Cricket being the most viewed sport across the world, it pays the best cricketers in the world handsome amounts of money in the form of match fees, endorsements, and league contracts. International cricket boards and the Indian Premier League contribute significantly to the income. Let us have a glance at the world's top 10 highest-paid cricketers until May 2025 based on their total earnings from cricket and endorsements.

1. Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli remains the highest-paid cricketer in the world, bringing in approximately $36.2 million a year. He is an A+ player in the eyes of the BCCI and is very well paid for his cricket-playing ability. To add to this, he has two lucrative IPL contracts and many endorsement deals. Kohli retired from Test cricket in May 2025, leaving him focused on ODIs and the IPL, which still pays a lot of money. In case anyone forgot just how rich Kohli is, he is currently engaged to Bollywood superstar actress Anushka Sharma.

2. MS Dhoni (India)

MS Dhoni may have retired from international cricket, but he is still earning around $30 million each year in IPL and endorsements. As the captain of Chennai Super Kings, Dhoni has important brand value and endorsements, which keep him in the highest tier of earners. It's Dhoni’s intelligence and strategy for the game, especially on how to plan for life after cricket, that continue to earn him significant money.

3. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Kane Williamson earns an estimated $28 million annually, with a major portion of his income came from his IPL stint with the Gujarat Titans and consistent earnings from international matches. Known for his calm demeanor and dependable performances across formats, Williamson has become a highly respected figure in the cricketing world. His composed leadership style and consistency make him a fan favorite and a top choice for various brands. Endorsements and sponsorships further boost his income, as companies are drawn to his trustworthy image and widespread appeal. Williamson’s steady presence both on and off the field cements his financial success.

See Also: Top 10 records held by Virat Kohli in Test cricket

4. Pat Cummins (Australia)

Pat Cummins makes around $26 million a year, courtesy of his IPL deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad and payments from the Australian Cricket Board. His leadership and bowling skills in Tests and ODIs contribute to his worth. Cummins' recent WTC final preparation is an indicator of his significance to cricket.

5. Joe Root (England)

Joe Root's income amounts to $24 million, backed by his England contract and IPL contracts. His record-breaking Test runs and sponsorships keep him in a strong financial position. Root's inclusion in the 2025 IPL season with Rajasthan Royals contributes to his income.

6. Ben Stokes (England)

Ben Stokes makes approximately $22 million with his all-around abilities and IPL deals. His leadership in Tests and exciting play in limited-overs cricket add to his marketability. Stokes' participation in the 2025 IPL with Punjab Kings is a major revenue stream.

7. Rohit Sharma (India)

Rohit Sharma’s annual income is approximately $20 million, driven by his Mumbai Indians captaincy and BCCI payments. His T20 World Cup success and endorsements boost his earnings. Sharma’s focus on white-ball cricket post-Kohli’s Test retirement keeps him relevant.

8. David Warner (Australia)

David Warner makes around $18 million, with much of it coming from the IPL and international cricket. His attacking batting and popularity in T20 leagues are money-making factors. Warner's announcement of retirement from international cricket in 2024 has not affected his IPL income.

9. Steve Smith (Australia)

Steve Smith, one of the most accomplished cricketers in the modern era, has an estimated income of around \$17 million. This impressive financial standing is largely driven by his stellar performances in Test cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he has consistently showcased his world-class skills. Known for his unorthodox yet highly effective batting technique, Smith has been a cornerstone of Australia's success in the longest format of the game. His reliability and ability to perform under pressure make him a valuable asset both on and off the field. 

10. Jasprit Bumrah (India)

Jasprit Bumrah makes about $16 million, courtesy of his Mumbai Indians IPL contract and BCCI match payments. He is among the highest-paid by virtue of his status as one of the premier fast bowlers and endorsers. Bumrah's ability to perform across all formats secures him among the highest-earning.

History has been made in Cardiff. Joe Root, with his another commanding ton, has updated the pages of the record book. The West Indies is on tour to England for a limited overs series starting with a 3-match ODI competition, facing the wrath from Joe Root in the 2nd encounter, who just added another One Day International century to his name.

Newly appointed England skipper Harry Brook invited the visiting side to bat first after winning the toss. Inspired by Keacy Carty's 103-run innings and Shai Hope's 78, West Indies notched 308 in 47.4 overs before losing all of their ten wickets.

Undoubtedly, it's a handsome target to defend on a Sophia Gardens track, but Root has his own ways to chase down a mammoth and counterattack to reply to an attack. In search of a consecutive second win against the West Indies, Root produced his 54th international hundred, a multiple international record-breaking batting from the star right-handed batter. 

