Captain of the Indian Cricket team, Virat Kohli has been named among the .
29-year-old Kohli is at number 83 in the Forbes 2018 list of World’s Highest-Paid Athletes, ahead of international sportspersons, such as Novak Djokovic and Sergio Agüero.
Kohli pockets a whopping $24 million (AUD 32.5 million) in salary and brand endorsement fee annually.
The world’s highest-paid cricketer pockets nearly $4 million (AUD 5.42 million) in match fees from the BCCI and his Indian Premier League team of Royal Challengers Bangalore.
According to a report in The Times of India, he earned AUD1.1 million (INR 55,000,000) in emoluments, playing a total of 46 matches last year.
Virat Kohli and wife Anushka Sharma Source: Getty Images
Kohli is among the five cricketers who have been given the new A+ contracts by the BCCI under which he is going to receive a guaranteed retainer of Rs 70 million ($1.4 million) instead of Rs 20 million (AUD 500,000). His IPL club has also increased his salary to A$3.5 million this year.
However, the bulk of his earnings come off the pitch, from band endorsements of as many as 20 brands, including Puma, Pepsi, Audi and Oakley. Recently Kohli has also signed up with ride-sharing company Uber.
In January this year, Kohli was named ICC Cricketer of the Year, the ICC ODI Player of the Year, and named Captain of both Test and ODI Teams of the Year. 
His extraordinary run with the bat during the recent years has seen his brand value soar above any other cricketer on the globe.
Virat Kohli in action during the 2018 IPL. Source: AAP Image/ AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade
According to the Duff & Phelps report ‘Rise of the Millennials: India’s Most Valuable Celebrity Brands’ published in December 2017, Kohli’s brand value was pegged at AUD195 million.
He first shot into limelight in 2008 when the Virat Kohli-led under-19 cricket team won the World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2008, earning himself an opportunity to open the batting for the Indian team.
Despite some impressive performances, he had to make way for the established opening pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. His consistent performances during and in the lead up to the 2011 World Cup not just cemented his place in the limited overs format but he was also given the Test cap in 2011.
At the top of the Forbes list are boxer Floyd Mayweather and footballers Leonel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with annual earnings of $285, $111 and $108 respectively.
