India”s grand home season of 2016-17 was one to remember for years. This was the first time since 1979-80 that India were playing as many as 13 test matches at home.
If that was not enough, there was a substantial limited over dosage of 8 ODIs and 3 T20Is as well. All in all those who were part of it, not only players but also fans not just watched games of cricket but made lifetime memories.
India won 10 out of 13 tests, both the ODI series (against NZL 3-2, against England 2-1) and T20I series as well (against England 2-1). After performing so well, it is imperative that the numbers on cheque do justice to numbers in record books. BCCI has released the chart of payments made to cricketers throughout the course of the grand home season.
Indian cricketers are contracted in 3 grades viz. Grade A (2 crore), Grade B (1 crore), Grade C (50 lakhs). The match fees of cricketers are 15 lakh per test, 6 lakh per ODI and 3 lakh per T20I.
Captain Virat Kohli and Umesh Yadav were the highest paid cricketer in grand home season, primarily because they featured in most of the matches. Both played 12 out of 13 tests and pocketed 1.82 crores. Test vice captain Ajinkya Rahane pocketed 1.69 crores and sits third.
The commentators were also not left unsatisfied after all the hard work they put behind the mic. The two commentators who are regarded as the “Voice of Indian cricket” in contemporary times, Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar pocketed 44 lakhs for voicing their opinion on the game in the fiercely fought India-Australia series in February-March. Sanjay Manjrekar bagged 33 lakhs for sharing his views. The highest paid commentator was former captain Michael Clarke who received a whooping 61 lakhs for his services.
– by Atharva Apte