The 10 Highest-Paid Cricket Players in the World (2025)

Jesse Goethe | 9:12am BST 25 Might 2025

Cricket, as soon as a distinct segment sport confined to Commonwealth nations, has developed into a world monetary powerhouse. The Indian Premier League (IPL), launched in 2008, revolutionized the game’s economics, remodeling gamers into multimillion-dollar belongings. 

In 2025, high cricketers earn staggering sums by way of franchise contracts, nationwide group retainers, and endorsements, with the IPL remaining the first driver of wealth. Beneath is an in-depth evaluation of the world’s highest-paid cricketers, their earnings, and the tendencies shaping their monetary success.

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1. Pat Cummins: The World’s Highest-Paid Cricketer

Nation: Australia

Wage: $2.7 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

Cricket Australia Retainer: $2 million (together with captain’s bonus).

IPL (Sunrisers Hyderabad): $700,000 yearly.

Main League Cricket (San Francisco Unicorns): 4-year deal supplementing his revenue.

Pat Cummins, Australia’s Check captain, dominates the earnings listing as a result of his twin function as a quick bowler and all-rounder. His Cricket Australia contract, bolstered by a captaincy bonus, varieties the majority of his revenue. Whereas his IPL wage dipped barely in 2025, his international attraction and management standing guarantee he stays the highest-paid cricketer. Cummins’ capacity to thrive in all codecs—Check, ODI, and T20—makes him indispensable to franchises and nationwide groups alike.

2. Rishabh Pant: IPL’s Document-Breaker

Nation: India

Wage: $2.5 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Lucknow SuperGiants): $1.65 million yearly (₹27 crore complete over three years).

BCCI Retainer: $850,000.

Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 crore IPL deal in 2025 shattered information, making him the costliest participant in public sale historical past. His resilience after a near-fatal automobile accident in 2022 solely amplified his marketability. As India’s major wicketkeeper-batter, Pant’s BCCI retainer and endorsements additional increase his earnings. His aggressive batting model and management within the T20 World Cup have cemented his standing as a fan favourite, attracting manufacturers like Purple Bull and Adidas.

3. Shreyas Iyer: India’s White-Ball Powerhouse

Nation: India

Wage: $2.2 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Punjab Kings): $1.6 million yearly.

BCCI White-Ball Retainer: $600,000.

Shreyas Iyer’s IPL contract and BCCI white-ball deal cement his standing as one in every of India’s most sought-after gamers. His consistency in T20Is and ODIs, mixed together with his Bollywood-like attraction, make him a fan favourite. Iyer’s capacity to anchor innings and hit sixes at will has earned him a premium IPL wage, whereas his BCCI retainer displays his significance to India’s white-ball setup.

4. KL Rahul: Reliability Personified

Nation: India

Wage: $1.8 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Delhi Capitals): $1 million yearly.

BCCI Retainer: $800,000.

KL Rahul’s understated but constant performances throughout codecs earn him a premium IPL wage and BCCI retainer. His function as a wicketkeeper-batter and opening batsman in white-ball cricket ensures his worth stays excessive. Rahul’s management within the IPL and his capacity to adapt to completely different circumstances make him a cornerstone of Delhi Capitals.

5. Mitchell Starc: Velocity and International Attraction

Nation: Australia

Wage: $1.68 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Delhi Capitals): $700,000 yearly.

Cricket Australia Retainer: $950,000.

Mitchell Starc’s IPL wage dipped in 2025, however his Cricket Australia contract and viral-worthy bowling performances maintain him among the many high earners. His marriage to Alyssa Healy, Australia’s girls’s captain, provides to his off-field affect. Starc’s capacity to ship in high-pressure matches, notably in Check cricket, ensures his worth endures regardless of his decreased IPL function.

6. Virat Kohli: Legacy and Endorsements

Nation: India

Wage: $1.3 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): $1 million yearly.

BCCI Retainer: $300,000.

Virat Kohli’s IPL loyalty and BCCI retainer safe his spot, although his earnings are dwarfed by youthful stars. His off-field endorsements, nevertheless, seemingly surpass his on-field revenue, sustaining his standing as a world icon. Kohli’s affect extends past cricket, with partnerships with manufacturers like Puma and Audi.

7. Jos Buttler: Abroad Star within the IPL

Nation: England

Wage: $1.25 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Gujarat Titans): $1.25 million yearly (₹15.75 crore).

ECB Retainer: $500,000.

Jos Buttler’s explosive batting and management within the IPL make him the costliest abroad participant in 2025. His Gujarat Titans contract and England retainer mirror his worth as a T20 specialist. Buttler’s capacity to dominate bowlers within the demise overs has made him a fan favourite in India.

8. Trent Boult: Tempo and Precision

Nation: New Zealand

Wage: $1.2 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Mumbai Indians): $1.2 million yearly (₹12.5 crore).

New Zealand Cricket Retainer: $300,000.

Trent Boult’s IPL longevity and death-bowling experience justify his premium wage. His capacity to ship below strain in high-stakes matches retains him in demand. Boult’s expertise throughout codecs ensures he stays a significant cog in Mumbai Indians’ lineup.

9. Jofra Archer: Resurgence within the IPL

Nation: England

Wage: $1.1 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Rajasthan Royals): $1.1 million yearly (₹12.5 crore).

ECB Retainer: $200,000.

Jofra Archer’s return to health after accidents reignited his IPL market worth. His Rajasthan Royals contract highlights his resurgence as a strike bowler. Archer’s uncooked tempo and talent to unsettle batsmen make him a prized asset in T20 cricket.

10. Glenn Maxwell: Versatility and Expertise

Nation: Australia

Wage: $1 million (AUD)

Key Contracts:

IPL (Royal Challengers Bengaluru): $250,000 yearly.

Cricket Australia Retainer: $750,000.

Glenn Maxwell’s IPL wage dipped in 2025, however his Cricket Australia retainer and all-round expertise maintain him among the many high earners. His capacity to contribute with bat and ball stays invaluable, although his inconsistency in recent times has impacted his market worth.

Key Traits Shaping Cricket’s Earnings

IPL Dominance: The league’s $2.25 billion internet price dwarfs different cricket boards, enabling record-breaking contracts. Gamers like Pant and Iyer earn extra from IPL than nationwide group retainers.

International Leagues: Main League Cricket (MLC) and the Large Bash League complement IPL earnings, providing gamers like Cummins and Starc further income streams.

Marketability: Stars like Kohli and Pant leverage their on-field success and off-field personas to safe endorsements, usually exceeding their cricket salaries.

Nationwide Crew Retainers: Boards like Cricket Australia and the BCCI prioritize high gamers, making certain they continue to be financially safe even when IPL offers fluctuate.

Cricket’s highest-paid gamers in 2025 mirror a mix of IPL dominance, international attraction, and strategic profession administration. From Pat Cummins’ management to Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking offers, these athletes exemplify the game’s evolution right into a monetary powerhouse. As leagues increase and participant salaries rise, cricket’s high earners will proceed to redefine what it means to thrive within the trendy sport.