Xtra Time Web Desk: The three biggest stars of Indian cricket Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are set to get even richer as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to increase the salary cap from Rs 85 crore to Rs 100 crore for the next three seasons starting IPL 2022. Two new franchises are also set to be added from the next season.
The new changes will see the retained players earning more which means the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni will be even richer. It is expected their salary will be increased by at least Rs 5 crore. Gradually, it will increase to Rs 95 crore and by IPL 2024; the salary purse will hit the magical figures of Rs 100 crore.
As far as players retention is concerned, franchises can retain a maximum four players. It can be two Indian players and two overseas cricketers or three Indian players and one foreign cricketer. As per the current rules set by BCCI, franchises must deduct Rs 15 crore, Rs 11 crore and Rs 7 crore from the salary purse for three players heading into a mega auction. In the case of four players, the structure changes to Rs 12.5 cr, Rs 8.5 cr when two players are retained and Rs 12.5 cr for one retained player. But with the increase in salary purse, it is set to increase as well ahead of the mega auction for 10 IPL teams in 2022 as per a TOI report.
Currently, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli is the highest paid cricketer with a salary of Rs 17 crore. He is followed by Rajasthan Royals’ South African all-rounder Chris Morris at Rs 16.5 and Pat Cummins of Kolkata Knight Riders at Rs 15.5 crore. MS Dhoni of Chennai Super Kings and Rohit Sharma of Mumbai Indians, Rishabh Pant (Delhi Capitals) and Kyle Jamieson (RCB) earn Rs 15 crore each.
Meanwhile, BCCI will come out with tender documents for two new teams by August and will confirm the new teams by middle of October. Since the last 12 months, two names that has been doing the rounds is Kolkata-based RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group & the Adani group headquartered in Ahmedabad. Both have shown keen interest in having IPL team on many occasions in past and will surely throw their hat in the ring when the tenders are released in August. Other than these two groups Gold Finance Company down South is also interested in acquiring the IPL unit along with a Pharma company based out of Hyderabad.
It is also learnt the auction for IPL 2022 will be held towards the end of December this year.