The cricket fever is extremely high this year, with several important fixtures lined up. While India and New Zealand will cross swords in the inaugural ICC<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tests/world-test-championship/"> World Test Championship</a></strong> final next month, the T20 World Cup is slated to take place later this year. Hence, cricket fans all over the world should mark their calendars and brace themselves to witness some exciting contest between the bat and the ball.

Cricket is indeed one of the most popular sports across the globe. Hence, the pressure of expectations is high on the players. However, one person who takes ownership of the entire team’s show is the captain. Apart from putting up individual performances, a captain has added responsibilities like making on-field decisions and team selections. Hence, a majority of the international cricket skippers are centrally contracted and receive salaries accordingly.

Captains of all sides receive different salaries based on their national board’s norms, policy, and financial status. Generally, cricket boards announce annual contracts every year which determine the salary of a player in that year. There are also certain boards who treat their captains special and offer them a different contract with a higher sum.

International cricket captains and their salaries at the current time

8. Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne – INR 51.03 lakh, Kusal Perera – INR 25 lakh

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518203" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dimuth-Karunaratne-and-Kusal-Perera-.jpg" alt="Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518203" class="wp-caption-text">Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The last few years haven’t been memorable from Sri Lankan cricket by any means. They lost one series after another, and their position in ICC rankings narrates the entire story.  <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/sri-lanka/">Sri Lanka</a></strong> doesn’t feature among the top seven teams in any format and their glory days aren’t likely to come back anytime soon.

One of the main reasons behind their poor show is not having a settled team. They even have changed as many as nine ODI captains in the last four years, with Kusal Perera being the latest one at the helm. The southpaw is also likely to lead the side in T20Is.  At the same time, Dimuth Karunaratne leads the side in the Test matches.

The pay dispute is also one of many problems haunting Sri Lankan cricket in recent years. Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis has affected the board even more poorly. As per the latest contracts, Test captain, Dimuth Karunaratne receives an annual salary of USD 70,000 while white-ball skipper Kusal Perera gets $35,000 per year.

7. Pakistan: Babar Azam – INR 62.40 lakh

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-462131" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Babar-Azam.jpg" alt="Babar Azam" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-462131" class="wp-caption-text">Babar Azam. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Babar Azam has been one of the finest batsmen in the last few years, and his record across formats is phenomenal. Be it showcasing resistance in Test cricket or playing quick-fire knocks in T20Is, the right-handed batsman has proved his mettle in all circumstances. Hence, the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/pakistan/">Pakistan</a> </strong>Cricket Board (PCB) has given him the responsibility of leading the side in all three formats.

He replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed as Pakistan’s white-ball skipper in 2019 following the wicket-keeper’s mediocre performances. Almost a year later, he also took the leadership role from Azhar Ali in the longest format of the game. So far, the 27-year-old has done well as a skipper. However, he still has a long way to go.

Thanks to his spectacular performances, Azam is centrally contracted with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the top category (Category A). Hence, the star batsman fetches an annual salary of 13.2 Million PKR, which is INR 62.40 lakh approximately.

6. West Indies: Kieron Pollard – 1.73 crore, Kraigg Brathwaite – 1.39 crore

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518202" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kieron-Pollard-and-Kraigg-Brathwaite.jpg" alt="Kieron Pollard and Kraigg Brathwaite" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518202" class="wp-caption-text">Kieron Pollard and Kraigg Brathwaite. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

A couple of years ago, Jason Holder led the West Indies team across formats. However, in search of better results, Cricket <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/west-indies/">West Indies</a></strong> sacked him from the leadership role and announced two separate captains for Test matches and white-ball cricket. While Kraigg Brathwaite leads the Caribbean side in the longest format, Kieron Pollard has the reins of the ODI and T20I team.

Over the years, many Caribbean players have opted to play T20 leagues rather than representing West Indies due to pay disputes with the board. However, new management took over the charge in 2019, and their policies have gone down well with the players. Subsequently, the likes of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo came back to the national team.

As per the latest contract, Kieron Pollard receives an annual salary of $250,000 (₹1.73 crores) thanks to his white-ball contract. On the other hand, Kraigg Brathwaite has a contract in the longest format. Hence, he receives $200,000 (₹ 1.39 crores) per season.

