. Batting at No. 5, Rahane has been India’s crisis man on quite a few occasions, especially overseas.

Before the 2019 Test season, there were doubts over his spot even in the Test side but he’s shut his critics with some fabulous performances and has shown that he is important to the side.

9. Shikhar Dhawan – INR 5 crore

2019 was a year where Shikhar Dhawan was constantly in and out of the side due to injuries. He missed the 2019 World Cup (after playing just two games) due to a thumb injury. A knee injury meant that he missed India’s last assignment of the year as well. However, he seems to be back in full flow and is looking good.

Dhawan has been India’s premier opener in white-ball cricket. The left-hander has blown hot and cold in T20 cricket but the 50-over format is his strongest.

He has been a consistent performer and has scored a lot of runs. He initially started with the Grade A+ contract but has fallen down, given his decline in Test cricket. At the moment, his salary ₹5 crore.

10. Mohammed Shami – INR 5 crore

Mohammed Shami was always rated very highly but fitness and injuries constantly pegged him back. However, he worked on his fitness and the results are showing on the field.

He’s become a lethal bowler and is delivering for India across formats. He was always one of India’s key pacers in Test cricket. However, his reincarnation in the shorter formats has been excellent as well.

Shami has nailed down a spot in the Indian team for the shorter formats and in fact, ended 2019 as the leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket. He even made a return to T20Is after a gap of more than two years. Featuring regularly across formats puts Shami in the INR 5 crore bracket.

11. Ishant Sharma – INR 5 crore

It’s been more than 12 and a half years since Ishant Sharma made his international debut. He is the most experienced Test cricketer in the Indian team. In fact, he is the most experienced player in all of the 27 contracted ones.

The Delhi fast bowler has played 96 Test matches and is likely to touch the 100-mark in 2020. Ishant has been excellent over the last couple of years. The county stint he had in 2018 has helped him evolve as a bowler.

His lengths have improved and from being the workhorse, Ishant has become a strike bowler for India. Moreover, his ability to bowl long spells hasn’t died. He comes in the bracket of INR 5 crore.

12 Kuldeep Yadav – INR 5 crore

Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the reasons for India’s success in white-ball cricket. He has the ability to pick wickets regularly in the middle overs and make a big impact. He’s had a good start to his Test career as well.

But 2019 was a topsy-turvy year for the chinaman bowler. He started it with a bang, picking up a fifer in the New Year’s Test in Sydney against Australia. He was India’s key weapon in the World Cup but loss of form saw him sit out towards the end of that World Cup. However, he continued blowing hot and cold throughout but ended up with a place in ICC’s ODI team of the 2019.

He is India’s premier white-ball spinner and is also a backup spinner in Test cricket. Hence, his salary is ₹5 crore.

13. Rishabh Pant – INR 5 crore

Irrespective of he does well or not, Rishabh Pant is constantly in the news and is one of the major talking points in Indian cricket. He was always touted to be the future and fill in the big shoes of MS Dhoni.

The left-hander has been India’s premier wicket-keeper in white-ball cricket ever since Dhoni has been on a sabbatical. However, it hasn’t been easy for Pant. He has lost his place to Wriddhiman Saha in the Test team while he’s blown hot and cold in the shorter formats. His shot selection has been in question.

However, there have been quite a few instances where he has shown that he is a match-winner and is improving all the time. Hence, Pant gets a salary of ₹5 crore.

14. KL Rahul – INR 5 crore

KL Rahul has been all over the place in the last couple of months. While he fell out of radar in Test cricket after the Caribbean tour due to poor form, he has more or less sealed his place in the white-ball team (squad if not the XI).

The Karnataka lad has donned multiple roles and has played every role he’s been asked to really well. He’s opened the batting, he’s batted at 3 and 4 and lately, he’s moved down to No. 5 as well.

Moreover, Rahul has acted as the backup keeper and has done remarkably well too. Hence, he’s been excellent and has shown great versatility and adaptability. Thus, he slots in the Grade A bracket i.e. he gets a salary of ₹5 crore. He has moved up a (contract) grade as well.