Read More: Joe Root: England’s Greatest Batter of All Time

With this achievement, Root is now intensely in the chase of Virat Kohli's incredible number of centuries in the international circuit. The Englishman has already overtaken Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, and Steve Smith's numbers, only left behind by Virat. Root is now 34 and can participate multiple number of matches in upcoming years. 

Most Hundreds in International Cricket Among Active Players: 

Virat Kohli - 82

Joe Root—54*

Rohit Sharma—49

Kane Williamson—48

Steve Smith—48

With a boundary Root completed his 54th century

🚨 54th INTERNATIONAL HUNDRED FOR JOE ROOT 🚨

- The Greatest England Batter ever. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/bs7uEjregH

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 1, 2025

Joe Root has changed the narrative on excellence in English cricket, being the highest run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs for the country. Root's standards of consistency and class throughout his career in all conditions and formats have led to the label of England’s greatest batter. From his debut in 2012 to his commanding presence today, Root has led England’s batting resurgence with poise and unmatched skill.

Root has played 153 Test matches and scored 13,006 runs at a magnificent average of 50.80, with an unparalleled 262 as his highest innings and 36 centuries, putting him among the elite in world cricket. He has also scored 65 half-centuries and has a strike rate of 57.51, combining comfort in waiting for the right ball and then seizing it longest highlights and spins in England as well as on turning tracks across Asia. He has 279 innings and totals, small statistics in many ways, but they illustrate the impact of what Root has persisted on to the game. 

In ODIs, Root has consequently run an imposing, statistical 6,916 runs from 178 matches at a gorgeous 48.02 average. He has also scored 17 centuries and 42 fifties and a highest score of 133*. His strike rate of 87.03 reflects Root's ability to keep up with the demands of modern white-ball cricket while also being the reliability of England's middle order. Root’s reliability has made him the backbone of England’s 50-over success, especially during their transformation into a dominant ODI force.

Master of All Formats

What distinguishes Joe Root is his mastery in all formats and across eras. With more than 19,900 international runs to his name, he has consistently produced no matter the opposition or venue played at. He is one of the few specialists who engages at the highest level in both red- and white-ball cricket, where he can adapt without jeopardizing the fact that he remains a classical batter. His contribution to England's rise in global cricketts as the largest after 2015.

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Joe Root's numbers tell the truth; however, his legacy is not entirely about the numbers. He has injected calm into a niggling environment, introduced elegance to aggressive cricket, and authority into a new era. As the leading run scorer for England in both Tests and ODIs, Joe Root stands tall as the best batter England has ever produced.

After 22 years, Zimbabwe is up against England (England vs Zimbabwe)in England for a one-off Test match. The match at the Trent Bridge, Nottingham, perhaps has some historical significance but was too hard for Zimbabwe bowlers. England batters were on top of their game, with three centuries on the board already after the end of day 1. Unlike a regular 5-day Test match, a one-off Test contains only 4 days. 

Summary of Day 1

Session 1

The match started under an overcast condition with lots of bounce in the wicket and Zimbabwe with 6'8" Blessing. Muzaraban I started the things off in a promising way. Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine used all of their pace bowlers in the very first session of the day. Except for a few close shouts from the bowling side, England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett were scoring runs flawlessly. Without losing any wicket in the session, England reached the 130 mark.

Session 2

Ervine chose to shake things up with a fresh strategy by introducing Sikandar Raza, a spinner. Surprisingly, despite a pace-friendly condition in Trent Bridge, spinners started to get some help, mostly with the extra bounce on the surface. Zimbabwe fast bowlers were struggling to maintain line and length, often going outside off, which helped the England opening pair to score more easily. Duckett departed after 140; Wesley Madhevere took the wicket. England was on 295 for 1 with Crawley and Ollie Pope on the crease. 

Read More: List of players to score 13000 runs in Test cricket

Season 3

The session started off with the ton of Crawley and aggressive batting approach from Pope. After a 137-run partnership between these two batters, Crawley lost his wicket for 124 after an LBW shout from Raza. Joe Root, in his 34-run innings, escaped a run-out and then completed his 13,000 runs in Test cricket. He tried to pull the ball for a big hit but was caught just before the boundary line; Muzarabani got his first Test wicket. The day ended with 498/3 on the scoreboard. Pope, with 169*, and Harry Brook, with 9*, will start day 2 for England. 