5. New Zealand: Kane Williamson – 1.77 crore

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-473739" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-3.jpg" alt="Kane Williamson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473739" class="wp-caption-text">Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>

<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/new-zealand/">New Zealand</a></strong> have taken giant strides in international cricket in the past few years, and no one deserves more credit than Kane Williamson. The right-handed batsman has led the side from the front and guided them to many wins across formats. While his batting prowess dismantled the best of bowling line-ups, his on-field decisions have been spot on.

Williamson leads the Kiwis in all three formats. In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that leadership has brought the best out of star cricketer. He replaced Brendon McCullum as New Zealand skipper across formats in 2016, and his performance graph has been high since then. Williamson took the Kiwis to the 2019 World Cup final and will also lead the side in the inaugural World Test Championship final against India next month.

As per Williamson’s contract, he earns $440,000 a year from his New Zealand cricket contract. This also includes $40,000 as a special bonus for being the captain of the national team.

4. South Africa: Dean Elgar &#8211; INR 3.2 crore, Temba Bavuma – INR 2.5 crore

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518201" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dean-Elgar-and-Temba-Bavuma-.jpg" alt="Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518201" class="wp-caption-text">Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Not too long ago, the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/south-africa/">South Africa</a></strong> cricket team was a force to reckon with as they registered triumphs all over the world. They even thrashed giants like India, Australia, and England in their own backyard. However, the Proteas side suffered a downfall after greats like Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, and Morne Morkel quitted international cricket.

Finalizing captains was also a challenge for the board. In 2020, Quinton de Kock replaced Faf du Plessis as South Africa’s captain across formats and was expected to lead the side in the times to come. However, within a year, the board decided to remove him from the role in all formats and announced two different skippers.

Temba Bavuma got the reins of the ODI and T20I side while Dean Elgar will lead South Africa in Test matches. As far as their salary is concerned, Bavuma receives $350,000 while Elgar gets a yearly sum of $450,000.

3. Australia: Aaron Finch – INR 4.87 crore, Tim Paine – 4.87 crore

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518204" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Aaron-Finch-and-Tim-Paine.jpg" alt="Aaron Finch and Tim Paine" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518204" class="wp-caption-text">Aaron Finch and Tim Paine. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/australia/">Australia</a> </strong>have been giants of world cricket for the last few decades and the trophies in their cabinet speak it all. The Aussies have won as many as five World Cups alongside two Champions Trophy titles. Although the Men in Yellow have endured a tough time lately, they are still one of the strongest national teams going around.

As of now, Aaron Finch leads Australia in white-ball cricket while Tim Paine handles the reins in the longest format of the game. The duo has also done a decent job at the helm in their respective formats. While Finch led Australia to the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, the Tim Pained-led side retained the Ashes on England soil.

Paine and Finch also receive a hefty sum of money, with Cricket Australia being one of the richest boards in the world. As per the latest contracts, both the Aussie captain get approximately $1 million as yearly salary by Cricket Australia.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-499240" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-against-England.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli against England" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-499240" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli against England. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Indian skipper Virat Kohli had to be one of the top earners in the list, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) deemed as the wealthiest board in the world. Kohli is arguably the best batsman going around, and his record across formats is nothing short of sensational. The right-handed batsman scored runs amid all challenges and guided India to many wins.

Owing to his brilliance, Kohli belongs to the A+ category in the BCCI contracts. Hence, he receives a significant sum of INR 7 crore per year. Apart from this, the 32-year-old also earns loads of money from the Indian Premier League (IPL), brand endorsements, advertisements, etc. Kohli, in fact, was the only Indian in Forbes’ 2021 list of highest-paid athletes.

Meanwhile, the Indian skipper is gearing up for some big assignments in red-ball cricket. He&#8217;ll lead <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/india/">India</a> </strong>in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand next month. The summit clash will be followed by a five-match Test series against England.

