Jos Buttler to Temba Bavuma: Top 5 Highest-Paid Cricket Captains
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Jos Buttler with the ICC T20 WC 2022 [Source: Twitter]
One of the fastest-growing sports in the world, cricket is slowly making its presence felt with the introduction of the T20 format. Recognised as an international sport in 1909, cricket, unlike several other sports, highly depends on the captain who is in charge of the players when they take the field.
A lot rides on the shoulders of a captain who can change the momentum of play with his acumen and street-smartness, as seen on several occasions across all formats of the game.
Modern-day captains have to deal with the pressures on and off-field in Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20Is, which have started the trend of slit captaincy for nations, to lessen the burden on one individual.
The high-profile job calls for boards to open their bank accounts and compensate captains for their time and effort. Let us have a look into who are the top most highly paid captains in world cricket right now.
Jos Buttler - INR 9.1 crore
England's Jos Buttler (Twitter)
Unexpectedly, England's Jos Buttler occupies the top position with a hefty paycheck of INR 9.1 crore (£900,000) per annum, which is more than what the Board of Cricket for Cricket in India (BCCI) offers India's national captain despite being the richest board.
Buttler, apart from being an explosive batter, has proven his credentials as a leader by winning the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and will be eager to defend the ICC World Cup in India later this year.
Ben Stokes - INR 9.1 crore
Ben Stokes led England beat Pakistan 3-0 in Pakistan [Source: Twitter]
The person responsible for England's revival in Tests is their captain Ben Stokes. Stokes, a two-format player who took over as leader during troubling times for the ECB and has since risen the team to new-before-seen levels in red-ball cricket, earns as much as Buttler; INR 9.1 crore (£900,000) per annum.
Under Stokes, England have won 10 out of their 12 Tests, including a series win in Pakistan.
Rohit Sharma - INR 7 crore
Rohit Sharma led India reached the semi-final of ICC T20 WC 2022 [Source: Twitter]
India's all-format skipper Rohit Sharma comes in third position on the list with a salary of INR 7 crore, which a Grade A+ cricketer gets from BCCI. Sharma will be eager to emulate MS Dhoni's success in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, which will take place in India.
Sharma won the much-hyped Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 and will look to hand India their maiden WTC Final mace when they lock horns against Australia in June.
Pat Cummins - INR 5.1 crore
Pat Cummins is leading Australia since 2022 [Source: Twitter]
Pat Cummins took over from Tim Paine and instilled a new approach into the Australian side. After a dismal WTC 2019-21 cycle, Australia reached the final of the WTC 2021-23, having won the series against Pakistan, South Africa, and England in the past two years.
Cummins, who leads Australia in Tests and ODIs, earns an annual salary of INR 5.1 crore ($951,000 AU), next assignment will the WTC Final against India, before the all-important The Ashes 2023.
Temba Bavuma - INR 3.7 crore
Temba Bavuma took over Test captaincy from Dean Elgar in Dec 2022 [Source: Twitter]
A change of coach witnessed South Africa hand over the Test captaincy reign to ODI skipper Temba Bavuma from Dean Elgar in December 2022. Bavuma did not have the best of starts, getting drubbed by Australia Down Under.
Bavuma was handed Cricket South Africa's central contract for 2022-23, which makes him earn INR 3.7 crore per year (840000 ZAR).
Interestingly, former England Test skipper Joe Root earned INR 8.9 crore (£870,000) from ECB's central contract, while one of the richest cricketers in the world, Virat Kohli made INR 7 crore as a Grade A+ contracted BCCI player during his stint as India captain.
 "Vishal Mehra")