15. Umesh Yadav – INR 3 crore

Umesh Yadav has been one of India’s premier red-ball fast bowlers when they play at home. The Vidarbha pacer has consistently done well in Indian conditions and is a tough bowler to deal when he gets going. However, he hasn’t really proved himself away from home.

However, he is usually the reserve pacer on away tours. He completes a potent four-man pace attack which involves Bumrah, Shami, Ishant and Yadav himself.

Yadav has fallen off the white-ball radar. He was constantly in and out of the side until early 2019. Hence, he plays just one format but remains on the fringes for the other two as well. He slots into the INR 3 crore bracket in the central contracts.

16. Yuzvendra Chahal – INR 3 crore

Since India’s loss in the final of the Champions Trophy, Yuzvendra Chahal has become India’s premier white-ball spinner along with Kuldeep Yadav. In fact, Chahal made his debut even before the chinaman bowler.

Chahal had made his debut in June 2016 and in January 2017, he took a fabulous 6/25 against England in a T20I. The Haryana leg-spinner hasn’t looked back since.

He is one of the rare spinners who isn’t afraid to get hit and still toss the ball up, in search of wickets. He is a wicket-taker and one of Kohli’s go-to men in white-ball cricket. Hence, Chahal earns ₹3 crore per year.

17. Hardik Pandya – INR 3 crore

There may not be another player who is as vital to the balance of the team as Hardik Pandya. The Baroda all-rounder dons the finisher’s role in white-ball cricket, batting at No. 7 and largely, bowls 10 overs. He is a three-in-one cricketer and his inclusion in the XI is absolutely critical.

Pandya’s presence allows India to play their two spin weapons in Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. However, that hasn’t been the case in 2019. He’s been injured quite a bit and India have suffered.

Ravindra Jadeja isn’t a bad replacement but his inclusion means the separation of the wrist-spin duo. Hence, Pandya has been crucial and has also, performed well. He’s been in and out of the Test side as well. He is in the INR 3 crore bracket.

18. Wriddhiman Saha – INR 3 crore

When Wriddhiman Saha was injured during India’s tour of South Africa in early 2018 and later in the IPL that year, it seemed like his career was over. Rishabh Pant came in and filled in really well.

Not only did he score runs but his keeping improved as he played more games. However, Saha made a good comeback in the 2019-20 home season.

He is one of the best in the business behind the stumps and is bankable with the bat. It looks like the Bengal wicket-keeper has overtaken Pant as India’s first-choice once again. Thus, he earns ₹3 crore per year.

19. Mayank Agarwal – INR 3 crore

Mayank Agarwal is the latest entrant in this contract list. He broke the door down with the mountain of runs in domestic cricket while playing for Karnataka and India ‘A’. He was rewarded with a spot in the Test team and he made his debut in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in 2018. Since then he has become India’s first-choice Test opener and has been scoring runs consistently.

In fact, the Karnataka player has also done well in white-ball cricket in domestic cricket and has been on the fringes of the Indian white-ball teams. In fact, he was a replacement player in the 2019 World Cup and also received a call-up recently when Shikhar Dhawan was injured.

However, he is yet to make his white-ball debut for India which doesn’t seem to far away. Thus, he’s been put in the INR 3 crore bracket in what is his maiden contract with the BCCI.

20. Kedar Jadhav – INR 1 crore

The case of Kedar Jadhav is rather interesting. He went to the World Cup as one of India’s premier ODI players but soon lost his place as the tournament went along. But he returned to the 50-over format after the mega tournament.

The Maharashtra cricketer is a utility player. He can play the finisher’s role and get quick runs and can also chip in with some useful overs of spin as well. Jadhav has been slightly inconsistent but he continues to hold on to his place.

He has been in the ODI team for the last three years now and the near future is crucial for him. A loss in form can see the axe fall on him. But for now, he has a central contract and earns ₹1 crore per year.

