Who pays the highest tax?

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Cricketing Titans and Tax Thrones: Unraveling India’s Top Tax-Paying Players in FY 2023-24

Cricket in India isn’t merely a game—it’s a roaring symphony of passion, fame, and fortune. The nation’s cricketing heroes, wielding bats and balls, also wield wallets hefty enough to make significant dents in the taxman’s coffers. For the financial year 2023-24, ending March 31, 2024, Virat Kohli stands tall as the undisputed king, not just of cover drives but of tax contributions, shelling out ₹66 crore. What follows is a dive into the tax tales of India’s male cricketing elite—a saga of earnings, endorsements, and civic duty—where numbers dazzle and legacies endure.

1. Virat Kohli - ₹66 Crore

Virat Kohli, a name synonymous with cricketing brilliance, reigns supreme. His ₹66 crore tax payment catapults him to the pinnacle of India’s sporting tax-payers and fifth among all celebrities. Picture this: an A+ BCCI contract netting him ₹7 crore yearly, an IPL paycheck from Royal Challengers Bangalore at ₹21 crore per season, and an endorsement empire—Puma, Audi, MRF—rumored to rake in ₹150 crore annually. Add his One8 fitness brand, and you’ve got an income juggernaut nearing ₹250 crore. A single stat says it all—his tax alone could fund a small town’s dreams. Kohli’s financial might mirrors his on-field mastery.

2. MS Dhoni - ₹38 Crore

Then there’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Retired from international cricket since 2020, yet still a colossus. He paid ₹38 crore in taxes, snagging seventh place among India’s celebrity tax-payers. How? The IPL keeps him golden—Chennai Super Kings showers him with crores. Endorsements—Pepsi, Reebok—flow like his trademark helicopter shots. Investments in HomeLane and Cars24 pad his fortune, estimated beyond ₹1,000 crore. Dhoni proves legends don’t fade; they just shift gears, leaving tax trails in their wake.

3. Sachin Tendulkar - ₹28 Crore

Sachin Tendulkar. The mere mention evokes reverence. Long retired since 2013, he forked over ₹28 crore in taxes, securing ninth spot overall. Endorsements with BMW and Adidas still pay homage to his “Master Blaster” days. Commentary gigs and shrewd investments amplify his wealth—over ₹1,200 crore by some counts. His tax contribution isn’t just numbers; it’s a testament to a career that redefined cricket and a legacy that refuses to dim.

4. Sourav Ganguly - ₹23 Crore

Sourav Ganguly—Dada—commands respect and ₹23 crore in taxes. Fourth among cricketers, his post-playing career thrives. Once India’s captain, now a cricket czar—ex-BCCI president, Delhi Capitals’ Director of Cricket—he’s everywhere. Media work and endorsements fuel his coffers; his net worth hovers near ₹400 crore. Ganguly’s journey from the field to the boardroom is a masterclass in reinvention, with tax as the scorecard.

5. Hardik Pandya - ₹13 Crore

Hardik Pandya bursts onto the scene—₹13 crore in taxes, fifth place. Young, brash, and bankable. His BCCI contract, IPL earnings (₹16.35 crore with Mumbai Indians for 2025), and deals with Gillette and Hala Play pile up fast. Net worth? Around ₹80 crore. Pandya’s swagger isn’t just in his sixes—it’s in his rising tax footprint, a signal of stardom ascendant.

6. Rishabh Pant - ₹10 Crore

Rishabh Pant, the daredevil keeper, paid ₹10 crore. Sixth spot. A Grade B BCCI deal (₹3 crore), a jaw-dropping ₹27 crore IPL contract with Lucknow Super Giants for 2025, and Puma endorsements drive his ₹29 crore annual haul. After surviving a near-fatal crash in 2022, Pant’s resurgence—on pitch and in purse—shines. His tax tale is one of grit and glory.

The Supporting Cast

Others shine too, though figures blur beyond the top six. Jasprit Bumrah—₹7 crore—bowls his way to wealth with an A+ BCCI deal and Mumbai Indians’ ₹12 crore. Ajinkya Rahane, elegance personified, pays ₹8 crore, his ₹60 crore net worth bolstered by Dream11 ads. Shreyas Iyer, with a ₹26.75 crore IPL 2025 dea