Cricket is known as religion in some parts of the world, has not only captured the hearts of masses but also greatly enriched a few. The sport's immense popularity has led to big sponsorship deals, and big-money contracts with top athletes.
Early attempts to commercialize sports talent were not very well received, but major changes occurred from the late '80s to the early '90s. With the increasing globalization of India, many commercial elements have been associated with gaming and have now become an integral part of gaming.
Sachin Tendulkar is considered to be the richest cricketer in the world. With over 34,000 appearances and an unprecedented 100 international centuries, he is not only a national hero but also nothing short of a God in India. Thanks to his endorsement of famous brands, his net worth is over 1390 Crores.
As the second richest cricketer within the world, MS Dhoni's influence extends far beyond India's borders. Not only he is an inspiration to the 1.3 billion people in this country, but he is also the reason why so many get excited about cricket. A former captain of the Indian team, he is the only holder to have won all three trophies of the ICC tournament. With a net worth of over 1060 Crores, Dhoni is one of India's highest-paid celebrities and is endorsed by many famous brands.
Virat Kohli is considered to be the third richest cricketer in the world and his talent as a batsman is indisputable. Beyond the cricket pitch, he is a huge brand, as evidenced by his ubiquitous presence in television advertising.
Virat Kohli's net worth is approximately 1012 Crores. He is one of the few active international players to rank among the richest cricketers in the world and enjoys the privilege of having several multinational brands in his endorsement portfolio.
Ricky Ponting is one of the best cricketers to have ever played international cricket. He has scored over 27,000 runs in 560 international appearances. The former Australian captain is the only cricketer to have captained two consecutive World Cups. His total net worth is around 787 Crores.
Recognized by fans and experts alike as one of the greatest all-rounders in the history of the sport, Jacques Kallis was the face of his team in South African cricket for almost two decades, until his retirement in 2014. To date, he is the only cricketer to have scored more than 10,000 runs and taken more than 250 wickets in both Tests and ODIs.
Jacques Kallis is one of the richest cricket players in the world. According to various reports, South Africa has an estimated net worth of 480 Crores.
Sourav Ganguly, known as the 'Prince of Calcutta' and 'Dada', has had one of the most checkered careers in international cricket. Despite showing consistent performance on the field, Ganguly was left out of the Indian team multiple times throughout his career. However, his ability to always come back stronger has made him the "Comeback King." Ganguly became the third player after Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam-ul-Haq to cross the 10,000-run mark in ODIs.
Sourav Ganguly's net worth is approximately 750 Crores as of 2023. Although most of his net worth comes from the inheritance of his family's fortune, Ganguly himself has endorsed several brands and after his retirement in 2008 has held various roles including commentator, administrator, and mentor. He previously served as Chairman of the Bengal Cricket Association and Chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, India's highest governing body.
