Indian cricketers and their salaries 2020-21

It is that time of the year when the fans get an insight about which Indian cricketer is earning how much from the BCCI. Being the wealthiest cricketing board, it has always paid a hefty price to all its cricketers. Since last year, there have been few changes in the grades of the players. And with a plethora of cricketers getting a contract, it opens the door for more improvement amongst the players.

This contract will cover the period of October 2020 to September 2021. Now, there are four categories in this list. The first one being Grade A+, which is the pool where the player will get a salary of INR 7 crores. The second one is Grade A, which comprises a salary of INR 5 crores. 

In the next pool, the Grade B players will get a salary from the BCCI worth INR 3 crores. Lastly, Grade C players will get a salary of INR 1 crore. This list will change according to the performances of the players over this period. Since the absence of MS Dhoni, the Grade A+ has been ruled by the Indian captain Virat Kohli.

Here is a detailed list of the Indian players’ annual contacts:

1. Virat Kohli: INR 7 crore

Virat Kohli, the Indian captain is the head of the table in Indian cricket right now. His fitness and consistency have enabled him to become a role model for various cricketers of this generation. And his popularity and consistency on the field have enabled him to rule world cricket for over a decade now. Undoubtedly, Kohli is the best batsman in the world right now. 

With an average of over 50 in all three formats of the game, no batsman comes close to Kohli. In 91 Test matches, he has scored 7490 runs with an average of 52.38. Talking about his ODI stats, he has played 254 matches and has scored 12169 runs. An outstanding average of 59.07 speaks volumes about his talent.

Well, it is not only about talent, he has done a lot of hard work to reach this level. Kohli’s on-field attitude and passion have been phenomenal. Even though he has not lifted an ICC trophy as a captain, it is a matter of time that he does so. Adding on, he is the first Indian captain to lead his team to a Test series victory in Australia. 

2. Rohit Sharma: INR 7 crore

Indian Cricket is blessed to have Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli playing at the same time for the national team. One of the modern-day giants, Rohit has been the purest striker of the white ball for team India. He has been opening for the national side since 2013 and there is no better opener in ODIs than Sharma. Apart from that, he is the vice-captain of the national team.

In 227 ODIs, Sharma has scored 9205 runs with a healthy average of 48.96. Adding on, he is the only batsman who has scored multiple double centuries on numerous occasions. With the highest score of 264, he still holds the record of the highest score by an individual in an ODI inning. Rohit also holds the most number of IPL trophies won as a captain.

Along with his successful ODI career, he has developed as a Test match opener too. In 38 Test matches, Sharma has scored 2615 runs with an average of 46.7. During the absence of Kohli, he was the deputy to Rahane in Australia. And this time too, he has a Grade A+ contract. 

3. Jasprit Bumrah: INR 7 crore

Jasprit Bumrah was the solution to India’s death bowler’s search. Since his debut in 2016, he has been the pick of the bowlers on numerous occasions. Bumrah’s ability to bowl the yorkers consistently has been one of the factors that make him the finest in the business. He has been successful in every format of the game. 

In 19 Test matches, Bumrah has picked up 83 wickets. With the best bowling figure of 6/27 and best bowling figures in a match of 9/86, he is India’s premier bowler. Apart from the toughest format, he has been extraordinary in ODIs too. Bumrah has picked up 108 wickets in 67 matches so far. 

Talking about T20Is, he has played 49 games and has picked up 59 wickets. A stellar economy of 6.67 shows that he is a difficult bowler to face. His slower deliveries are also hard to read. And this makes him the only bowler to secure a Grade A+ contract. 

4. Ravi Ashwin: INR 5 crore

Ravi Ashwin has been in the circuit for nearly a decade. As he played his first Test match against the West Indies, only a few people would have thought that a T20 specialist would become one of the finest all-rounders in the toughest format of the game. Since his debut, Ashwin has played 78 Test matches. And with a wicket tally of 409, he has established himself as a modern-day great.

Ashwin has played 111 ODIs so far. With 150 wickets, he was India’s go-to man to restrict the batters. But, Ashwin’s performances in Test cricket overshadow his efforts in the limited-overs format. Ashwin has smashed five Test centuries so far. Along with that eleven half-centuries make him a proper all-rounder for Team India.