1. England: Joe Root – INR 8.97 crore, Eoin Morgan – 1.75 crore

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518205" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Joe-Root-and-Eoin-Morgan.jpg" alt="Joe Root and Eoin Morgan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518205" class="wp-caption-text">Joe Root and Eoin Morgan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

You might find it odd, but Kohli is not the highest-paid captain in this happening list. Instead, it’s his England counterpart Joe Root. Root has been England’s Test captain since 2016 and has done a commendable job. Moreover, he also has a white-ball contract which makes him top this list.

<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/england/">England</a> </strong>have had split captaincy for quite some time now, and the tactic has indeed worked for them. While Root captains the Test side, Eoin Morgan leads the Three Lions in T20I and ODI cricket. The duo has done a commendable job in the leadership role and would like to take England cricket to greater heights.

As mentioned above, Root has both contracts, and hence, he earns £870,000 from the England Cricket Board (ECB) per year. On the other hand, Morgan, who doesn’t play Test matches, only has the contract in white-ball cricket. The southpaw receives a sum of £170,000 yearly.

<p>The cricket fever is extremely high this year, with several important fixtures lined up. While India and New Zealand will cross swords in the inaugural ICC<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tests/world-test-championship/"> World Test Championship</a></strong> final next month, the T20 World Cup is slated to take place later this year. Hence, cricket fans all over the world should mark their calendars and brace themselves to witness some exciting contest between the bat and the ball.</p>
<p>Cricket is indeed one of the most popular sports across the globe. Hence, the pressure of expectations is high on the players. However, one person who takes ownership of the entire team’s show is the captain. Apart from putting up individual performances, a captain has added responsibilities like making on-field decisions and team selections. Hence, a majority of the international cricket skippers are centrally contracted and receive salaries accordingly.</p>
<p>Captains of all sides receive different salaries based on their national board’s norms, policy, and financial status. Generally, cricket boards announce annual contracts every year which determine the salary of a player in that year. There are also certain boards who treat their captains special and offer them a different contract with a higher sum.</p>
<h2>International cricket captains and their salaries at the current time</h2>
<h3>8. Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne – INR 51.03 lakh, Kusal Perera – INR 25 lakh</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518203" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518203" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-518203" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dimuth-Karunaratne-and-Kusal-Perera-.jpg" alt="Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518203" class="wp-caption-text">Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The last few years haven’t been memorable from Sri Lankan cricket by any means. They lost one series after another, and their position in ICC rankings narrates the entire story.&nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/sri-lanka/">Sri Lanka</a></strong> doesn’t feature among the top seven teams in any format and their glory days aren’t likely to come back anytime soon.</p>
<p>One of the main reasons behind their poor show is not having a settled team. They even have changed as many as nine ODI captains in the last four years, with Kusal Perera being the latest one at the helm. The southpaw is also likely to lead the side in T20Is.&nbsp; At the same time, Dimuth Karunaratne leads the side in the Test matches.</p>
<p>The pay dispute is also one of many problems haunting Sri Lankan cricket in recent years. Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis has affected the board even more poorly. As per the latest contracts, Test captain, Dimuth Karunaratne receives an annual salary of USD 70,000 while white-ball skipper Kusal Perera gets $35,000 per year.</p>
<h3>7. Pakistan: Babar Azam – INR 62.40 lakh</h3>
<figure id="attachment_462131" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-462131" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-462131" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Babar-Azam.jpg" alt="Babar Azam" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-462131" class="wp-caption-text">Babar Azam. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Babar Azam has been one of the finest batsmen in the last few years, and his record across formats is phenomenal. Be it showcasing resistance in Test cricket or playing quick-fire knocks in T20Is, the right-handed batsman has proved his mettle in all circumstances. Hence, the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/pakistan/">Pakistan</a> </strong>Cricket Board (PCB) has given him the responsibility of leading the side in all three formats.</p>
