MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the only players in Indian cricket who have an IPL salary of over 100 crore, making them truly legendary.
The IPL is a lucrative money-spinning tournament that makes cricketers rich in a relatively shortish time. However, the IPL demands tremendous skill and success at this level is pretty hard to come by. Yet, there are some stars who have achieved tremendous success and are in an elite 100-crore club. MS Dhoni is one of the greatest captains that the Indian cricket team or the IPL has ever had. MS Dhoni is the only captain in the history of cricket to have won all three ICC trophies (World T20, World Cup and Champions Trophy) in his tenure.
In the Indian Premier League, MS Dhoni has helped Chennai Super Kings win the title three times while he has also helped the side win two Champions League T20 titles. In addition to the many bilateral series and Asia Cup titles, there is no doubting that MS Dhoni is the best. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are two names who are on par with MS Dhoni when it comes to greatness and fan appeal. However, there is one aspect that has put MS Dhoni way head of the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. These three players are in a magical club.
1. MS Dhoni Chennai Super Kings
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If greatness has to be defined by one person, then MS Dhoni sits at the top of the table. The legendary former India captain has tremendous ICC success as well as IPL success for Chennai Super Kings. MS Dhoni has led the franchise to three IPL titles and two Champions League titles. It is no wonder that MS Dhoni would top the salary bracket when it comes to IPL. According to an Inside Sports Money Ball report, MS Dhoni has an income of over Rs 137 crore from the Indian Premier League. As per the report, MS Dhoni emerged as the top draw in the IPL 2008 auction and joined Chennai Super Kings for USD 1.5 Million and he continued to earn the same amount in IPL 2009 and 2010 that he earned in IPL 2008. From IPL 2011 to 2013, he earned nearly Rs 8.2 crore. In 2014, the BCCI raised the first-choice retention fees to 12.5 crores. Hence, Dhoni earned that amount in IPL 2014 and 2015. At Rising Pune Supergiant as well, he earned the same amount for two years. Ahead of IPL 2018, the BCCI increased the first-choice retention price to Rs 15 crore. Hence, Dhoni has earned Rs 45 crore in the past three seasons. In total, he has earned over Rs 137 crore. (Image credit: Twitter)
2. Rohit Sharma Mumbai Indians
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Rohit Sharma could be considered as the greatest limited-overs captain after MS Dhoni. His arrival in the Mumbai Indians camp has been the prime factor why the team has become one of the best in the history of the IPL. Rohit Sharma earned Rs 3 crore during his time at Deccan Chargers - from 2008 to 2010. From 2011 to 2013, he earned Rs 9.2 crore at Mumbai Indians every year. Since he was the captain, Rohit became the first-choice retention player in IPL 2014 and his price was Rs 15 crore. Since then, he has been matching Dhoni's amount every year. In total, he has earned over Rs 131 crore. (Image credit: Twitter)
3. Virat Kohli Royal Challengers Bangalore
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Virat Kohli is the greatest batsman in the modern era but unfortunately, his captaincy has not helped Royal Challengers Bangalore win the IPL despite coming close on many occasions. However, that has not stopped him from becoming the most valuable player in IPL after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. Back in 2008, Kohli was uncapped and was picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore at Rs 12 lakhs. He received the same amount in IPL 2009 and 2010. Virat Kohli was the only player that Royal Challengers Bangalore retained in IPL 2011 and he earned Rs 8.2 crore from 2011 to 2013. In 2014, he also joined the top bracket and received Rs 12.5 crore for the next four seasons. In IPL 2018, Virat Kohli shattered all past records by having a price of Rs 17 crore, which was Rs 2 crore more than the highest retention price. He has been receiving that price since 2018 and has earned Rs 51 crore in the past three seasons. (Image credit: Twitter)
4. Suresh Raina CSK
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Suresh Raina has been a formidable unit of the Chennai Super Kings batting line-up in the Indian Premier League. Suresh Raina is one of the leading run-getters for the Chennai Super Kings franchise and his salary is Rs 97 crore. Suresh Raina has played for Gujarat Lions in the IPL in the two years Chennai Super Kings was banned. (Image credit: Twitter)
5. Yuvraj Singh Delhi Daredevils
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Yuvraj Singh has been India's ultimate match-winner ever since he stepped onto the international stage in cricket. In the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy, his knocks against Australia and South Africa made him one of the stars. When he helped India win the 2007 World T20 and his all-round exploits in the 2011 World Cup gave India glory, Yuvraj Singh became a bonafide legend. In the IPL, he was twice the most-expensive buy in IPL 2014 and IPL 2015 when he was bought for Rs 14 crore and Rs 16 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals, his value was immense. He missed one year of IPL due to treatment for his cancer. His overall IPL salary is Rs 84 crore. (Image credit: Twitter)
6. Gautam Gambhir KKR
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Gautam Gambhir was also the Man of the Match in the 2007 World T20 and also in the final of the 2011 World Cup. When he took over the reins of Kolkata Knight Riders, he transformed the team and led them to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. Gautam Gambhir has a total IPL salary of Rs 94.6 crore. (Image credit: Twitter)
7. Ravindra Jadeja Chennai Super Kings
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Ravindra Jadeja made an impact in the IPL 2008 with his all-round skills as 'rockstar' played a vital role in the franchise's maiden title win. Since then, he has become one of the most dependable all-rounders in world cricket and he is a key part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise. Ravindra Jadeja's total IPL salary is Rs 70 crore. (Image credit: Twitter)
8. Shikhar Dhawan Delhi Capitals
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Shikhar Dhawan has been a veteran of the IPL ever since 2008. However, in IPL 2020, he ended 12 years of waiting as he notched up two back-to-back centuries to help the Delhi Capitals reach the final. His IPL annual salary is Rs 70.1 crore
