Gavaskar Shastri earn more than Dhoni from the BCCI

MS Dhoni has been in spot light recently not only for his cricket but, also for being the only cricketer from India to feature in the top 100 of Forbes richest cricketers. In 2013 Dhoni was at the 16^th position in the Forbes List of ‘The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes’. But despite all that he is comprehensively beaten by Gavaskar and Shastri by taking home heavier payment from the BCCI than the Indian skipper.

Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri the two men who have been the face of Indian cricket in the past and now represent the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI at various positions.

If a report published in English daily is to be believed the duo earn at least twice of than what Dhoni picks up from the BCCI annually. The report read: With added bonus of about Rs 2 crore for their new roles — Ravi Shastri as Director Cricket and Sunil Gavaskar as head of IPL operations — the two will be getting around Rs 6 crore each annually. The two already had a Rs 4 crore per year contract as BCCI-endorsed commentators, which means they are on air for all of India’s international matches.

Imagine a 6 crore annual contract from the BCCI, would a player not be more inclined towards holding the microphones than the willow.

Interestingly Dhoni managed to earn a mere (in comparison) 3.59 crores from the BCCI which includes match fees for the 35 international matches in 2013 all the formats he has played for India. And the Rs. 1 crore retainer fees he is paid every year as per contract.

The respect that Gavaskar and Shastri have plus the fan following, many dreamt of taking up similar jobs. Add to it the heavy pay cheques that they draw now, commentary could well be looked up to as a fascinating options by former or retiring cricketers.