Twelve years ago, Virat Kohli marked his debut in the Cricket World Cup, and fate smiled on him as the intense 2011 finals between India and Sri Lanka unfolded on home turf at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The victory tasted even sweeter as India clinched the coveted title after a 28-year hiatus. That night, Kohli joined an exclusive club of debut cricketers who won their first Cricket World Cup, a remarkable achievement given the long wait for India’s triumph.
What’s even more intriguing is that Virat Kohli remains the sole Indian cricketer to have scored a century in a World Cup debut match. At the age of 22, this prodigious batsman notched up a remarkable 100 in the India vs. Bangladesh World Cup opener, leading his team to a resounding victory by 87 runs.
Now, in the current year, a fresh group of Indian cricketers is stepping onto the Cricket World Cup stage for the first time. All eyes are on Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Suryakumar Yadav, with the world eagerly anticipating if they can follow in their former captain’s footsteps and seize the trophy on their maiden attempt.
Should India secure the World Cup, they will be rewarded with a prize money of $4 million (approximately Rs 33 crore). But before that, let’s delve into the earnings of these debut World Cup cricketers:
1. Shubman Gill: Shubman Gill, often hailed as Indian cricket’s rising star, had to miss the India vs. Australia World Cup opener on 8th October due to a bout of dengue. Despite this setback, he made a significant impact in the Asia Cup 2023, guiding India to a resounding victory over Sri Lanka by scoring 302 runs in six matches, earning him the title of the tournament’s top scorer. Gill is also part of the ‘Grade B’ Indian players, receiving an annual salary of Rs 3 crore according to the latest player contracts from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). His IPL stint with the Gujarat Titans added an impressive Rs 23 crore to his earnings, and brand endorsements from CEAT, Nike, Fiama, Gillette, and more contribute around Rs 1 crore to his income. Combining match fees, the BCCI contract, and brand endorsements, Gill’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $4 million (approximately Rs 32 crore).
2. Ishan Kishan: Wicket-keeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, at the age of 25, has already made his mark on the Indian cricket scene with his aggressive style. Stepping in for Shubman Gill in the India vs. Australia Cricket World Cup opener, Kishan opened the batting alongside captain Rohit Sharma. He holds a ‘Grade C’ contract from the BCCI, securing an annual paycheck of Rs 1 crore. In the IPL, Kishan’s journey saw him fetching Rs 6.20 crore in 2018 and a whopping Rs 15.25 crore in 2022 as he continued with his team. His monthly income from brand endorsements, which include brands like Oppo India, Manyavar, Noise, CEAT, Sanspareils Greenlands (SG), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and BLITZPOOLS, is estimated to be around Rs 1.2 crore. In total, Kishan’s estimated net worth reaches Rs 60 crore, considering his IPL earnings, BCCI contract, and brand endorsements.
3. Mohammed Siraj: Mohammed Siraj, before making his Cricket World Cup debut on 8th October, wowed fans with his remarkable bowling in the Asia Cup 2023 finals. With an exceptional performance, Siraj took four wickets in a single over, followed by two more, achieving the first-ever six-wicket haul by a pace bowler in the tournament’s history. He’s categorized as a ‘Grade B’ player in the 2022-23 season’s player contracts from the BCCI, entitling him to an annual salary of Rs 3 crore. Across six IPL seasons, Siraj’s earnings are reported to be around Rs 20 crore. Although the exact amount from brand endorsements remains unclear, he’s associated with brands like MyCircle11, Be O Man, CoinSwitchKuber, Crash on the Run, and MyFitness. These combined avenues have pushed Siraj’s net worth to $5 million (approximately Rs 37.3 crore).
4. Shreyas Iyer: Shreyas Iyer demonstrated his batting prowess in the high-stakes India vs. Australia second ODI match held in September, scoring a century and helping India secure 399 runs in 50 overs. As the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, he’s been in good form in recent tournaments. Iyer holds a Grade B contract from the BCCI, offering an annual salary of Rs 3 crore. His IPL journey commenced in 2015, with earnings of Rs 2.6 crore. In 2022, he was signed by the Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 12.25 crore and retained for a similar amount in the following year. His brand endorsements, including BoAt, Manyavar, Dream11, CEAT, and more, contribute an estimated Rs 20-30 lakh per brand. Altogether, Iyer’s estimated net worth stands at $7 million (approximately Rs 70 crore).
5. Shardul Thakur: Shardul Thakur, who picked up five wickets in the Asia Cup 2023, has been a significant contributor to India’s success in both test cricket and ODIs over the past three years. His place on the Indian Cricket World Cup team was backed by coach Sanjay Bangar, who praised him as an underrated bowler. Thakur is listed among the ‘Grade C’ players in the BCCI’s player contracts for the 2022-23 season, earning an annual salary of Rs 1 crore. After playing for Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, he joined the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023 for a substantial sum of Rs 10.75 crore. Thakur also serves as the brand ambassador for major footwear brands Khadim and Tata Power. All these avenues contribute to Thakur’s net worth, estimated at $5 million (approximately Rs 25 crore).
6. Suryakumar Yadav: In 2022, Suryakumar Yadav made history by becoming the first Indian to score over 1,000 runs in the T20 format on the international level. He has also established himself as a standout batsman for the Mumbai Indians, becoming the team’s vice-captain in 2023. Although Yadav hasn’t had much success in ODIs yet, he’s determined to contribute to India’s overseas success. The Cricket World Cup presents an opportunity to fulfill that promise. Yadav is listed as a ‘Grade B’ player in the BCCI’s 2022-23 season player contracts, entitling him to an annual salary of Rs 3 crore. His IPL salary remains consistent at Rs 8 crore every season, and brand endorsements with brands like Crossbeats, JioCinema, TIGC, UniScholars, Healthyr-U, Seagram’s Royal Stag,
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