We finish Day 1 just shy of 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ runs 😍

A brilliant day with the bat 🏏 pic.twitter.com/gKX75CkM2r

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 22, 2025

Joe Root scripted his name in the history of Test cricket during England’s one-off Test match against Zimbabwe today (May 22) at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Root became the fifth cricketer in history to complete 13,000 Test runs.

 Joe Root, considered one of the best batters in the modern era of cricket, was only 28 runs away from the milestone. On the first ball of the 80^th over against Zimbabwe, by taking a single, Victor Nyauchi was the bowler at that time. Along with claiming the 13,000^th Test run, Root broke former South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis’ record, who made this number of runs playing only 159 matches, which was the fastest so far.

Root took only 153 matches to find himself at the top of the list. Though, in terms of total innings, the Englishman is the slowest one to reach the landmark. The star cricketer’s 13K Test runs came during his 279^th innings in the white. Legendary Sachin Tendulkar is still top of the list, having scored 13 thousand runs in 266 innings.

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Overall, Joe Root is the first England cricketer to score 13,000 Test runs and the 5th in the international circuit to achieve this incredible feat. The right-hander made his Test debut on December 13, 2012, against India in Nagpur. Since then, Root has claimed a truck full of runs throughout his decorating career. He enjoyed most of his time against Australia, India, and New Zealand. In more than 2,000 Test runs, he scored against Australia and India, and over 1,000 runs came against New Zealand.

🚨 1️⃣ 3️⃣, 0️⃣ 0️⃣ 0️⃣ 🚨

Enough said. pic.twitter.com/wYdaIAiVhm

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 22, 2025

Batters who have scored 13,000 Test runs so far:

1) Sachin Tendulkar (India)- 266 innings

2) Jacques Kallis (South Africa)- 269 innings

3) Ricky Ponting (Australia)- 275 innings

4) Rahul Dravid (India)- 277 innings

5) Joe Root (England)- 279* innings  

English legend Joe Root created new history in English Test cricket by becoming the first English cricketer to record 13000 Test runs. The right-handed batter reached this special feat on the opening day of their home Test against Zimbabwe in Nottingham. 

On the first day of the new home summer, England scored 498/3 after Zimbabwe sent the hosts to bat first. All the top three English batters hit centuries, while the former English captain Joe Root reached the special Test cricket milestone. 

See Also: Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett break records with jaw-dropping opening stand for England

Joe Root became fifth to complete 13000 Test runs

The 34-year-old Root came to bat at no.4, who was 28 runs away from 13000 Test runs. While England are piling up a huge first innings total, Root completed his 13000 Test runs while completing his 28th run in the innings with a single. It is a very special milestone as Root became the first English batter and fifth overall cricketer to reach the 13000 runs mark in Test cricket career.

Root completed his 13000 Test runs in 279 innings, as the right-handed batter recorded the slowest 13000 Test runs. Previously, legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid held the slowest 13000 Test runs record by reaching the milestone in 277 Test innings. However, if we see the number of Test matches, Root became the fastest to complete 13000 Test runs. While he reached the milestone in 153 Test matches, former South African cricketer Jacques Kallis previously held the record by completing the milestone in 159 Test matches. 

Fastest to complete 13000 Test runs (number of innings)

(Updated as of May 22, 2025)

Joe Root is not far from the second-most Test run-scorer

Root was dismissed for 34 runs, where the right-handed batter hit three fours. With 373 more runs, Root will become the second most run-scorer in Test cricket history, while the English cricketer will still require more than 2500 runs to reach the no.1 spot in the list of most Test runs by surpassing legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 15921 Test runs. 

Joe Root has confirmed he is not in the running to become England’s next white-ball captain following Jos Buttler’s resignation after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old batter, who led England’s Test team from 2017 to 2022, stated that his time as captain is over.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Root said, “I think that ship has sailed. I’ve done my time as a captain in an England shirt. I’m sure whoever gets the opportunity will be extremely proud and do a brilliant job.”

While Root never captained England in limited-overs formats, he returned to the ODI side this year and finished as one of the top performers in the Champions Trophy. He was England’s leading batter in the tournament, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer overall, and nearly took his team over the line in their final match against Afghanistan with a gritty century.

Despite his personal success, England endured a disappointing campaign, failing to reach the semifinals. Jos Buttler stepped down as captain shortly before their final group game against South Africa. Since then, England has yet to announce a new leader for the ODI side.

Among the contenders, vice-captain Harry Brook is currently seen as the front-runner. However, managing director Rob Key has hinted that Ben Stokes could be considered for the white-ball captaincy, potentially uniting both red and white-ball leadership under one figure. Brendon McCullum has not ruled out the option of having separate captains for ODIs and T20Is.