<p>He replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed as Pakistan’s white-ball skipper in 2019 following the wicket-keeper’s mediocre performances. Almost a year later, he also took the leadership role from Azhar Ali in the longest format of the game. So far, the 27-year-old has done well as a skipper. However, he still has a long way to go.</p>
<p>Thanks to his spectacular performances, Azam is centrally contracted with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the top category (Category A). Hence, the star batsman fetches an annual salary of 13.2 Million PKR, which is INR 62.40 lakh approximately.</p>
<h3>6. West Indies: Kieron Pollard – 1.73 crore, Kraigg Brathwaite – 1.39 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518202" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518202" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-518202" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kieron-Pollard-and-Kraigg-Brathwaite.jpg" alt="Kieron Pollard and Kraigg Brathwaite" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518202" class="wp-caption-text">Kieron Pollard and Kraigg Brathwaite. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>A couple of years ago, Jason Holder led the West Indies team across formats. However, in search of better results, Cricket <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/west-indies/">West Indies</a></strong> sacked him from the leadership role and announced two separate captains for Test matches and white-ball cricket. While Kraigg Brathwaite leads the Caribbean side in the longest format, Kieron Pollard has the reins of the ODI and T20I team.</p>
<p>Over the years, many Caribbean players have opted to play T20 leagues rather than representing West Indies due to pay disputes with the board. However, new management took over the charge in 2019, and their policies have gone down well with the players. Subsequently, the likes of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo came back to the national team.</p>
<p>As per the latest contract, Kieron Pollard receives an annual salary of $250,000 (₹1.73 crores) thanks to his white-ball contract. On the other hand, Kraigg Brathwaite has a contract in the longest format. Hence, he receives $200,000 (₹ 1.39 crores) per season.</p>
<h3>5. New Zealand: Kane Williamson – 1.77 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_473739" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473739" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-473739" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-3.jpg" alt="Kane Williamson" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473739" class="wp-caption-text">Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/new-zealand/">New Zealand</a></strong> have taken giant strides in international cricket in the past few years, and no one deserves more credit than Kane Williamson. The right-handed batsman has led the side from the front and guided them to many wins across formats. While his batting prowess dismantled the best of bowling line-ups, his on-field decisions have been spot on.</p>
<p>Williamson leads the Kiwis in all three formats. In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that leadership has brought the best out of star cricketer. He replaced Brendon McCullum as New Zealand skipper across formats in 2016, and his performance graph has been high since then. Williamson took the Kiwis to the 2019 World Cup final and will also lead the side in the inaugural World Test Championship final against India next month.</p>
<p>As per Williamson’s contract, he earns $440,000 a year from his New Zealand cricket contract. This also includes $40,000 as a special bonus for being the captain of the national team.</p>
<h3>4. South Africa: Dean Elgar – INR 3.2 crore, Temba Bavuma – INR 2.5 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518201" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518201" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-518201" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dean-Elgar-and-Temba-Bavuma-.jpg" alt="Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518201" class="wp-caption-text">Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Not too long ago, the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/south-africa/">South Africa</a></strong> cricket team was a force to reckon with as they registered triumphs all over the world. They even thrashed giants like India, Australia, and England in their own backyard. However, the Proteas side suffered a downfall after greats like Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, and Morne Morkel quitted international cricket.</p>
