Indian Premier League (IPL) is a blessing for the cricketers and the board, BCCI, as it is often called the cash-rich T20 League in the world that even some players earn more money than what they get from their respective country’s cricket board.
Let’s have a look at the top 10 overseas cricketers with the highest salary in the IPL –
1. AB de Villiers – South Africa
Salary – Rs 102.5 Cr
The South African legend, alias Mr 360, has been retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore prior to the IPL 2021. He is the only overseas player to cross the 100-crore club with Rs 102.5 crore income from IPL. He has 4,849 runs to his name in 169 matches with an average of 40.40.
2. Sunil Narine – West Indies
Salary – Rs 95 Cr
The West Indies all-rounder, Sunil Narine, who has been again retained by Kolkata Knight Riders, the contribution is huge to the team in winning its titles. His mystery bowling baffled everyone in the tournament, along with his amazing batting, as he has 127 wickets and 892 runs in his bag, also being the IPL’s second-most overseas player with a wage of over Rs 95 crore since 2012.
3. Shane Watson – Australia
Salary – Rs 77 Cr
The Australian all-rounder, who took retirement after IPL 2020, has always been a match-winner in the IPL, with 3,874 runs and 92 wickets to his name in 145 matches. Watson has proved his worth. Though even after quitting, he remains in the third spot in earnings with Rs 77 crore.
4. Kieron Pollard – West Indies
Salary – Rs 74.5 Cr
Another Caribbean, who’s name is fourth in the list with Rs 74.5 crore, Kieron Pollard, has always been one of the key players for Mumbai Indians, with equally contributing to Mumbai Indians’ five IPL titles and, including two Champions League T20 wins, with 3,023 runs and 60 wickets in his bag. MI has retained pollard before 2021 IPL.
5. David Warner – Australia
Salary – Rs 71 Cr
The Australian opener, and a star in the tournament, David Warner has his name on the fifth on the list, with Rs 71 crore in all these 11 editions of the IPL. He is also the third-top run-scorer in the IPL, with 5,254 runs in 142 innings, with an average of 42.71, and has been retained by Sunrises Hyderabad before the IPL 2021.
6. Ben Stokes – England
Salary – Rs 64.5 Cr
The English all-rounder, Ben Stokes, has always been one of the stars to watch out in IPL, albeit he has played four editions of the IPL and is already joined the list of being one of the top earners with Rs 64.5 crore. He has 920 runs and 28 wickets to his name in 42 matches. Ahead of IPL 2021, he has been retained by Rajasthan Royals.
7. David Miller – South Africa
Salary – Rs 58.9 Cr
The South African middle-order batsman, also an exciting batsman to watch in IPL, has scored a galore of runs in his IPL career over the three editions, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The Punjab Kings has retained Miller before IPL 2021.
8. Chris Gayle – West Indies
Salary – Rs 58.5 Cr
One of the most stormy batsmen to set the IPL on fire is the Jamaican cricketer, Chris Gayle, who also has been the tournament’s highest individual scorer with an unbeaten score of 175 runs for the Bengaluru giants RCB. He is still one of the highest overseas earners in the tournament with Rs 58.5 crore, but unfortunately, his inconsistency and injuries have changed things a bit, but he still is retained by Punjab Kings. He has 4,772 runs to his name with an average of 41.13 and has 18 wickets in 132 matches.
9. Glenn Maxwell – Australia
Salary – Rs 49.1 Cr
The Australian all-rounder has always been an exciting player to watch out for in the mega T20 tournament. Maxwell has a scoresheet of 1,505 runs and clinched 19 wickets. He was released ahead of the IPL 2021 by Kings XI Punjab and has been bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore.
10. Lasith Malinga – Sri Lanka
Salary – Rs 48.2 Cr
The Sri Lankan legendary pacer made his name playing for Mumbai Indians and proved his worth. Although he took retirement from cricket, he is still in the 10th spot on the list. He has always been the cornerstone for Mumbai Indians’ success, clinching 170 wickets from 122 matches and having the honour of being the tournament’s top wicket-taker.