How much does a cricket player make? Pro-player salary, average wage, coaches' salary

How much does a cricket player make? Pro-player salary, average wage, coaches' salary

Samuel Lisubila
updated at August 9, 2023 at 9:30 AM

By the 16th century in the south of England, cricket was already famous and was initially played by rural youngsters. With its evolution, it has grown to be one of the most popular games in the world, earning its players revenue enough to compete with top sports like football.

What is the average salary of a cricketer?
Gareth Berg of Northamptonshire hits out during the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Essex at The County Ground on 29 September 2022, in Northampton, England. Photo by Andy Kearnsmake
Source: Getty Images

With 113 years of existence, many have grown to adore the game. According to Forbes, India's yearly cricket tournament is the world's fastest-growing sports league in 2022. This positively affects the market growth, with the Global Cricket market expected to reach $3.5 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 28.6% from 2022 to 2029.

Profile Summary

Full name

Cricket

First played

16th century, South-East England

Equipment

Ball, bat, wicket (stumps, hops), protective equipment

Country or region

Worldwide (most popular in the commonwealth)

Highest governing body

International Cricket Council (ICC)

Team members

11 players per side (substitutes permitted in some circumstances)

Duration

7.5 to 8 hours

Contact

No

Type

Team sport, bat and ball

Venue

Cricket field

Olympics

1990 Summer Olympics

How much does a pro-cricket player earn?

How much does a pro-cricket player earn?
Phil Salt of England runs out Shadab Khan of Pakistan during the 5th IT20 between Pakistan and England at the Gadaffi Stadium on 28 September 2022 in Lahore, Pakistan. Photo: Alex Davidson
Source: Getty Images

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With the introduction of significant competitions, the best players in the leagues earn alot of money thanks to their talents on the field. With most of them from Asia, most players worldwide have made a fortune from the sport and continue to build legacies.

The average professional cricket player earns around $2 million. However, this amount might seem minimal compared to other world's most prominent sports leagues, such as the NFL and the NBA, which can earn upto $40 million annually.

Cricket pro-player salary

Cricket pro-player salary
Pakistan's players celebrate their win in the fifth Twenty20 international cricket match between Pakistan and England at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on 28 September 2022. Photo: ARIF ALI
Source: Getty Images

As much as the game's players earn less than other professional athletes, they make pretty alot as compared to the average population. Together with their salaries, sponsorships, endorsements, and other off-public businesses come in handy to generate their wealth. Here are the top five highest-paid players in the world:

5. Kieron Pollard (West Indies)

The talented Trinidadian captains the West Indies and the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League. He is an all-rounder and a medium-pace batsman, and a bowler. As of 2022, he earns $560k annually and has a net worth of $15 million.

4. Eoin Morgan (England)

Cricket players' average wage
England captain Eoin Morgan speaks at the presentations after the 1st One Day International against Sri Lanka at Emirates Riverside on 29 June 2021, in Chester-le-Street, England. Photo: Gareth Copley
Source: Getty Images

Eoin Morgan is an England-born Irish athlete who captained the England team from 2015 to his retirement in June 2022, the Kolkata Knight Raiders of the Indian Premier League, and the London Spirit in the Hundred. The Wisden Cricketer of 2022 earns a salary of $320k per month and has accumulated a net worth of upto $15 million as of 2022.

It is the second most popular sport in the world with 2.5 billion fans, behind soccer's 3.5 billion. With only 4200 professional players worldwide, there are more than 30 million registered athletes. According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), over 120 countries play the game on some level. Most of these are in Asian countries, especially India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

3. Rohit Sharma (India)

Average cricketer salary
Rohit Sharma of India poses during the ICC World Test Championship Final India Portrait session at The Ageas Bowl on 15 June 2021 in Southampton, England. Photo: Ryan Pierse
Source: Getty Images

From playing for Mumbai to captaining the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, he is considered one of the greatest fielders of all time. The Indian vice-captain earns a monthly salary of $170k and is estimated to be worth $25 million as of 2022.

2. Dean Elgar (South Africa)

Dean is a South African playing Tests and ODIs and currently captains Test. However, the left-arm slow bowler is among the short-tempered players of all time, thanks to his aggressiveness on the field. With a whopping net worth of $40 million, he comes second among the highest earners and earns alot through sponsorships.

1. Virat Kohli (India)

Who is the most paid cricketer
Virat Kohli of India warms up during a training session at ICC Academy on 25 August 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Francois Nel
Source: Getty Images

Forbes has listed Virat Kohli as the most paid fielder in the world. In addition, the former Indian national team captain is listed as the best Indian player in the world, earning multiple sponsorships and endorsements. His achievements have landed him a net worth of $140 million and a $690k monthly salary.

Who is the most paid cricketer?

Virat Kohli. The 33-year-old, as of 2022, is the former captain of the Indian national team, has a vital role in the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Premier League, and plays for Delhi. As of 2022, he earns a monthly salary of $690k.

Cricket coach's average salary

Cricket coach's average salary
Australian men's cricket coach Justin Langer before the Men's Big Bash League match between the Scorchers and the Sixers at Marvel Stadium, on 28 January 2022, in Melbourne. Photo: Robert Cianflone
Source: Getty Images

Based on 87 salaries received from coaches, the average annual salary of one is an estimated $2,483 in India. In the United States, their wages are $41,111 annually.

What is the difference between cricket and baseball?

Both are 'bat and ball' families of games, having similarities and differences. While the basic principle is the same, the two differ in rules, terminology, playing equipment, number of players, and field size. However, cricket is considered a more challenging game than baseball, as batting and bowling require alot of patience, perseverance, guts, and a considerable amount of skill.

Pro-player salary
Batsman just after hitting the ball in a professional cricket match. Modified by author
Source: Getty Images

With the evolvement of cricket, just like other sports personalities, its players also make money through salaries, bonuses, endorsements, and advertisements. This has greatly influenced the popularity of the game, drawing its roots from the end of the 16th century.

READ ALSO: Top 20 richest cricketers in the world right now in 2022

Sportsbrief.com recently published an article on the top 20 richest cricketers in the world in 2022. Cricket is one of the most popular games in the world and is undergoing tremendous growth.

Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ricky Pointing, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni are familiar names who excelled in the game. Besides their historical contribution to the sport, they rank among the world's wealthiest cricketers in history.

Authors
Samuel Lisubila photo
Samuel Lisubila