In T20Is, he has played 46 games. With the best bowling figure of 4/8, he still has a scope of making a comeback in the shorter format. Without any doubt, Ashwin derives a Grade A contract from the richest board in the game. Well, who can forget his Sydney heroics?

5. Ravindra Jadeja: INR 5 crore

Ravindra Jadeja is one of the players who have completely changed and improved since the last decade. Initially, he was nicknamed “Sir”, but nobody had a hint of an idea that this southpaw will become the most valuable cricketer in the world. Jadeja is indeed the most underrated all-rounder in the game right now. Truly, he is Virat Kohli’s go-to man in desperate situations.

In 51 Test matches, Jadeja has scored 1954 runs. A healthy average of 36.19 showcases his ability to bat with the tailenders as he comes in after Ashwin. Jadeja jas played in 168 ODIs as well. Scoring at an average of 32.58, he has also contributed significantly lower down the order. 

Talking about his bowling, he has an economy rate of 7.1 in T20Is. With 220 wickets in 51 Test matches, he performs the role of restricting down the batsmen to perfection. Along with Ashwin, Jadeja picks up wickets from one end. Adding on, he is the best fielder in the world right now. Hence, he has been granted a Grade A contract.

6. Cheteshwar Pujara: INR 5 crore

Pujara’s importance in the Test match lineup was highlighted when he took more than eleven blows on his body to ensure that wickets do not fall at one end against Australia. In the absence of several senior players, he scored a half-century and ensured that Pant got enough loose deliveries to play with. Pujara was bought in as the next number three after Rahul Dravid. Although it is impossible to replace someone like Dravid, he has done enough to become the poster boy of Test match cricket. 

In 85 Test matches, Pujara has scored 6244 runs. With a solid average of 46.6, he has been the perfect number three for team India. Till now, he has scored 18 Test match centuries and three double centuries. In the time of adversity, he is the one who takes the initiative to occupy the crease for long periods. Truly, he is a hero.

Although Pujara was criticized because of his slow approach, he played according to the conditions in Australia. For a player of his calibre, he has a lot of cricket left in him. Apart from that, with the World Test Championship approaching, he is a vital player for Team India. And this time he gets a Grade A contract.

7. Ajinkya Rahane: INR 5 crore

After the Adelaide debacle, no former cricketer had thought that India will make a comeback and lift the trophy. Well, after the Gabba Test, it was Team India who won the series 2-1. The man who captained the team was a determined Ajinkya Rahane. The guy who was criticized because of his consistency. 

The vice-captain of the Indian Test team scored an excellent century at the MCG. And even during the tough Sydney Test, his team was determined enough to draw the match. With an inexperienced squad, he took down the best bowling attack in the world. And it is safe to say that Team India has a perfect Test vice-captain.

Rahane has played 73 Test matches so far. With a run tally of 4583, he scores at an average of 41.29. Apart from that, he has scored 12 centuries. Even though he is not a member of the limited-overs squad, he can make a comeback. His heroics have enabled him to get a Grade A contract. 

8. Shikhar Dhawan: INR 5 crore

Shikhar Dhawan is a perfect player for Team India during ICC events. Even though he is not a regular member of the Test squad, he has been a consistent performer in the limited-overs format. Dhawan has scored in every ICC tournament since 2013. Hence, he has the talent to make it to the 2023 World Cup squad as well.

Dhawan has played 34 Test matches so far in his career. With 2315 runs, he was a bit inconsistent in tough conditions. But, in ODIs, he has been a stellar performer. With 142 games and 5977 runs, he provides excellent starts to his team. And his partner, Rohit Sharma compliments him well.

Because of his consistency in ODIs, Dhawan has secured a Grade A contract this time. Apart from his batting, he is a safe fielder too. In 64 T20Is, he has scored 1673 runs. Adding on, he has a mediocre strike rate of 127.42 in the format. Hence, K.L. Rahul has replaced him in the T20I squad. 

9. KL Rahul: INR 5 crore

K.L. Rahul has been a consistent performer for Team India so far. With 36 Test matches, he has scored 2006 runs with a decent average of 34.59. But with the emergence of the youngsters in the national squad, his place in the Test team is not secure. But, he is a part of the squad wherever the team goes on a tour. 

