Ever wondered what the likes of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and other cricketing superstars make? IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla promises to make salaries of all players public
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla (centre) addresses the media along with Keshav Bansal (left), owner of the Rajkot franchise and Subroto Talukdar, a representative of the Pune franchise after the IPL players�������¢���������������� draft
Ever wondered what the likes of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and other cricketing superstars make from the Indian Premier League IPL? While salaries of cricketers in the auction are known, figures concerning players who are not bought through the auction route is still a mystery.
IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla centre addresses the media along with Keshav Bansal left, owner of the Rajkot franchise and Subroto Talukdar, a representative of the Pune franchise after the IPL players’ draft at MCA’s Recreation Club at Bandra Kurla Complex yesterday. Pic/Shadab Khan
However, that is soon going to change as the IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla has promised to make the salaries of every player in the IPL public very soon. "Everything will be disclosed. We will put the players- salaries on the BCCI website," Shukla said at a news conference yesterday after the IPL players- draft at MCA-s Recreation Club at Bandra Kurla Complex.
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Journalists demand
Shukla made this statement after journalists demanded to know the money MS Dhoni, who according to the existing BCCI contract structure will get Rs 12.5 crore for being the first choice player, would make. "Whatever their contracts in Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, the same will be honoured," Shukla said.
When asked who will pay the sum over and above Rs 12.5 crore, Shukla said: "The franchisee which has picked that particular player will pay that. There is a tripartite agreement between the player, IPL franchisee and IPL."
So, R12.5 crore was yesterday deducted from the overall R66 crore purse that Pune and Rajkot franchisees had as soon as they bought Dhoni and Suresh Raina respectively. There were further deductions from their purse when they bought the second player Rs 9.5 crore, third player R7.5 crore, fourth player Rs 5.5 crore and the fifth player Rs 4 crore. They are now left with R27 crore to make up their rest of the squad from the auction in February.
Both franchisees were happy with the way the draft panned out. Subroto Talukdar, a representative of the Sanjeev Goenka consortium which bought the Pune franchisee, said: "We had a clear strategy and it largely worked out. Dhoni was the automatic choice. We are a new team and had to build the brand." Intex Technologies- Keshav Bansal, owner of the Rajkot franchise, said: "We knew Dhoni would be out. So, the next best choice was Suresh Raina."
No Dada influence
Both franchisees, however, denied speaking to any players prior to the draft. Talukdar categorically denied having any influence of Sourav Ganguly, who is a business partner of Goenka in a Indian Super League team. "He was not part of it at all. However, Mr Goenka has many cricketing friends and the group also employs a lot of cricketers. Ashok Dinda, Manoj Tiwary and Wriddhiman Saha, who all play for other franchisees in the IPL, were consulted," said Talukdar.
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