Virat Kohli IPL Salary: Year-wise earnings from 2008 to 2026
Virat Kohli (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 25 Apr 2026, 09:16 AM• Read time - 12 mins
Leading India at the ICC Men's U19 World Cup brings its own set of pressure and moments in the limelight. Virat Kohli also had his fair share of both when he was announced as the captain of the India side, selected to feature at the ICC Men's U19 World Cup 2008 in Malaysia.
Kohli impressed everyone with his fearless strokeplay and the ability to lead from the front. He led India to their second title after a nerve-wracking finish in the final.
India beat South Africa by 12 runs (DLS) in a dramatic and rain-truncated final in Kuala Lumpur. Kohli finished the tournament as the third-leading run-getter. The right-hander aggregated 235 runs in six innings at an average of 47.00 and a strike rate of 94.75, including a hundred (100 off 74) against West Indies.
Kohli then found himself as a part of the U19 Player Draft at the inaugural IPL auction in 2008. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pocketed him after paying INR 20.06 lakhs.
The Delhi-born had plenty to learn in his first few seasons as he shared the same dressing room with some of the biggest names in world cricket. Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Kevin Pietersen, Zaheer Khan, RCB's dugout was full of giants, and it helped a young Kohli in learning new facets about his game and unlocking his full potential.
Virat received INR 24.34 and 22.88 lakhs for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, respectively. His IPL earnings registered a jump of 3458% in 2011 (the year India won the ODI World Cup) as RCB paid him INR 8.14 crore.
There was again a seven per cent hike in his earnings in 2012 as he received INR 8.74 crore. It increased to INR 9.57 crore in 2013.
His earnings remained static at INR 12.50 crore from 2014 to 2017. It further increased by 36% in 2018 to INR 17.00 crore and remained so until 2021.
There was a 12% decline in his IPL yearly earnings in 2022 when he received INR 15.00 crore for rendering his services to RCB. As of 2026, RCB are paying Kohli INR 21.00 crore.
Also check: Sanju Samson IPL salary
Virat Kohli's IPL salary history:
| Season | Team | Salary (INR crore) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | RCB | 21.00 |
| 2025 | RCB | 21.00 |
| 2024 | RCB | 15.00 |
| 2023 | RCB | 15.00 |
| 2022 | RCB | 15.00 |
| 2021 | RCB | 17.00 |
| 2020 | RCB | 17.00 |
| 2019 | RCB | 17.00 |
| 2018 | RCB | 17.00 |
| 2017 | RCB | 12.50 |
| 2016 | RCB | 12.50 |
| 2015 | RCB | 12.50 |
| 2014 | RCB | 12.50 |
| 2013 | RCB | 9.57 |
| 2012 | RCB | 8.74 |
| 2011 | RCB | 8.14 |
| 2010 | RCB | 22.88 Lakhs |
| 2009 | RCB | 24.34 Lakhs |
| 2008 | RCB | 20.06 Lakhs |
| Total | 232.14 |
*Please note that this is based on officially available data; exact figures may vary.
