Saturday, 30 November 2024
Saturday, 30 November 2024
Imagine watching your favourite IPL star stroll into the crease. As he takes guard, what you’re witnessing is a walking-talking mutual fund investment in a cricket jersey. With every swing of his bat, he’s not just scoring runs — he’s raining money.
Welcome to IPL 2024, where cricket meets Dalal Street, and every six is a mini real-estate transaction.
After the dust settled at the Jeddah auction house – yes, even the auction needed a rich destination – it emerged that the franchises had spent a whooping Rs. 639 crore.
The Telegraph Online analysed the last three IPL seasons for the top five most expensive players in the mega auction: Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.
We’ve averaged key metrics – balls faced, runs scored, sixes hit, balls bowled, and wickets taken – to calculate the cost of every shot, ball, and wicket.
The results? Eye-popping. These players aren’t just making a living; they’re redefining what “value for money” means in cricket.
639 crore = 213 luxury apartments in Mumbai
In IPL 2024, dot balls cost more than cars and wides are worth their weight in gold. In this parallel universe, franchises aren’t buying players – they’re purchasing private islands with a cricket bat thrown in for free.
To put it in perspective, Rs 639 crore is enough to buy 200 luxury apartments in tony neighbourhoods of Mumbai (well, maybe 150 after recent price hikes) or feed every stray dog in India for a year. While you’re debating between Netflix and Prime subscriptions, IPL franchises are dropping the GDP of a small island nation on cricket talents.
Face one delivery, go on two Maldives trips
Rishabh Pant pockets Rs 9.67 lakh every time he faces a delivery. While you’re calculating your monthly EMIs, Pant earns enough in one ball to fund a couple of family vacations to the Maldives.
Shreyas Iyer tops even that – with Rs 11.34 lakh per ball.
Venkatesh Iyer isn’t far behind at Rs 8.33 lakh.
So, when Shreyas Iyer hits a six, he’s not just scoring runs – he’s launching Rs 2.67 crore into the stands. That’s enough for a two-year-MBA at Harvard (at Rs 65 lakh per year), or a 3-BHK at Koregaon Park in Pune.
Pant’s sixes are worth Rs 25.23 lakh each – equivalent to a Mercedes A-Class.
Each wicket costs more than your house
The bowlers aren’t living on pocket change either. For Arshdeep Singh, every delivery he bowls comes with a hefty price tag of Rs 5.96 lakh, meaning an over from him is worth a cool Rs 30 lakh. Yuzvendra Chahal spins his way to Rs 4.89 lakh per ball, with each over costing a staggering Rs 29 lakh.
A single ball by Arshdeep could buy you 50 g of gold, or fund a trip to Paris. Chahal spins his way to Rs 4.89 lakh per ball. At this rate, his googly probably costs more than your annual health insurance cover.
One match = 30 years of your salary
Let’s talk about match fees – or, as normal people call it, “winning the lottery every weekend”.
Pant earns Rs 1.92 crore per match – that’s equal to 30 years of a basic-level IT professional’s salary (Rs 6.4 lakh per year), four BMW 3 Series cars (Rs 48 lakh each), or a luxury villa in Goa (Rs 1.8 crore).
Shreyas follows with Rs 1.91 crore, and Arshdeep bags Rs 1.28 crore.
While you’re saving up for your dream vacation, these guys earn enough in one match to book the entire resort. And probably buy the beach next to it.
Rs 639 crore – IPL money equals cost of Chandrayaan 3 project
The total IPL auction spend this year could fund 1,278 startups (Rs 50 lakh each), buy 2,556 Harley-Davidsons (Rs 25 lakh each), or pay for 12,780 Indian weddings (Rs 5 lakh each).
Next time your parents insist engineering is the safe bet, show them Chahal’s bank balance — show them spinning ball could spin more money than launching a tech startup.
Now, excuse us while we go practise our helicopter shots in the backyard – there’s still time for the next auction.
