In recent years, the value of cricketers has risen significantly. Whether through direct earnings or endorsement deals, cricket has produced some of the wealthiest stars in India, the most notable of whom include Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli. But do you know who opened the doors for these cricketers? Here is a look at the first Indian cricketer to sign an RS 100 crore deal and how this monumental contract changed how cricket players are valued today.
Rising Cricketer Values: The IPL
Much of the prestige and rising player valuations in cricket can be attributed to the Indian Premier League. As Brand Finance India MD, Ajimon Francis puts it, “The IPL is the most prominent cricket league in the world in terms of attracting sponsors and media rights.”
Every year millions of fans flock to their TV sets and stadiums to follow the games as even more bettors use the indibet bonus code to bet on the outcomes. The IPL is so big, in fact, that it remains the most anticipated sports event of the year in India.
This is why it has played a significant role in raising the standing of Indian cricketers. The IPL has helped propel many players from obscurity to the global platform, from where they have played for the national team and signed lucrative endorsement deals with notable brands. Statista reports that 80 cricketers were sold in the TATA IPL auction in 2022, fetching over 16.7 billion Indian rupees.
Sachin Tendulkar
Cricketer values have been rising ever since the dawn of the Indian Premier League. However, it was not until 2001 that an Indian player signed the first Rs 100 crore deal. The player? Sachin Tendulkar.
Born Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, Tendulkar is a former Indian international cricket star and captain of the national team. He started playing at eleven and made his Test cricket debut in 1989 at sixteen. Tendulkar’s career spans 24 years, during which time he played for Indian international and Mumbai.
In 2001, Sachin entered an Rs 100 crore deal with WorldTel. The Mark Mascarenhas-led sports management firm is credited with growing Sachin’s legacy to global standards. Sachin is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen in cricket history and remains the number one run-scorer in ODI and Test cricket. Over his career, he set the 18,000-run (ODI) and 15,000-run (Test) records that remain today.
High-Earning Cricketers
At the time, the Sachin-WorldTel deal failed to make headlines. However, it did change how cricketers were being perceived in the sports community and set the stage for higher cricketer values. It is based on the precedent set in this deal that cricketers like Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli received such lucrative deals. This is, of course, in addition to their record-setting performances on the field.
Virat Kohli, the batsman for the Indian cricket team, is currently valued at over 1000 crore and is considered the wealthiest cricketer in the world. Kohli also has several lucrative enforcement deals, including an Rs 110 crore contract with Puma. The player is said to earn INR 7 crore a year in match fees.
Sam Curran and Cameron Green
Of all cricket players, Sam Curran and Cameron Green come out as the currently most valuable IPL cricketers. Curran was recently acquired by Punjab Kings for a whopping Rs 18.50 crore or 185 million Indian rupees. This made him the most expensive player for the 2023 auction. Among other things, Curran’s 2022 win as Player of the Tournament at the T20 World Cup earned him his spot.
Cameron Green, a close second, joined, Mumbai for Rs 17.50 crore at the same auction. This makes him the number two most expensive IPL player and a living testament to how Sachin’s groundbreaking deal continues to pave the way for Indian cricketers over two decades after the deal.
IPL Team Valuations
The IPL has also had a hand in growing team values within the League. Forbes published a valuation in 2009 – the League was launched in 2008 – estimating the average value of the eight teams to be around $67 million. The IPL has since grown to include two more clubs and the average is estimated to be about $1.04 billion. This represents an annual growth rate of 24 percent.
In comparison, NFL team valuations have grown at a 10 percent rate over the last 13 years, with the NBA coming in at 16 percent.
Wrapping Up
To understand why IPL teams and players are so valuable, you have to grasp the importance of cricket in India. Last year, the season drew a TV audience of 400 million watchers and over 260 million streamers. This, combined with the deals top cricketers are signing with global brands, continues to raise the standing of Indian cricket across the globe. And it all started with Sachin Tendulkar.