Rahul, just like Dhawan has been an excellent performer for the national squad. In 38 ODIs, he has scored 1509 runs with an average of 48.68. A strike rate of 89.29 is healthy for a batsman who opens sometimes and handles the middle order as well. Apart from that, he can keep the wickets as well. On some occasions, he is the deputy to Kohli in the absence of Rohit Sharma. 

Rahul is a regular member of the T20I squad too. In 48 games, he has scored 1557 runs with an average of 39.92. But, his IPL performance has been mediocre recently. And the fans have also accused him of stat-padding. Nevertheless, he has performed excellently for Team India and has grabbed a Grade A contract. 

10. Mohammed Shami: INR 5 crore

Mohammed Shami is the other premier fast bowler for Team India apart from Jasprit Bumrah. Shami has been a part of the Indian team since 2013 and is one of the most effective bowlers in the longer formats of the game. He has been Kohli’s go-to man when it comes to bowling along with Bumrah. Shami is an effective bowler in the ODIs too. 

In 50 Test matches, he has picked up 180 wickets. With the best bowling figures of 6/56, he has been effective from one end of the wicket. Sami has a decent economy rate of 3.31 in the Test match format. Talking about his ODI figures, he has played in 79 ODIs. With 148 wickets to his name, he has been a consistent performer for Team India during ICC events. 

Although Shami has been expensive in T20Is, he has been a regular member of the IPL franchises he plays for. Apart from that, he is not the worst tailender by any means. His highest Test match score of 51 showcases his ability to swing the bat. And because of this, he has been a regular member of the national squad. 

11. Ishant Sharma: INR 5 crore

Most of the cricket fans remember Ishant Sharma as a tall, skinny bowler who gave Ricky Ponting nightmares. After being successful in Test cricket, he was a part of Dhoni’s limited-overs squad for a long time. But, a poor outing against the touring Aussies in 2013 paved the way for his exit from the limited-overs national squad. And the emergence of new bowlers made it difficult for Sharma to make a comeback. 

Slowly and steadily, he continued performing in the longest format of the game. In 101 Test matches, Sharma has picked up 303 wickets. With the best bowling figures of 10/108, he has been one of the finest fast bowlers in the country. And later on, he is widely regarded as an unsung hero of Indian cricket. 

His return in the limited-overs format is difficult for sure. But, he has been the leader of the bowling unit in Test match cricket. Apart from that, he has been the best night-watchman for his captains. His contribution to Indian cricket has been priceless. Therefore, he continues to remain as Grade A player for Team India. 

12. Rishabh Pant: INR 5 crore

At 23 years, Rishabh Pant has gone through every high and low a player experiences over his career. Pant was dropped from the national squad during November last year. And within seven months, he is the first choice wicket-keeper batsman for Virat Kohli. It was the perfect comeback for any cricketer.

In 20 Test matches, Pant has scored 1358 runs. His average of 45.27 showcases his consistency in the toughest format of the game. Adding on, he has scored multiple nineties in Test cricket. Apart from that, his three test hundreds have been iconic. 

In ODIs, he has been consistent this year. But, his mediocre performances last year have spoiled his overall efforts. Well, it is a matter of time that Pant plates the role of a perfect wicketkeeper-batsman for Team India. Because of his stellar efforts, he has been given a Grade A contract by the BCCI.

13. Hardik Pandya: INR 5 crore

Hardik Pandya is another player on this list who has risen through the ranks thanks to his performances in the IPL. He has been a clean striker of the cricket ball since his debut. And his batting is so valuable to the national squad that he makes it to the playing eleven even as a batsman, not an allrounder. 

Pandya has played 60 ODIs so far. With 1267 runs, he scores during the latter half of the innings. A strike rate of 117.31 in the ODI format speaks volumes about his approach to the game. In T20Is too, he has a strike rate of 147.66. 

Pandya as a bowler has been a decent performer. In ODIs, he has picked up 55 wickets. He can bowl in some overs when a particular bowler has a bad day at the office. Apart from that, he is an excellent fielder. This makes him a valuable asset for the national squad. 

