Meet the richest cricketer in the world, he is an Indian and not Dhoni or Kohli

In India, cricket is not just a sport but a religion and these sentiments are resonated in several countries in Asia. And so, cricketers are treated no less than Gods here. This makes cricket not just a much loved, played and followed sport, but also one of the highest earning ones! No wonder then that professional cricketers earn a lot of money through various sources, like– international and domestic cricket events, cricket leagues, advertisements, guest appearances, etc.
For the unversed, the Indian Premier League (IPL), which was started in 2008, is one of the wealthiest sports leagues in the world today! It’s no surprise then that the cricketers who play for it earn exorbitant amounts of money as their fees. However, it’s no easy feat to become a professional cricketer; it takes years of grit, determination and hard work to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
So, here we list down some of the richest cricketers in the world today, as per a report by Business Insider. Can you guess who could be at number one? Well, here’s a hint: He is an Indian cricketer, and he is not Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Virat Kohli. Read on to know more.

1. Sachin Tendulkar
At number one on the list of the world’s richest cricketers, we have the ‘God of cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar! With a career spanning over 20 years, Tendulkar is a considered as one of the greatest cricketer of all time in the world. His estimated net worth is $170 million (INR 1500 crores) as per Business Insider, which makes him the richest cricketer in the world today! As per reports, the legendary cricketer earns through brand endorsements, his business ventures including his stake in restaurants named Sachins and Tendulkars in Bengaluru and his involvement in Smaaash Entertainment, among others. He has also invested in real estate and owns several luxury cars.
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2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Second on the list is ‘Captain Cool’ Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose net worth is estimated to be $111 million (roughly Rs 1000 crores), as per Business Insider. MS Dhoni is one of the most successful Indian cricket captains, and it was under his leadership that the Indian team won the 2007 ICC World Twenty20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup!
3. Virat Kohli
The third richest cricketer in the world is Virat Kohli, as per the reports by Business Insider. His net worth is roughly $92 million (Rs 800 crores), and he earns through several mediums including playing in international and domestic cricket, the IPL, endorsements and advertisements, and his business venture One8 commune, which includes his restaurants.
4. Ricky Ponting
Former Australian cricketer, who is remembered as one of the best batsmen of all time, Ricky Ponting’s net worth is roughly $70 million (INR 600 crores), which makes him the fourth wealthiest cricketer in the world as per the report. It was under Ponting’s leadership that the Australian cricket team won two consecutive ICC Cricket World Cups– in 2003 and 2007.
5. Brian Lara
And at number five, we have West Indies’ cricketer Brian Lara whose net worth is roughly $60 million (INR 500 crores). Fondly called the ‘Prince of Trinidad’, Brian Lara is known for his batting style and cricket records.