<p>Finalizing captains was also a challenge for the board. In 2020, Quinton de Kock replaced Faf du Plessis as South Africa’s captain across formats and was expected to lead the side in the times to come. However, within a year, the board decided to remove him from the role in all formats and announced two different skippers.</p>
<p>Temba Bavuma got the reins of the ODI and T20I side while Dean Elgar will lead South Africa in Test matches. As far as their salary is concerned, Bavuma receives $350,000 while Elgar gets a yearly sum of $450,000.</p>
<h3>3. Australia: Aaron Finch – INR 4.87 crore, Tim Paine – 4.87 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518204" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518204" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-518204" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Aaron-Finch-and-Tim-Paine.jpg" alt="Aaron Finch and Tim Paine" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518204" class="wp-caption-text">Aaron Finch and Tim Paine. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/australia/">Australia</a> </strong>have been giants of world cricket for the last few decades and the trophies in their cabinet speak it all. The Aussies have won as many as five World Cups alongside two Champions Trophy titles. Although the Men in Yellow have endured a tough time lately, they are still one of the strongest national teams going around.</p>
<p>As of now, Aaron Finch leads Australia in white-ball cricket while Tim Paine handles the reins in the longest format of the game. The duo has also done a decent job at the helm in their respective formats. While Finch led Australia to the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, the Tim Pained-led side retained the Ashes on England soil.</p>
<p>Paine and Finch also receive a hefty sum of money, with Cricket Australia being one of the richest boards in the world. As per the latest contracts, both the Aussie captain get approximately $1 million as yearly salary by Cricket Australia.</p>
<h3>2. India: Virat Kohli – INR 7 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_499240" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-499240" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-499240" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-against-England.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli against England" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-499240" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli against England. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Indian skipper Virat Kohli had to be one of the top earners in the list, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) deemed as the wealthiest board in the world. Kohli is arguably the best batsman going around, and his record across formats is nothing short of sensational. The right-handed batsman scored runs amid all challenges and guided India to many wins.</p>
<p>Owing to his brilliance, Kohli belongs to the A+ category in the BCCI contracts. Hence, he receives a significant sum of INR 7 crore per year. Apart from this, the 32-year-old also earns loads of money from the Indian Premier League (IPL), brand endorsements, advertisements, etc. Kohli, in fact, was the only Indian in Forbes’ 2021 list of highest-paid athletes.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Indian skipper is gearing up for some big assignments in red-ball cricket. He’ll lead <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/india/">India</a> </strong>in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand next month. The summit clash will be followed by a five-match Test series against England.</p>
<h3>1. England: Joe Root – INR 8.97 crore, Eoin Morgan – 1.75 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518205" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518205" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-518205" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Joe-Root-and-Eoin-Morgan.jpg" alt="Joe Root and Eoin Morgan" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518205" class="wp-caption-text">Joe Root and Eoin Morgan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>You might find it odd, but Kohli is not the highest-paid captain in this happening list. Instead, it’s his England counterpart Joe Root. Root has been England’s Test captain since 2016 and has done a commendable job. Moreover, he also has a white-ball contract which makes him top this list.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/england/">England</a> </strong>have had split captaincy for quite some time now, and the tactic has indeed worked for them. While Root captains the Test side, Eoin Morgan leads the Three Lions in T20I and ODI cricket. The duo has done a commendable job in the leadership role and would like to take England cricket to greater heights.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, Root has both contracts, and hence, he earns £870,000 from the England Cricket Board (ECB) per year. On the other hand, Morgan, who doesn’t play Test matches, only has the contract in white-ball cricket. The southpaw receives a sum of £170,000 yearly.</p>