14. Wriddhiman Saha: INR 3 crore

Wriddhiman Saha has been a part of the national team for over a decade. Although, he has been unfortunate enough to be the second-choice keeper. This is mainly because the rise of M.S. Dhoni as the captain made it difficult for Saha to be a part of playing eleven. Adding on Pant is taking giant strides in cricket right now. 

Saha has been a part of the squad, but when he has been included in the playing eleven, he has failed on most of the occasions. No doubt, he is technically the best wicketkeeper in the country. But, it is his batting that has let him down over the years. However, he is a big name in domestic cricket. 

Saha has played in 38 Test matches so far. With a mediocre average of 29.09, he has been unable to cement his spot on the national team. But, an experience of 126 IPL games shows that he can change gears when required. Because of his excellent wicket-keeping skills, he has been included in the Grade B contract. 

15. Umesh Yadav: INR 3 crore

Umesh Yadav is one of those bowlers who bowl in that unplayable delivery that can unsettle the best batsman in the world. Well, he has the knack of producing those late swinging deliveries which can uproot the stumps easily. Being a member of the Indian pace contingent, Umesh Yadav is a bowler who has served Indian cricket for nearly a decade. And he still makes it to the Indian team, mainly because of Kohli’s love for attacking with pace. 

Yadav has seen poverty up close. He is the son of a coal miner and was looking for a job to feed his family. Well, life is harsh sometimes, a young Yadav was unable to find a job. But, his talent and hard work pushed him into the IPL and international circuit. Talk about struggle, the world should know the story of Umesh Yadav, the guy who has seen every high and low a human can witness in a lifetime. 

Umesh Yadav has played 48 Test matches so far. With 148 wickets to his name, he has been a wicket-taker for his captains. In ODIs, his economy rate has been on the expensive side, but his wicket-taking ability is an asset. And because of his valuable services, he continues to represent Team India. 

16. Bhuvneshwar Kumar: INR 3 crore 

The only reason Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not on the Grade A contract list is because of his injury concerns. Since his debut, Kumar has been seen as a bowler who has stellar economy rates. And it is true, he is still the death bowler Kohli looks forward to in the absence of Bumrah. Well, apart from his bowling, he is one of the finest tail-enders one would come across. 

In 21 Test matches, Kumar has taken 63 Test wickets. With the best bowling figure of 6/82, he still has the knack of picking wickets at regular intervals. Kumar is now a limited-overs specialist. In 117 matches, he has picked up 138 wickets. 

Every captain would like to have a bowler who bowls at an economy rate of 5.02 in ODIs. Apart from that, his economy rate of 6.98 is something out of this world. With the format favouring the batsman, Kumar is a bowler who is one of the best in the business. He was adjudged as the player of the month in March 2021 by the ICC. 

17. Shardul Thakur: INR 3 crore

Shardul Thakur has had the best cricketing season of his career during the tour to Australia. After the Adelaide debacle and injuries to senior players, he was picked up by Rahane to bowl along with Natarajan. And he was one of the vital contributors for India during the final Test match at the Gabba. Apart from that, his batting skills have been decent.

In two Test matches, he has scored 73 runs with the highest score of 67. Most importantly, he scored that 67 runs at the Gabba. This was a match-changing innings from Thakur. In ODIs, he has a strike rate of 144.59, which means that he is more than a bowling all-rounder.

Talking about his bowling, he has been a bit expensive in the limited-overs format. But during the Gabba Test match, he picked up 4/61. His bowling partnership with Siraj was phenomenal. He has a bright future ahead of him in the national squad. No doubt, that Grade B contract might turn into a Grade A within a few years. 

18. Mayank Agarwal: INR 3 crore 

Mayank Agarwal was a part of the national team that went on to defeat Australia in 2018-2019 and 2020-2021. A perfect team man, Agarwal has been a decent batsman in the Test format. But, the rise of Shubman Gill has made it a bit difficult for Agarwal to retain his spot. However, Agarwal continues to impress at the domestic and IPL levels.

Currently, it is difficult to make it to the Indian limited-overs squad. In 14 Test matches, he has scored 1052 runs. A healthy average of 45.74 speaks volumes about his talent. Adding on, Agarwal has scored three centuries so far in his career.

