Quick Answer: Virat Kohli’s IPL salary is ₹21 crore per season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for IPL 2025, 2026 and the 2027 cycle. That works out to about ₹1.75 crore per month and roughly ₹1.3–1.5 crore per match. His total IPL earnings from 2008 to 2026 are about ₹230 crore.
Virat Kohli’s IPL salary is one of the most searched cricket pay figures in India. He is the only player to have played every IPL season for the same team. He started on a ₹12 lakh youth contract in 2008. Today, he is one of the highest-paid Indian players in the league.
This guide covers Kohli’s current RCB salary, his full year-wise pay history, per match and per month figures, tax on his IPL income, and how his pay compares with other top stars.
Virat Kohli IPL Salary Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Player | Virat Kohli |
| IPL Team | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) |
| Role | Top-order batter |
| IPL Salary 2026 | ₹21 crore per season |
| Contract Type | Retained player (2025–2027 cycle) |
| Salary Per Month (approx.) | ₹1.75 crore |
| Salary Per Match (approx.) | ₹1.3–1.5 crore |
| First IPL Salary (2008) | ₹12 lakh |
| Total IPL Earnings (2008–2026) | About ₹230 crore |
| IPL Titles | 2 (2025, 2026) |
Note: Figures are based on official retention announcements and team salary lists. Per match and per month numbers are calculated estimates, not official payments.
Virat Kohli IPL Salary 2026 With RCB
Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, RCB retained Kohli for ₹21 crore. This retention covers the full three-season cycle from 2025 to 2027. Before the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi, RCB kept him again at the same ₹21 crore.
This was a big jump from his previous salary of ₹15 crore. The hike reflects his value as RCB’s biggest brand and their top run-scorer.
Kohli has never entered an IPL auction even once. RCB has retained him before every mega auction since 2008. No other player has this record.
Virat Kohli IPL Salary Year-Wise (2008–2026)
Here is Kohli’s complete IPL salary history, season by season:
| Season | Salary | Contract Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | ₹12 lakh | U-19 youth contract |
| 2009 | ₹12 lakh | Youth contract |
| 2010 | ₹12 lakh | Youth contract |
| 2011 | ₹8.28 crore | Retained |
| 2012 | ₹8.28 crore | Retained |
| 2013 | ₹8.28 crore | Retained (became full-time captain) |
| 2014 | ₹12.5 crore | Retained |
| 2015 | ₹12.5 crore | Retained |
| 2016 | ₹12.5 crore | Retained (973 runs, record season) |
| 2017 | ₹12.5 crore | Retained |
| 2018 | ₹17 crore | Retained (highest-paid IPL player then) |
| 2019 | ₹17 crore | Retained |
| 2020 | ₹17 crore | Retained |
| 2021 | ₹17 crore | Retained |
| 2022 | ₹15 crore | Retained (accepted a pay cut) |
| 2023 | ₹15 crore | Retained |
| 2024 | ₹15 crore | Retained |
| 2025 | ₹21 crore | Retained (RCB’s first title) |
| 2026 | ₹21 crore | Retained (RCB’s second title) |
| Total | ≈ ₹230 crore | 19 seasons |
Key Salary Jumps Explained
- 2008 to 2011: Kohli came into the IPL after leading India to the U-19 World Cup title. His salary stayed at ₹12 lakh for three years. In 2011, RCB retained him for ₹8.28 crore — a jump of nearly 70 times.
- 2014: After becoming RCB captain, his pay rose to ₹12.5 crore.
- 2018: RCB retained him for ₹17 crore, making him the highest-paid player in the IPL at that time.
- 2022: Kohli took a voluntary pay cut to ₹15 crore. This left RCB with more money to build a stronger squad.
- 2025: His salary rose to ₹21 crore, his highest ever.
Virat Kohli IPL Salary Per Match and Per Month
The IPL does not pay players per match. A retained player gets the full contract amount for the season, as long as he is available. Still, many people search for per match and per month figures, so here is a simple breakdown for 2026:
| Basis | Calculation | Approx. Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Per season | Contract amount | ₹21 crore |
| Per month | ₹21 crore ÷ 12 | ₹1.75 crore |
| Per match (14 league games) | ₹21 crore ÷ 14 | ₹1.5 crore |
| Per match (with playoffs, 16 games) | ₹21 crore ÷ 16 | ₹1.31 crore |
| Per run in IPL 2026 | ₹21 crore ÷ 675 runs | ≈ ₹3.1 lakh |
Kohli scored 675 runs in IPL 2026 at a strike rate of about 166, his best in the IPL. He hit an unbeaten 75 in the final against Gujarat Titans to seal the title. By any measure, RCB got strong value for its money.
Virat Kohli IPL Salary In-Hand: Tax Deduction
Kohli’s ₹21 crore is not fully “in hand.” For Indian players, IPL income is treated as professional income. Franchises deduct TDS at 10% under Section 194J of the Income Tax Act before paying.
| Item | Approx. Amount |
|---|---|
| Gross IPL salary | ₹21 crore |
| TDS deducted by franchise (10%) | ₹2.1 crore |
| Amount received after TDS | ₹18.9 crore |
| Estimated final tax (30% slab + surcharge + cess) | ≈ ₹8.2 crore |
| Estimated post-tax IPL income | ≈ ₹12.8 crore |
This is an estimate under the highest tax bracket. Actual tax depends on his total income, regime chosen and deductions. TDS is only an advance; the final tax is settled when he files his return.