<p>The cricket fever is extremely high this year, with several important fixtures lined up. While India and New Zealand will cross swords in the inaugural ICC<strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/tests/world-test-championship/"> World Test Championship</a></strong> final next month, the T20 World Cup is slated to take place later this year. Hence, cricket fans all over the world should mark their calendars and brace themselves to witness some exciting contest between the bat and the ball.</p>
<p>Cricket is indeed one of the most popular sports across the globe. Hence, the pressure of expectations is high on the players. However, one person who takes ownership of the entire team’s show is the captain. Apart from putting up individual performances, a captain has added responsibilities like making on-field decisions and team selections. Hence, a majority of the international cricket skippers are centrally contracted and receive salaries accordingly.</p>
<p>Captains of all sides receive different salaries based on their national board’s norms, policy, and financial status. Generally, cricket boards announce annual contracts every year which determine the salary of a player in that year. There are also certain boards who treat their captains special and offer them a different contract with a higher sum.</p>
<h2>International cricket captains and their salaries at the current time</h2>
<h3>8. Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne – INR 51.03 lakh, Kusal Perera – INR 25 lakh</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518203" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518203" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518203" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dimuth-Karunaratne-and-Kusal-Perera-.jpg" alt="Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518203" class="wp-caption-text">Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The last few years haven’t been memorable from Sri Lankan cricket by any means. They lost one series after another, and their position in ICC rankings narrates the entire story.  <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/sri-lanka/">Sri Lanka</a></strong> doesn’t feature among the top seven teams in any format and their glory days aren’t likely to come back anytime soon.</p>
<p>One of the main reasons behind their poor show is not having a settled team. They even have changed as many as nine ODI captains in the last four years, with Kusal Perera being the latest one at the helm. The southpaw is also likely to lead the side in T20Is.  At the same time, Dimuth Karunaratne leads the side in the Test matches.</p>
<p>The pay dispute is also one of many problems haunting Sri Lankan cricket in recent years. Moreover, the COVID-19 crisis has affected the board even more poorly. As per the latest contracts, Test captain, Dimuth Karunaratne receives an annual salary of USD 70,000 while white-ball skipper Kusal Perera gets $35,000 per year.</p>
<h3>7. Pakistan: Babar Azam – INR 62.40 lakh</h3>
<figure id="attachment_462131" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-462131" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-462131" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Babar-Azam.jpg" alt="Babar Azam" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-462131" class="wp-caption-text">Babar Azam. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Babar Azam has been one of the finest batsmen in the last few years, and his record across formats is phenomenal. Be it showcasing resistance in Test cricket or playing quick-fire knocks in T20Is, the right-handed batsman has proved his mettle in all circumstances. Hence, the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/pakistan/">Pakistan</a> </strong>Cricket Board (PCB) has given him the responsibility of leading the side in all three formats.</p>
<p>He replaced Sarfaraz Ahmed as Pakistan’s white-ball skipper in 2019 following the wicket-keeper’s mediocre performances. Almost a year later, he also took the leadership role from Azhar Ali in the longest format of the game. So far, the 27-year-old has done well as a skipper. However, he still has a long way to go.</p>
<p>Thanks to his spectacular performances, Azam is centrally contracted with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the top category (Category A). Hence, the star batsman fetches an annual salary of 13.2 Million PKR, which is INR 62.40 lakh approximately.</p>
<h3>6. West Indies: Kieron Pollard – 1.73 crore, Kraigg Brathwaite – 1.39 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518202" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518202" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518202" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kieron-Pollard-and-Kraigg-Brathwaite.jpg" alt="Kieron Pollard and Kraigg Brathwaite" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518202" class="wp-caption-text">Kieron Pollard and Kraigg Brathwaite. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>A couple of years ago, Jason Holder led the West Indies team across formats. However, in search of better results, Cricket <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/west-indies/">West Indies</a></strong> sacked him from the leadership role and announced two separate captains for Test matches and white-ball cricket. While Kraigg Brathwaite leads the Caribbean side in the longest format, Kieron Pollard has the reins of the ODI and T20I team.</p>
<p>Over the years, many Caribbean players have opted to play T20 leagues rather than representing West Indies due to pay disputes with the board. However, new management took over the charge in 2019, and their policies have gone down well with the players. Subsequently, the likes of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo came back to the national team.</p>
<p>As per the latest contract, Kieron Pollard receives an annual salary of $250,000 (₹1.73 crores) thanks to his white-ball contract. On the other hand, Kraigg Brathwaite has a contract in the longest format. Hence, he receives $200,000 (₹ 1.39 crores) per season.</p>
<h3>5. New Zealand: Kane Williamson – 1.77 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_473739" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-473739" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-473739" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kane-Williamson-3.jpg" alt="Kane Williamson" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-473739" class="wp-caption-text">Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/new-zealand/">New Zealand</a></strong> have taken giant strides in international cricket in the past few years, and no one deserves more credit than Kane Williamson. The right-handed batsman has led the side from the front and guided them to many wins across formats. While his batting prowess dismantled the best of bowling line-ups, his on-field decisions have been spot on.</p>