Adding on, he has also scored two double centuries. The highest score of 243 is a huge number for a batsman who has played only fourteen Test matches. Agarwal is also an excellent fielder and is a perfect substitute if he does not play in a particular match. And he has a lot of talent to make a name for himself. 

19. Kuldeep Yadav: INR 1 crore

Kuldeep Yadav has been in the international circuit for over four years. But, an experience of seven Test matches depicts the competition for a place in the national squad. Kuldeep has been travelling with the team since his debut. But, it is difficult to replace a modern-day giant like Ashwin. 

In 7 Test matches, Yadav has picked up 26 wickets. In ODIs, he has played 63 matches so far. With a wicket tally of 105, he is a wicket-taker for captain Kohli. Along with Chahal, he forms the spin attack for India in the 50 over format. 

In T20Is, he has played 20 games so far. With an impressive economy rate of 7.11, he has been able to choke the batsmen from one end. Adding on, he has played just 45 IPL games and has been unable to make a mark. This is mainly because of poor management by the Kolkata Knight Riders.

20. Navdeep Saini: INR 1 crore

Navdeep Saini was a part of the victorious Indian team that defeated the Australian Test team earlier this year. A fast bowler who hits the deck hard, Saini has been a part of Virat Kohli’s pace troop since his debut. Adding on, he has been the backup option for Bumrah in every format of the game. But his economy rate has been on the expensive side.

In 2 Test matches, Saini has picked four wickets. He was injured during the final Test against Australia earlier this year. In seven ODIs, he has picked six wickets. But, he was hammered by the Australian top order. Well, he has to improve his game to make it to the national squad regularly. 

Saini is not the worst all-rounder by any means. In an ODI game, he scored a sparkling 45. Because of this, he could be used as a bowler who can bat in the future. But, as he is in the early phase of his career, he gets a Grade C contract this time.

21. Deepak Chahar: INR 1 crore

Deepak Chahar has been on the international circuit since 2018. Although he has been in the national squad, he has managed to make it to the playing eleven in the ODIs only on three occasions. Chahar is an economical bowler. He can bowl tight lines that unsettle the batsman. 

In three ODIs, Chahar has picked up just two wickets. But, he has played thirteen T20Is so far. In those thirteen T20Is, he has picked up 18 wickets. Everyone does remember his iconic spell of 6/7 in a T20I game. In the shorter format, he has a decent economy rate of 7.57. 

Chahar has been Dhoni’s go-to man in the IPL. He opens the bowling for CSK. In 50 IPL games, he has picked 49 wickets so far. With the best bowling figure of 4/13, he has been CSK’s frontline bowler. In the upcoming T20 World Cup, he might open the bowling along with Jasprit Bumrah. This year, he has been handed a Grade C contract by the BCCI. 

22. Shubman Gill: INR 1 crore

Shubman Gill made the headlines when he scored 418 runs at an average of 104.50 during the 2018 ICC U19 World Cup. A naturally gifted batsman, Gill can play free-flowing shots with ease. He is now the first-choice opener in Test cricket for Team India. Along with Rohit, he had set up the tone during the fourth innings at the Gabba. 

Gill has been effective only in the Test format. With 378 runs at an average of 34.36, he is a decent performance so far for Team India. He can smash world-class bowlers with ease. This has been a valuable asset for Team India. 

He has played 44 IPL games for KKR. With a mediocre strike rate of 126.33, he has to play more attacking shots to make it to the national T20I squad. Apart from Test match cricket and IPL, Gill has also played three ODIs. He has the highest score of 33 in that format. 

23. Hanuma Vihari: INR 1 crore

Hanuma Vihari is a Test match specialist batsman. He was not a popular name amongst the fans since his debut in 2018. However, his partnership with Ravi Ashwin made him a household name. He stood like a wall to save India from a probable defeat.

Vihari was also a part of the U19 World Cup-winning squad in 2012. Since then he has been seen as a solid batsman in the middle order. In 12 Test matches, Vihari has scored 624 runs at an average of 32.4. But, all these runs were scored during difficult circumstances. 

Currently, Vihari is spending his time in the United Kingdom. He is playing County Cricket for Warwickshire. This might help him to contribute during the World Test Championship Finals. Well, currently, he has been awarded the Grade C contract by the BCCI.

