The Indian cricketers have found themselves earning some of the world's highest payments in recent times. With increasing fan base and more growing popularity of the game, the price for the respective matches in all the formats Test, ODIs, and T20Is has appreciated significantly. This article delves deeper into the active Indian cricketers and their earnings per match, thus portraying the financial gains from playing for the national team. From the senior players to the newer stars, these cricketers earn not only from the game but also from endorsements, making them among the richest athletes in the country. Classification of Indian Cricketer Wages Images Source: Associated Press BCCI's payment method goes by yearly agreements. They divide these contracts into four different types; A+, A, B, and C categories. This grades a player upon their performance in team contribution. Category A+ comprises the most paying group. Also Read | Rohit Sharma’s Captaincy Records : Trophies Won & Records Category A+ (INR 7 Crore per year) Players in this category are the best performers in all formats of the game. These cricketers are the backbone of Indian cricket. Some of the notable players in this grade include Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah. Grade A (INR 5 Crore per year) Grade A players are regular performers for the national team. They have been integral to the Test, ODI, or T20 formats. Key players in this category include Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul. Grade B (INR 3 Crore per year) Grade B players have significantly contributed but are not regulars in all formats. Their performance is mostly specific to certain formats or series. Shubman Gill, and Arshdeep Singh are some prominent names in this group. Grade C (INR 1 Crore per year) This category consists of emerging players or those who are part of the team but have not yet fully established themselves in the squad. Players like Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar fall in this category. Match Fees for Indian Cricketers Other than the annual retainer fees, Indian cricketers receive match fees. This is paid to them for each international match that they play. The match fee depends on the type of match. - Test Matches: INR 15 lakh per match - One-Day Internationals (ODIs): INR 6 lakh per match - T20 Internationals: INR 3 lakh per match These match fees are fixed for all players. Regardless of their contract category, even Grade C players can significantly increase their earnings if they play regularly. Also Read | Virat Kohli's Stats in the Champions Trophy Highest Paid Active Cricketer Image Source: BCCI Rishabh Pant (30CR) - IPL Contract: 27 crore and BCCI Contract: ₹3 crore India's dynamic wicket-keeper batter, Rishabh Pant, emerges as the best-paid Indian cricketer who has surpassed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. It is a benchmark in Indian cricket with an excellent combination of earnings from the Indian Premier League and his contract with the BCCI. Virat Kohli (28CR) - IPL Contract: 21 crore and BCCI Contract: ₹7 crore Virat Kohli is a huge brand in cricket and continues to deliver consistent performances across different formats of the game. However, Rishabh Pant has surpassed Kohli in total annual earnings recently. Shreyas Iyer (26.75 Crore) - IPL Contract Only Although Iyer doesn't have a central contract with the BCCI at the moment, he still manages to be one of the highest earners due to his impressive earnings from the IPL. His IPL contract alone brings in 26.75 crore, which keeps him in the list of top earners in Indian cricket. However, as of now, he does not have any central contract with the BCCI. Conclusion In a nutshell, the pay per match that is given to active Indian cricketers now depicts not only their talent and experience but also growing popularity and commercial success of cricket in India. However, while there are players whose earnings are very high because of consistent performances and key roles in the team, there are others too who earn money for contributing to the team. These incomes form a very significant part of acknowledging the effort and dedication that these athletes have towards the game, and as Indian cricket continues to excel on the international platform, such salaries will continue to grow.