<p>Williamson leads the Kiwis in all three formats. In fact, it won’t be wrong to say that leadership has brought the best out of star cricketer. He replaced Brendon McCullum as New Zealand skipper across formats in 2016, and his performance graph has been high since then. Williamson took the Kiwis to the 2019 World Cup final and will also lead the side in the inaugural World Test Championship final against India next month.</p>
<p>As per Williamson’s contract, he earns $440,000 a year from his New Zealand cricket contract. This also includes $40,000 as a special bonus for being the captain of the national team.</p>
<h3>4. South Africa: Dean Elgar &#8211; INR 3.2 crore, Temba Bavuma – INR 2.5 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518201" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518201" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518201" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Dean-Elgar-and-Temba-Bavuma-.jpg" alt="Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518201" class="wp-caption-text">Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Not too long ago, the <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/south-africa/">South Africa</a></strong> cricket team was a force to reckon with as they registered triumphs all over the world. They even thrashed giants like India, Australia, and England in their own backyard. However, the Proteas side suffered a downfall after greats like Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, and Morne Morkel quitted international cricket.</p>
<p>Finalizing captains was also a challenge for the board. In 2020, Quinton de Kock replaced Faf du Plessis as South Africa’s captain across formats and was expected to lead the side in the times to come. However, within a year, the board decided to remove him from the role in all formats and announced two different skippers.</p>
<p>Temba Bavuma got the reins of the ODI and T20I side while Dean Elgar will lead South Africa in Test matches. As far as their salary is concerned, Bavuma receives $350,000 while Elgar gets a yearly sum of $450,000.</p>
<h3>3. Australia: Aaron Finch – INR 4.87 crore, Tim Paine – 4.87 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518204" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518204" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518204" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Aaron-Finch-and-Tim-Paine.jpg" alt="Aaron Finch and Tim Paine" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518204" class="wp-caption-text">Aaron Finch and Tim Paine. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/australia/">Australia</a> </strong>have been giants of world cricket for the last few decades and the trophies in their cabinet speak it all. The Aussies have won as many as five World Cups alongside two Champions Trophy titles. Although the Men in Yellow have endured a tough time lately, they are still one of the strongest national teams going around.</p>
<p>As of now, Aaron Finch leads Australia in white-ball cricket while Tim Paine handles the reins in the longest format of the game. The duo has also done a decent job at the helm in their respective formats. While Finch led Australia to the 2019 World Cup semi-finals, the Tim Pained-led side retained the Ashes on England soil.</p>
<p>Paine and Finch also receive a hefty sum of money, with Cricket Australia being one of the richest boards in the world. As per the latest contracts, both the Aussie captain get approximately $1 million as yearly salary by Cricket Australia.</p>
<h3>2. India: Virat Kohli – INR 7 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_499240" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-499240" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-499240" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-against-England.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli against England" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-499240" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli against England. (Photo by Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Indian skipper Virat Kohli had to be one of the top earners in the list, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) deemed as the wealthiest board in the world. Kohli is arguably the best batsman going around, and his record across formats is nothing short of sensational. The right-handed batsman scored runs amid all challenges and guided India to many wins.</p>
<p>Owing to his brilliance, Kohli belongs to the A+ category in the BCCI contracts. Hence, he receives a significant sum of INR 7 crore per year. Apart from this, the 32-year-old also earns loads of money from the Indian Premier League (IPL), brand endorsements, advertisements, etc. Kohli, in fact, was the only Indian in Forbes’ 2021 list of highest-paid athletes.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Indian skipper is gearing up for some big assignments in red-ball cricket. He&#8217;ll lead <strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/india/">India</a> </strong>in the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand next month. The summit clash will be followed by a five-match Test series against England.</p>
<h3>1. England: Joe Root – INR 8.97 crore, Eoin Morgan – 1.75 crore</h3>
<figure id="attachment_518205" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-518205" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-518205" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Joe-Root-and-Eoin-Morgan.jpg" alt="Joe Root and Eoin Morgan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-518205" class="wp-caption-text">Joe Root and Eoin Morgan. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>You might find it odd, but Kohli is not the highest-paid captain in this happening list. Instead, it’s his England counterpart Joe Root. Root has been England’s Test captain since 2016 and has done a commendable job. Moreover, he also has a white-ball contract which makes him top this list.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/england/">England</a> </strong>have had split captaincy for quite some time now, and the tactic has indeed worked for them. While Root captains the Test side, Eoin Morgan leads the Three Lions in T20I and ODI cricket. The duo has done a commendable job in the leadership role and would like to take England cricket to greater heights.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, Root has both contracts, and hence, he earns £870,000 from the England Cricket Board (ECB) per year. On the other hand, Morgan, who doesn’t play Test matches, only has the contract in white-ball cricket. The southpaw receives a sum of £170,000 yearly.</p>

Virat Kohli is not the highest-paid captain in this list.

International cricket captains and their salaries in 2021

Here are the salaries of all international cricket captains. Virat Kohli is not on top of the list of captains' salaries in the year 2021