24. Axar Patel: INR 1 crore

Axar Patel had a dream debut against England earlier this year. As he was coming in the place of an injured Ravindra Jadeja, he was the perfect replacement for him. The pitches suited him and he was lethal from the word go. 

The English batsmen were clueless before him. Few balls turned, few did not. With 27 wickets in the series, he had a dream debut. Axar has been in the international circuit since 2014. It took him seven years to make his international debut for the country. 

In ODIs, Axar has played 38 matches so far. With a decent wicket tally of 45 wickets, he did a decent job. In IPL, he has played 97 games so far. With an excellent economy of 7.3 in IPL, he has been a star all-rounder for his franchises. In T20Is, Axar has picked up 9 wickets with an economy rate of 6.88.

25. Shreyas Iyer: INR 1 crore

Shreyas Iyer has been the poster boy for Delhi Capitals for the last couple of years. He is a terrific timer of the ball and has been dominating the domestic circuit. Although he has missed this year’s IPL, the void left by Iyer has not been filled yet. Iyer is the perfect middle-order batsman for Team India. 

In 22 ODI games, Iyer has scored 813 runs with a healthy average of 42.79. Talking about his T20I stats, he has scored 550 runs at a strike rate of 133.82. If we are looking at an Indian team post-Virat Kohli’s era, Iyer might be the captain of that team. He is the future of Indian cricket. 

Apart from his batting, he is a terrific fielder as well. He can cover a lot of ground quickly. But, as his recent performances have been a bit average, he has been awarded the Grade C contract. His stats are destined to improve in the future as he gets more chances. 

26. Washington Sundar: INR 1 crore

Washington Sundar is another all-rounder who was a part of the Indian squad that defeated the mighty Australians at the Gabba. Sundar started his career as an off-spinner, but he has been phenomenal in Test cricket as a proper all-rounder. In four Test matches, Sundar has scored 265 runs with a healthy average of 66.35. Currently, he is also a backup option for Jadeja. 

Sundar has picked up only six Test wickets, but his efforts with the bat have been priceless. His partnership with Thakur during the Gabba test had set up the tone for a famous victory. In T20Is, he bowls at the powerplay overs. And is well known for putting the opposition batsmen under pressure. 

The credit for the rise of Sundar goes to Virat Kohli. He has trusted him during the IPL. With an excellent economy rate of 7,25 in T20Is, he is Kohli’s first-choice spinner. Adding on, Sundar has got a safe pair of hands too. As he is in the initial phase of his career, he has been handed a Grade C contract by the BCCI. 

27. Yuzvendra Chahal: INR 1 crore

Yuzvendra Chahal has been another spinner who is backed by captain Kohli over the years. He made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2016. Since then, he has improved over years. But recently, he had a bad outing against the Aussies. Hence, he has been handed the Grade C contract by the BCCI. 

In 54 ODI games, Chahal has picked up 92 wickets so far. With the best bowling figure of 6/42 in ODIs, he has been an effective spinner over the years. Adding on, he has a decent economy rate of 5.21 in ODIs. Chahal has been a crucial bowler in the Indian bowling lineup. And his stats are destined to improve over the years.

In IPL, Chahal has picked 123 wickets so far. With an impressive economy rate of 7.7, he has been successful in breaking partnerships. Talking about his T20I stats, Chahal has picked up 62 wickets. However, his economy is on the higher side in T20Is, at 8.4 runs per over. 

28. Mohammed Siraj: INR 1 crore

Mohammed Siraj is another player who gave his best during the Australian tour. Since then, he has changed, he has taken the responsibility to bowl proper line and length to unsettle the batsmen. Well, if he continues to do so, he might be the next big thing in Indian cricket. Since then, he has been a decent performer with the ball for RCB. 

Siraj has played 5 Test matches so far. In those five matches, he has picked up 16 wickets. This also includes a match-winning 5/73 at the Gabba. He was determined to give in everything for the team even during the absence of senior players. 

It looks like he has been improving as he is being given more chances to represent the national squad. His rise to the playing eleven has been fueled by Rahane’s excellent captaincy down under. Currently, he has been given a Grade C contract by the BCCI. But, it is a matter of time that he makes it to the Grade B contract list.