Most competitor pages skip this part. In reality, a player in Kohli’s bracket keeps a little over 60% of his IPL salary after tax.
How IPL Retention Salary Works
Under IPL rules for the 2025–27 cycle, teams could retain up to six players before the mega auction. The BCCI fixed slab prices for retained capped players: ₹18 crore, ₹14 crore and ₹11 crore for the first three.
A franchise can pay more than the slab. RCB chose to pay Kohli ₹21 crore, so that full amount was cut from their auction purse. The player gets the actual agreed amount, not the slab figure.
Along with Kohli, RCB retained Rajat Patidar for ₹11 crore and Yash Dayal for ₹5 crore before the 2025 auction.
Other Earnings From IPL
Kohli’s IPL salary is only one part of what he earns from the league:
- Prize money share: RCB won back-to-back titles in 2025 and 2026. Franchises usually share part of the winner’s prize money with the squad.
- Match awards: Player of the Match and season awards come with separate cash prizes.
- Team sponsorships: Kohli is RCB’s biggest face for team promotions and campaigns.
In 2026, there were media reports that Kohli did not renew a separate commercial deal with RCB. Neither Kohli nor the franchise has officially confirmed this. His playing contract of ₹21 crore remains unchanged.
Virat Kohli’s Total Income: IPL vs Other Sources
| Income Source | Approx. Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| IPL salary (RCB) | ₹21 crore |
| BCCI central contract (Grade B, 2025–26) | Not officially disclosed |
| Brand endorsements | ₹150 crore+ (estimated) |
| Business investments | Varies |
| Estimated net worth (2026) | Around ₹1,100 crore |
In the BCCI central contracts for October 2025 to September 2026, Kohli moved from Grade A+ to Grade B. This happened because he retired from Tests and T20Is and now plays only ODIs. The BCCI also scrapped the A+ category and did not publish fees for the new grades.
Even so, endorsements remain his biggest earner. His IPL salary is the largest single cricket payment he receives each year.
Virat Kohli IPL Salary vs Other Star Players
| Player | Team | Salary (Per Season) |
|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹27 crore |
| Shreyas Iyer | Punjab Kings | ₹26.75 crore |
| Heinrich Klaasen | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹23 crore |
| Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹21 crore |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Mumbai Indians | ₹18 crore |
| Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | ₹16.30 crore |
| Rajat Patidar (RCB captain) | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹11 crore |
| MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | ₹4 crore (uncapped) |
Salaries are from the 2025–27 cycle retentions and auction. Figures can change if a player is traded or released.
Kohli is not the most expensive player in the IPL today. Pant and Shreyas Iyer earned more at the 2025 mega auction. But Kohli is RCB’s highest-paid player and one of the top-paid Indian names in the league.
Virat Kohli’s IPL Career at a Glance
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| IPL debut | 2008 |
| Seasons played | 19 (all with RCB) |
| Status | Most runs in IPL history (9,000+) |
| Most runs in one season | 973 (2016) |
| IPL 2026 runs | 675 |
| IPL titles | 2025, 2026 |
| RCB captaincy | 2013–2021 |
Will Kohli Play IPL 2027?
Kohli had said in 2024 that he wanted to complete 20 years with RCB, which means playing until at least IPL 2027. RCB CEO Rajesh Menon said in 2026 that Kohli could play for three to four more years, possibly till 2030.
If he plays in 2027, he will earn ₹21 crore again under the current cycle. A new contract and salary will be decided before the next mega auction.
FAQs
What is Virat Kohli’s IPL salary in 2026?
Virat Kohli’s IPL salary in 2026 is ₹21 crore. RCB retained him at this price for the 2025–2027 cycle.
How much does Virat Kohli earn per match in IPL?
Kohli is not paid per match. Dividing his ₹21 crore salary by 14–16 games gives roughly ₹1.3 to ₹1.5 crore per match.
What was Virat Kohli’s first IPL salary?
His first IPL salary in 2008 was ₹12 lakh under a youth contract. It stayed the same until 2010.
How much has Virat Kohli earned from IPL in total?
From 2008 to 2026, Kohli has earned about ₹230 crore in IPL salary alone. This does not include prize money or award payments.
Is Virat Kohli the highest-paid player in IPL?
No. Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore) and Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75 crore) earn more. Kohli is the highest-paid player at RCB.
Why did Virat Kohli take a pay cut in IPL 2022?
Kohli accepted ₹15 crore instead of ₹17 crore in 2022. This gave RCB more funds to strengthen the squad in the auction.
Has Virat Kohli ever been in an IPL auction?
No. RCB has retained him before every auction since 2008. He is the only player to play all 19 IPL seasons for one team.
How much tax does Virat Kohli pay on his IPL salary?
RCB deducts 10% TDS (₹2.1 crore). His final tax, at the highest slab with surcharge and cess, is estimated at around ₹8 crore.
Final Thoughts
Virat Kohli’s IPL salary grew from ₹12 lakh in 2008 to ₹21 crore in 2026. That is a rise of over 175 times in 19 seasons. With two straight titles and his best-ever strike rate in 2026, his salary remains well justified. As long as he plays, he is likely to stay among the top-paid Indian players in the league.
Figures are based on official retention announcements and team salary lists and may change with future retentions or auctions.
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