Dhoni, Afridi among world's richest cricketers

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Dhoni, Afridi among worlds richest cricketers
Indian ODI captain MS Dhoni and vice-captain Virat Kohli are the two richest cricketers in the world (PTI)

Dubai - Top players no longer have to rely on their salaries from their respective boards

By KT Sports

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Published: Thu 27 Oct 2016, 4:39 PM

Last updated: Thu 27 Oct 2016, 6:46 PM

So who is the richest cricketer in the world? It's a questions that often comes to your mind when you see the kind of money invested by the T20 leagues across the world.
Of course, top players no longer have to rely on their salaries from their respective boards.
A huge chunk of their money comes from the top T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League.
Now take Chris Gayle's example. The explosive West Indies opener hardly plays for the national team these days - his last Test was in September 2014, and his last ODI was in March, 2015. And yet he is among the highest earners in cricket. 
But who is the richest of them all?
Well, at number one spot is India's Captain Cool MS Dhoni.
The 2011 World Cup-winning captain's salary for this year was $5.7 million. 

Unlike players from other countries, Indian stars make big money from their endorsement deals. Dhoni made $23 million from endorsements and his overall income was $28.7m.
India's batting superstar Virat Kohli is next on the list with an overall income of $24.9 million. A staggering $18 million came from endorsements for Indian cricket's poster boy. 
Gayle is third on the list with an overall income of $7.5 million. He made $4.5 million by playing in different T20 leagues in the world. 
Virender Sehwag may have retired from the international game, but he is still among the richest cricketers in the world. 
Sehwag, the first Indian to hit a triple century in Tests, made $5.8 million in 2016.
Fifth on the list is another retired player - Australia's Shane Watson. The aggressive all-rounder made $5.5 million this year. He earned $3.5 million from the T20 leagues.
Pakistan's Shahid Afridi's international career seems to be over. But the maverick all-rounder is still among the highest earners in cricket. The 36-year-old player made $6.4 million this year with $4 million from endorsements. 


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