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Root acknowledged England’s recent struggles but remains confident in the squad’s potential. “We didn’t play anywhere near what we’re capable of. But there’s so much talent and so much more to come. This is a good opportunity to reset and move forward as a group.”

Despite not being a regular in England’s T20I squad since 2019, Root's form in franchise cricket has drawn attention. He impressed in this year’s SA20 tournament with the Paarl Royals, scoring 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 140.20.

Looking ahead, Root turned his focus to the upcoming Test summer, starting with a five-match series against India at home from June 20. The series will kick off the new cycle of the World Test Championship.

“India coming over means there’s no hiding place. It’s a long series, and we’ll need to deliver match-winning performances consistently,” Root said.

With Root stepping aside from the leadership conversation, England’s white-ball future now rests on the next generation to take the team forward.

For nearly a decade, cricket fans worldwide admired the legendary 'Fab Four': Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Joe Root. These four players were the biggest faces in international cricket, across formats, for almost a decade, bombarding records with great consistency, technique, and leadership. However, as time passes, the once-invicible quartet is now showing signs of fading away, raising questions about the next era of cricketing greats.

The Fab Four In Tests
Test cricket has been the ultimate proving ground for these four marstros. Kohli's dominant captaincy and stroke play, Smith's unorthodox but very effective technique, Williamson's calmness, and Root's classical style make them a force to reckon with. However, with age comes a different team dynamic, slowly nearing the edge of this sheer joy. Though Root and Williamson continue to be key players for their teams, Smith and Kohli have, in more recent years, struggled to provide that consistency.

The Fab Four In ODIs
The Image in below post a noticeable shift - Smith has turned black and white, suggesting that he is no longer capable of using his own skills. While modern-day cricket embraces power-hitting and aggressive strike rates, the dominance of the Fab Four in ODIs has been challenged by rising stars such as Babar Azam and Shubman Gill. While Kohli is still as formidable as ever, his role continues to evolve, while Williamson and Root seem to be throwing in the towel and unable to maintain their high standards in ODIs.

The Fab-four are fading away 😢 pic.twitter.com/4bWDFpsdDP

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 5, 2025

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The T20I Scenario of the Fab Four 
If there is one thing to take away from this image of T20 cricket, it is that the influential players of the format—Captain Kohli, Captain Smith, and Captain Root—all have reduced influences on T20. Power hitters and batting with a focus on the strike rate have largely edged out these players. Even though Williamson is hailed as an astute captain, he has not been hitting it big in terms of strike rates. As for Root, he has rarely made an appearance on the T20I stage.

The Future of the Fab Four 
Now as the Fab Four slowly dissolve, they leave behind unanswered questions: who will be winning these winks instead? Enter Babar Azam, Marnus Labuschagne, and Shubman Gill, who are already making their presence felt. But Kohli, Smith, Williamson, and Root will be an impossible feat to replicate. Cricket is in a state of transition.

Although the Fab Four show every sign of no longer being in their prime, their endeavors have forever inscribed them into history. Whether they will have a second innings or leave the scene gracefully will still play out. For now, it is the fans who can only turn back the pages of history and reminisce about the golden age they created.

It was an epic encounter between England and Afghanistan it was a do-or-die match for both team where they entered this match with a loss, where Afghanistan was beaten by South Africa and England was beaten by Australia so it was a quarter-final between both of these teams, the one who wins the game stays and the other has to go home. 

England had the advantage where they had beaten Afghanistan 2 times in this format but Afghanistan is a team that can't be written off they can beat any team on a given day. Afghanistan have also beaten England once that too in the 2023 World Cup which happened in India. So underestimating Afghanistan is at your own risk. 

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Zadran Brilliant Century Made A Base 

This was much anticipated match where both the teams were entering with a loss. Afghanistan won the toss and Captain Sahidi choose to bat first. At the start of innings they had a thought whether they committed a mistake. But Zadran kept the things go on. Because they lost the wicket of Gurbaaz who went cheaply and rest of few too went early but partnership between Zadran and Sahidi went on. 

Afghanistan was back on track soon where Zadran was looking in elite touch dispatching bad balls to the boundary and rotating the strike as well so the scoreboard stood ticking. Soon Sahidi got out then Azmatullah joined the party with Zadran it was no stopping for him. Zadran scored a brilliant century which was his first but he didn't stop there after his century he rolled over English bowlers more aggressively. He scored a brilliant 177 runs facing 146 balls. He was well supported by Nabi too. With a collective effort Afghanistan scored 325 runs with a loss of 7 wickets. 

