We all know that IPL is not only about cricket. It is a lot more than that as viewers get entertainment, brands get attention and cricketers get paid heavily for their performances. What’s exciting to see is that every year we see emerging Indian players who perform amazingly at the IPL and then get seats for the International team.
As the 2021 edition of IPL is about to start with auctions taking place on 18th of February in Chennai, today we will take you to the days when India’s modern leaders in cricket were new to IPL and how much they got paid for their first season for representing their respective franchises.
1. MS Dhoni: Chennai Super Kings (Rs. 6 crores)
MS Dhoni was the most popular captain during the auction because of winning T20 world cup in 2007. He was picked by CSK for Rs 6 crores and since then it created a legacy for the upcoming captains with so much success in IPL.
2. Rohit Sharma: Deccan Chargers (Rs. 3 crores)
At the time of IPL’s first auction, Rohit was considered to be the next big thing and he has emerged as Hitman in all these years. He was picked by Deccan Chargers in IPL 2008 for Rs 3 crore.
3. Suresh Raina: Chennai Super Kings (Rs. 2.6 crores)
Suresh Raina has been the backbone of Chennai Super Kings’ success for years. He has also played for two years in Gujarat Lions. Suresh Raina his International debut long before IPL in 2005 and was a known player in the Indian team and received Rs 2.6 crore in the first season.
4. Virat Kohli: Royal Challengers Banglore (Rs. 12 Lakh)
The current captain of Indian team in all the formats, Virat Kohli had come to first IPL auction after winning the Under-19 world cup. RCB picked him with an offer of Rs 12 lakh.
IPL’s highest run-scorer, Kohli now sits at the 3rd spot on the list of highest earners. The RCB captain has a salary of Rs 17 crore/season, Rs 2 crore more than the highest retention amount.
5. Hardik Pandya: Mumbai Indians (Rs 10 lakh)
Mumbai Indian’s all rounder and one of the most popular players in IPL, Hardik Pandya first joined MI at his base price of Rs 10 lakh in 2015.
Also Read: Top 8 IPL Teams According To Brand Value