The big money that top Indian cricketers make from various sources is a subject that always generates massive interest among the fans, with cricket being the most followed sport in the country ever since the 1983 World Cup triumph.
Besides their earnings from playing the game, which has multiplied manifold since the arrival of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008, the endorsement deals add to the brand value of the player. The bigger the star, the bigger the deal.
With that kind of mind-numbing earnings, the taxes that these stars have to pay to the government also go up.
According to a report in Fortune India, batting icon Virat Kohli heads the list of not just cricketers but also the Indian sports persons who have paid the most tax for the financial year 2023-24.
Kohli, who is currently on a break from cricket and vacationing with the family in London, has reportedly paid Rs 66 crore tax, followed by MS Dhoni (Rs 38 crore) and Sachin Tendulkar (Rs 28 crore) to complete the list of top three cricketers.
The list of celebrity taxpayers released by Fortune India includes Sourav Ganguly, who has paid Rs 23 crore tax and Hardik Pandya (Rs 13 crore).
The overall list is headed by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who also co-owns the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. Shah Rukh has paid a tax of Rs 92 crore in FY24, according to the report.
