Virat Kohli to champion the cause of higher pay

A storm is brewing in Indian cricket. Captain Virat Kohli & Co, who are in rampaging form on the field, could soon be up in arms against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) if the authorities don’t heed their pay raise call. Much like their Australian counterparts, who recently threatened to boycott Ashes while negotiating a long-drawn salary dispute, Indian cricketers are warming up for an unprecedented tussle with BCCI to get their ‘rightful’ dues.

While the Aussies settled the issue through their players’ association, an outspoken Kohli will have former captain M.S. Dhoni and coach Ravi Shastri by his side when the Indian skipper meets Vinod Rai, the chairman of the Committee of Administrators (COA), in New Delhi this weekend during the third Test against Sri Lanka. Indian players who are in the top grade are currently getting Rs 2 crore a year, but Kohli wants the amount to be increased to at least Rs 5 crore. BCCI might be the richest board in the world, but the fact remains that Indian cricketers earn way below global standards for representing the country. 

It was no exaggeration when Shastri said Indian players are paid peanuts! For those who think Indians are the highest paid cricketers in the world, consider this: Australia skipper Steve Smith earns $1.47 million and England’s Joe Root $1.38 million, whereas Kohli gets just around $1 million through annual board contracts and match fees. Kohli, however, earns Rs 15 crore per year from Royal Challengers Bangalore for playing the IPL. BCCI contracts around 25 players centrally, with three grades and Rs 2 crore being the highest, and also pays match fees. 

Who earns what
Cricketer         Country     Revenue
Steve Smith    Australia    $1.47 million 
Joe Root         England     $1.38 million
Virat Kohli       India          $1 million

These payments are funded from an allotted revenue pool where players, international, domestic, juniors and women, share 26 per cent  of BCCI’s annual revenue. However, BCCI doesn’t include the money generated through IPL in the revenue pool. 

It was former coach Anil Kumble who belled the cat when he suggested that the players’ share should be 26 per cent of all board income including IPL revenues. In September, the pay hike talks gained momentum when BCCI signed the biggest deal in Indian TV and sports history, bagging Rs16,347.5 crore for a five-year media rights contract with Star India.

The general body of BCCI has to approve the decision even if the COA agrees to Kohli’s demands. A BCCI official said it’s not going to get unanimous support in the general body as giving a raise means cutting down the annual handout to state associations. “BCCI usually splits the revenue 70-30 between state associations and its own expenses. Associations are currently getting around Rs 25-30 crore and with the increase in IPL revenue, it’s expected to be Rs 40 to 50 crore. I don’t see associations liking the idea of giving away from their share,” he added.

It would be interesting to see which contract category Dhoni would come in, given that he has retired from Test format.

Another official said BCCI has already asked a financial services firm to work out a revenue-sharing model. “The Deloitte recommendations say BCCI’s gross revenue doesn’t include money generated by the IPL. Players are compensated through their IPL franchises and they can’t be paid twice,” he explained.

If Kohli manages to convince the general body, it would be interesting to see which contract category Dhoni would come in, given that he has retired from Test, considered to be the ultimate format. The question whether specialists deserve better remuneration has not been answered. But, the dispute is more egalitarian as a greater share of the BCCI gross revenues for the players would mean every player in Indian cricket would be set to benefit.