Virat Kohli Tops IPL Earnings as Franchise Valuations Soar

Virat Kohli has made history as the highest earner in IPL, raking in Rs 230 crore from his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore. The overall valuation of IPL franchises has skyrocketed to Rs 1.63 lakh crore, with Kolkata Knight Riders leading the pack. The report also highlights the expected growth in team valuations and contrasts earnings in women's cricket and hockey. Discover the insights into the financial landscape of Indian sports and the emerging talent shaping the future.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 20, 2026, 02:03 IST

Kohli's Record Earnings in IPL History

Virat Kohli has set a remarkable milestone as the highest earner in the Indian Premier League's 18-year history, amassing an impressive Rs 230 crore through his partnership with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, according to a recent report.

The total valuation of all ten IPL franchises has reached Rs 1.63 lakh crore, as highlighted in a study conducted by Fanatic Sports and Hurun.

Leading the pack is the Kolkata Knight Riders, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, with a valuation exceeding Rs 19,200 crore. They are closely followed by the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, both valued at Rs 18,400 crore.

Notably, the average worth of an IPL team is expected to surge to USD 15 billion by 2032, a significant increase from the current USD 1.8 billion, as the report indicates a growing interest in franchise deals.

Anas Rahman Junaid, Founder and Chief Researcher of Hurun India, remarked, 'India is at the beginning of this growth curve. Talent is being nurtured at the grassroots level, while capital is flowing in. A billion-plus consumers are on the verge of gaining the income to engage in this market.'

Following Kohli in the all-time IPL earnings list are Rohit Sharma with Rs 227.2 crore and MS Dhoni at Rs 200 crore.

In contrast, Smriti Mandhana leads the Women's Premier League with total earnings of Rs 13.7 crore, while the top ten female players have collectively earned only Rs 90 crore so far.

The disparity is even more pronounced in hockey, India's national sport, where defender Harmanpreet Singh earns the highest salary in the Hockey India League at Rs 78 lakh. This is followed by Abhishek Nain at Rs 72 lakh and midfielder Hardik Singh at Rs 70 lakh.

Despite these figures, hockey excels in producing young talent, with players like 14-year-old Ketan Kushwaha and two 15-year-olds, Purti Ashish Tani and Rahul Yadav, making headlines.

From a geographical standpoint, hockey has brought India significant Olympic success and remains relevant at the grassroots level, particularly in Sundargarh, Odisha, which contributes 12 athletes to the elite list.

The comprehensive list tracks 1,323 elite athletes from 504 cities, 181 states/provinces, and 53 countries across 59 teams in six different sports leagues.