Virat Kohli’s impressive performance in the 2025 IPL season has kept Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans cheering, but despite his whopping ₹21 crore salary, the Indian cricket legend takes home far less than that amount. His earnings are significantly reduced due to India’s strict tax laws, with his net income after tax deductions falling to around ₹12.81 crore.
Why Virat Kohli Gets Only ₹13 Crore From His ₹21 Crore IPL Salary
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Kohli’s IPL Salary Growth Over the Years
Virat Kohli’s IPL journey has been nothing short of spectacular, both on and off the field. His salary has seen a steady rise since he joined RCB in 2008:
- 2008–2010: ₹12 lakh
- 2011–2013: ₹8.28 crore
- 2014–2017: ₹12.5 crore
- 2018–2021: ₹17 crore
- 2022–2024: ₹15 crore
- 2025: ₹21 crore
With cumulative IPL earnings touching a staggering ₹179.70 crore over the years, Kohli remains one of the highest-paid players in IPL history.
Why Does Kohli Lose Nearly 40% of His IPL Salary?
Kohli’s IPL earnings fall under Section 28 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, which classifies them as income from a business or profession. As a result, his income is taxed under the highest tax bracket, leading to hefty deductions.
Here’s a breakdown of how much Kohli loses to taxes:
- Base Tax (30%)
Since Kohli’s income exceeds ₹15 lakh, a 30% base tax applies.- ₹21 crore × 30% = ₹6.3 crore
- Surcharge (25%)
A 25% surcharge is applied to the tax amount for earnings exceeding ₹5 crore.- ₹6.3 crore × 25% = ₹1.575 crore
- Cess (4%)
A 4% health and education cess is charged on the total tax liability.- ₹7.875 crore × 4% = ₹31 lakh
Total Tax Deduction: ₹8.19 Crore
When all these deductions are applied, Kohli ends up losing a whopping ₹8.19 crore from his IPL salary, bringing his net earnings down to ₹12.81 crore.
How Does Kohli’s Tax Impact Compare to Other Players?
As the highest-paid player at RCB, Kohli’s income naturally falls under the highest tax bracket. Comparatively, his teammates, such as:
- Josh Hazlewood – ₹12.50 crore
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar – ₹10.75 crore
These players also face tax deductions but not to the same extent as Kohli due to their comparatively lower earnings.
FAQs
Why is Kohli’s ₹21 crore salary reduced to ₹13 crore?
Kohli’s salary is taxed under the highest bracket as business income, with deductions for base tax, surcharge, and cess reducing his net earnings.
How much tax does Kohli pay on his IPL income?
Kohli pays a total of ₹8.19 crore in taxes from his ₹21 crore IPL salary.
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