21. Manish Pandey – INR 1 crore

2019 was a very unfortunate year for Manish Pandey. He has barely featured in a handful of international games and has forever warmed the benches. The Karnataka lad has been in the ODI and T20I squads constantly but has hardly got to play.

He missed out on a World Cup berth but returned soon after. He played a few T20Is before going back to the bench once again. However, he has been a brilliant fielder for Team India.

He’s been piling on the runs in domestic cricket as well but hasn’t been able to break into the Indian playing XI regularly. Thus, he slots in the INR 1 crore category.

22. Hanuma Vihari – INR 1 crore

People seem to have forgotten Hanuma Vihari. The Andhra Pradesh lad has been a regular member of the Indian Test team since August 2018.

He made his debut in the last Test in England before playing all Test matches in Australia and West Indies and did well too, happily playing every role that the team management asked him to. He was India’s only spinner in Perth before they asked him to open in Melbourne before he went back to No. 6 in the Caribbean.

However, India’s ploy of playing five bowlers in the home season saw him warm the benches in most of the games. However, he is still among the premier Test players and he gets INR 1 crore contract.

23. Navdeep Saini – INR 1 crore

The rise of Navdeep Saini has been very impressive. The fast bowler hailing from Delhi can bowl at high speeds and can rattle the batsmen with pace. He has a good bouncer and can bowl a pinpoint yorker as well.

He can be expensive at times but he is a wicket-taker and has done well in domestic red-ball cricket as well. Saini has been impressive in his short international career thus far. He has picked up 15 wickets from 10 white-ball games so far. He is converting his good domestic form to the big stage.

Saini is rated highly as well and is making his debut in the BCCI contracts as he is tipped to get a salary of ₹1 crore per year.

24. Deepak Chahar – INR 1 crore

Deepak Chahar also makes it to the contract list for the first time ever. The Rajasthan fast bowler has shot up the ranks remarkably. With most of the frontline pacers injured or rested, Chahar took over as the lead pacer in the T20 side.

He bowled excellently and also, recorded the best-ever figures in a T20I when he took 6/7 against Bangladesh. Chahar was rewarded with the best T20I bowling performance of the year by ICC as well.

He has gone up in the pecking order as well as far as the Indian pacers are concerned in white-ball cricket. Hence, it’s no surprise that he has been awarded a central contract.

25. Shardul Thakur – INR 1 crore

Here is another fast bowler who has come up the ranks and made full use of the opportunities given to him. In the absence of frontline pacers, Shardul Thakur has filled in nicely and has performed.

He has picked up wickets consistently and has done decently in the last few months. The Mumbai-born fast bowler can move the ball nicely and can clock up to 140 kmph.

Moreover, he can be more than handy with the bat lower down the order. He has shown that as well. Thus, he has been put in the category of players with salary INR 1 crore.

26. Shreyas Iyer – INR 1 crore

The No. 4 merry-go-round in white-ball cricket went around for way too long. Even in the World Cup, India didn’t have a settled No. 4. However, post that, Shreyas Iyer has come to the fore and has done really well.

He’s scored a string of half-centuries in the middle-order and most of them came when India were in trouble. Thus, Iyer is someone who has shown he can be a long-term solution for India’s No. 4 woes.

He can play spin really well and can take them to the cleaners. The Mumbai batsman can bat in different gears as well. Thus, his impressive outings have ensured that he gets a central contract where his salary would be ₹1 crore per year.

27. Washington Sundar – INR 1 crore

Washington Sundar is the last player in this list. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder has been one of India’s first-choice spinners in T20 cricket. Sundar has been around for a year or so now and has performed decently.

He usually bowls a couple of overs in the powerplay and has been very economical. He can give it a tonk lower down the order and is a useful batsman. In fact, his ability to contribute with the bat has helped India bat deep as well.

Thus, he gets a contract of INR 1 crore as well. In fact, Sundar is the only one in all the 27 players list who plays only T20Is.