Virat Kohli has added another massive achievement to his legendary cricket career. The star batter of Royal Challengers Bengaluru has now become the highest-earning player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), according to a recent report by Fanatic Sports and Hurun.
The report highlights the extraordinary commercial growth of IPL over the years, with Virat Kohli emerging as the league’s biggest financial success story. Having represented the same franchise since the inaugural 2008 season, Kohli has reportedly earned around ₹230 crore through IPL contracts alone.
The findings also reveal the massive financial expansion of IPL franchises, whose combined valuation has now crossed ₹1.63 lakh crore.
Virat Kohli Tops IPL Rich List
Virat Kohli currently sits at the top of the IPL earnings chart among players.
The former Indian captain has been associated with Royal Challengers Bengaluru for nearly two decades and remains one of the league’s biggest global icons.
According to the report:
- Kohli’s total IPL earnings are estimated at around ₹230 crore
- He is also among the most valuable sports personalities in India in terms of brand endorsements
- His popularity continues to drive massive fan engagement for the IPL
Kohli’s long-standing loyalty to a single franchise has further strengthened his connection with RCB supporters over the years.
Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni Also Earned Massive Amounts
Rohit Sharma, former captain of Mumbai Indians, ranks second on the list.
The report estimates Rohit Sharma’s IPL earnings at approximately ₹227.2 crore.
Rohit has been one of the IPL’s most successful captains, leading Mumbai Indians to multiple title victories and establishing himself as one of India’s most commercially successful cricketers.
Meanwhile, MS Dhoni holds the third spot.
The legendary captain of Chennai Super Kings has reportedly earned around ₹200 crore from IPL contracts.
Dhoni remains one of the most influential commercial figures in Indian cricket and continues to enjoy unmatched popularity among fans even after stepping away from international cricket.
Kolkata Knight Riders Becomes Most Valuable IPL Franchise
The report also sheds light on franchise valuations across the IPL.
Kolkata Knight Riders, co-owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and actress Juhi Chawla, has emerged as the most valuable IPL franchise.
The franchise is reportedly valued at around ₹19,200 crore.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings Follow Closely
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings occupy the second and third positions in franchise valuation rankings.
Both teams are estimated to be worth nearly ₹18,400 crore each.
The overall valuation of all 10 IPL franchises combined has now reportedly reached approximately ₹1.63 lakh crore, underlining the league’s massive commercial success.
Smriti Mandhana Leads Women’s Cricket Earnings
In women’s cricket, Smriti Mandhana has emerged as the highest-earning player.
According to the report:
- Mandhana’s earnings stand at around ₹13.7 crore
- She tops the women’s cricket earnings chart in India
However, the report also highlights the huge earnings gap between men’s and women’s cricket.
The combined earnings of India’s top 10 women cricketers reportedly total around ₹90 crore, which is still less than half of Virat Kohli’s IPL earnings alone.
Huge Earnings Gap in Other Sports Too
The report points out that the financial gap becomes even wider in other Indian sports.
In hockey, Harmanpreet Singh is reportedly the highest-paid player in the Hockey India League.
His salary is estimated at around ₹78 lakh.
Other top earners include:
- Abhishek Nain – approximately ₹72 lakh
- Several other leading hockey players earning below ₹70 lakh
Compared to IPL contracts, the earnings difference remains enormous.
IPL Continues to Dominate Indian Sports Economy
The latest figures once again highlight how the IPL has transformed into one of the world’s richest sporting leagues.
Over the years, the tournament has generated:
- Massive sponsorship revenue
- Global broadcasting deals
- Strong franchise valuations
- Huge player salaries
- International fan engagement
Cricket experts believe IPL’s financial success has completely changed the commercial landscape of Indian sports.
With Virat Kohli now officially leading the IPL earnings chart, his status as one of the biggest icons in world cricket continues to grow even stronger.
