Cricket commentators add much of the spice to the broadcasts — they not only explain the technical nuances of the game, but also elevate crucial moments — it’s hard to forget Ravi Shastri’s “Dhoni finishes it off in style” when India had won the 2011 world cup, or the commentary that followed Surya Kumar Yadav’s memorable catch in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. And it turns out that cricket commentators earn good salaries — they are paid handsomely for their efforts.
Cricket Commentator Salary
Speaking on the Raj Shamani podcast, former Indian test cricketer and current commentator Akash Chopra gave some insights on the salary of a cricket commentator. “How much money does a junior commentator make”: Shamani asked him. “The salary of a cricket commentator can start from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 40,000 a day,” Akash Chopra replied. “And typically commentators work for 100 days a year. This is on the higher side, it’s very rare that there’s cricket for more than 100 days a year,” he added.
As such, a junior cricket commentator can earn a salary of as much as Rs. 35 lakh to Rs. 40 lakh a year. This translates to a salary of around 3-3.5 lakh a month. This is the starting salary for a junior cricket commentator.
But things are different with the salary of senior cricket commentators. Senior cricket commentators can make anywhere between Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 10 lakh per day. The exact figure depends on their seniority and brand recognition. As such, senior cricket commentators can earn between Rs. 6 crore to Rs. 10 crore per year for covering 100 days of cricket. This translates into a salary of Rs. 50 lakh to Rs. 80 lakh per month.
As with other fields, the salary of a cricket commentator depends very much on how senior and well-known the commentator is. Junior cricket commentators have a salary of around Rs. 35 to Rs. 40 lakh per year, while senior cricket commentators can earn as much as Rs. 10 crore per year. And the perks? Proximity to top cricket stars, getting to interview them, and having the best seats in the ground at cricket matches.