Azmatullah Omarzai The Warrior For Afghanistan

IIn the previous match it was England bowling who costed them the match though scoring a mamoth total of 350 above runs they lost the match against Australia, Thanks to the innings of Josh Inglis who just not scored a quick century but ensured Australia seal the match. So here England too had a dangerous batting and it was chasable total in Lahore. But things were looking differently for England here. 

Read More: Shoaib Akhtar slams PCB Management For Poor Team Handling

They lost 2 wickets at the score of 30 pressure started to mount on for England as Omarzai started the damage. Though Joe Root was batting beautifully at one the other wickets were piling up. Before reaching 150 England lost 4 wickets., then a steady partnership between Root and Butler came where they developed an 83-run partnership where Root too completed his brilliant century. Soon Butler departed for 38 and Livingston came to rebuild the damage a 53-run partnership between them gave England solidity. But Azmatullah took root off and it was the nail in the coffin. 

Root departed for 120 runs then it was no stopping for Afghanistan they took the wickets quickly and even England too was nearing the chase so it was on a stage who did it first either Afghanistan would all out England or England's batsman would make a, steal. In the end, Jofra Archer tried too hard too but it was too late it seemed as if England were bowled out at the end with 8 runs remaining to score last 20 minutes were an absolute thriller either who would win and Afghanistan players held their nerves and won the match and pushed their chances forward. Azmatullah  Omarzai took 5 wickets and was the leader of the bowling pack. With this England had been out of Champions Trophy 2025, Where Ibrahim Zadran was awarded with Man Of The Match award. 

Afghanistan eliminated England from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and have stayed in the competition after a thrilling victory in the high-scoring Group B match on Wednesday (February 26) at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. 

It was a must-win game for both teams to stay in the tournament, as a defeat means elimination for both teams. Afghanistan's captain chose to bat first after winning the toss. While Afghanistan scored 325/7 in 50 overs, England were all out for 317 runs.

Ibrahim Zadran recorded highest score in ICC Champions Trophy history

England took Afghans' first three wickets in the first powerplay, as Jofra Archer got all those three wickets, and Afghanistan ended the first powerplay at 39/3. However, the opener Ibrahim Zadran played one of the most memorable innings of the tournament, while the captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (40), Azmatullah Omarzai (41), and Mohammad Nabi (40) provided strong support to Zadran. 

Zadran completed his sixth ODI century in 106 balls and 150 runs in 134 balls. After scoring 177 off 146 balls with the help of 12 fours and six sixes, Zadran was out in the final over. With that knock, the Afghan opener broke the highest individual score record in ICC Champions Trophy history, which the English opener Ben Duckett (165) recorded this tournament in their previous game against Australia.  Before his dismissal, Zadran had a 103-run partnership with the skipper Shahidi, a 72-run partnership with Omarzai, and a 111-run partnership with Nabi for the fourth, fifth, and sixth wickets, respectively. 

Among the English bowlers, Jofra Archer scalped three wickets (3/64), while Liam Livingstone (2/28) got two crucial wickets in the last over of the innings, where he dismissed set batters Zadran and Nabi. 

See Also: Jofra Archer breaks James Anderson's English ODI record

Joe Root's fighting century went in vain; Azmatullah Omarzai dominated with fifer

In reply, England were losing wickets at regular intervals. At powerplay, England scored 60/2. Ben Duckett scored 38 off 45 balls and had a crucial 68-run third-wicket partnership with Joe Root before losing his wicket. Harry Brook (25) and captain Jos Buttler (38) had some useful contributions, while Root had a 35-run partnership with Brook and another 83-run partnership with Buttler for the fourth and fifth wickets, respectively, but both the batters lost wickets when the English team was in the line to dominate as Root had to watch the tough scenes from the other end. 

In the last moment, Root had a crucial 54-run partnership with Jamie Overton for the seventh wicket, which helped the England team to return to the game. Root completed his 17th ODI century in 98 balls and was dismissed by Azmatullah Omarzai in the crucial 46th over. Before his dismissal, Root, who recorded his first ODI century since the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019, scored 120 off 111 balls with 11 fours and one six. 

Jamie Overton had a valuable contribution with 32 off 28 balls but the English side just fell short of the target, as they were all out for 317 runs. 

Among the Afghan bowlers, Azmatullah Omarzai claimed a fifer as he had bowling figures of 9.5-0-58-5. Also, Mohammad Nabi had an important role like the other supporting bowlers as the off-spinner recorded the bowling figures of 8-0-57-2.