5 Indian cricketers who earn more from brands than from their board

In the past cricket was a game that helped various individuals earn a necessary livelihood. As time went by more money was pumped into the game and it allowed cricketers to sign hefty paychecks. Then the popularity of players reached a new level when they started endorsing brands.

Now, most of these cricketers are making a fortune from their million-dollar deals. Among them, some of them have hit jackpot by becoming the face of well-known companies. It has certainly boosted their annual income but unfortunately, their central contracts look like allowances in front of these deals.

Here is the list of 5 cricketers who earn more from brands than from their board

1. Virat Kohli – 146 crores

Virat Kohli is the perfect role model for the current crop of cricketers. His passion for the game is unmatched like some of his batting records. Especially in the last couple of years, Virat has been instrumental in guiding the team to memorable victories. He has the ability to stand up whenever he is presented with a new set of challenges and his hunger for excellence has led him to greatness. He is the epitome of success on the field and off it.

Even his growth in the commercial world is the testimony to the fact. Currently, the Indian skipper is the only cricketer in the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes. Kohli makes most of his fortune from endorsements as his popularity has made him a global icon.

He is the ambassador of brands like Puma, MRF Tyres and Audi. He pockets around 146 crores from his advertisement deals which is a mindboggling figure considering his annual income of 7 crores from BCCI.

2) MS Dhoni – 120 crores

The former Indian skipper, MS Dhoni has been a pillar of strength for the Blue team. The cricketer from Jharkhand has changed the landscape of the nation’s cricket by taking the side to the pinnacle of world cricket. By leading the team to historic wins including the 2011 World Cup glory Dhoni has inspired millions of youngsters to take up the game. Even now he is shaping the future stars of the nation with his words of wisdom.

For his immense contributions, Captain Cool has received cult status in the cricketing and as well as in the advertising world. He was the first cricketer to be ranked under 25 in the Forbes list of world’s highest-paid athletes in 2014.

Though his on-field heroics is on the wane he has been able to attract lucrative deals. He is the ambassador of Reebok, Pepsico, and Spartan Sports. Dhoni roughly earns around 120 crores from his brand endorsements which is sky-high compared to his central contract worth 5 crores.

3) Hardik Pandya – 14 crores

Nowadays Hardik Pandya has become an integral part of the Indian team. The all-rounder is constantly improving his skills and his growth has helped the side in achieving the required balance. Even in the 2019 World Cup he showed his temperament in pressure situations and stood up whenever the team required him. Undoubtedly Hardik has turned into a potential match-winner within a short amount of time.

His Caribbean flair and style of play have made him a fan favourite. Coincidentally it has also aided him in earning lucrative deals in the commercial world. Pandya is currently endorsing brands like Gillette, Gulf Oil, and Oppo mobiles.

He seems the biggest gainer in the Indian team as his earnings rose more than 800 percent with most of the share coming from sponsorships. Hardik annually makes 14 crores from advertisements which is almost 5 times his central contract worth 3 crores.

4) Rohit Sharma – 7.2 crores

For a die-hard cricket fan, batting is not just about fours and sixes. It is also the poise and grace associated with the craft which is perfectly defined by Rohit Sharma. The Mumbaikar has been captivating the audience with his stunning batting displays. His 3 double centuries in ODIs is just a small sample of his talent. Currently, the right-hander is ruling the white-ball cricket and his 2019 World Cup performances is the validation of the point.

Rohit Sharma is slowly taking giant strides in his international career and the same can be said about his brand value. Though he was recently awarded an A+ contract worth 7 crores by BCCI his earnings from the advertising world pipped it.

He pockets a sum of 7.2 crores from the endorsements deals. He has signed agreements with global brands like Adidas, Hublot, and Aristocrat Bags. Hitman has become one of the modern faces of Indian cricket.

5) Shikhar Dhawan – 5.2 crores

Shikhar Dhawan is one of the few cricketers who announced his arrival at the international stage with his dynamism. The left-hander immediately made his mark when the team won the Champions Trophy in 2013. Since then he has become a regular in the team set-up. He has formed one of the best opening pairs in white-ball cricket along with Rohit Sharma.

He has been a match-winner for the Blue team whose performances have been shadowed by the other superstars in the side. Though the southpaw has hogged the limelight in ICC events and it has helped him in acquiring profitable deals in the commercial world. He is endorsing the products of GS Caltex, boAt and Alcis Sports.

Of late Dhawan also launched a home decor brand, DaOne. In all, he earns around 5.2 crores from sponsorships which is more than his annual salary from BCCI, 5 crores. Finally one can say that the Delhi cricketer knows how to sustain his brand value in this cut-throat competition.