What is your favourite sport, and why is it cricket? Haven’t we all attempted to imitate our favourite cricketers at some point in our lives?
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, with over 2.5 billion supporters. The sport has been practiced for almost 300 years. Throughout these years cricket has remained relevant and gained billions of admirers.
It is a thrilling, crushing, and intriguing game with a distinct personality that is played, watched, and loved by people all over the world.
Do you aspire to be a cricketer or are you just exploring the field? In either case, you’ve come to the right place! This blog discusses how to become a cricketer the skills required, the academies to enrol in, the salary, and what else it takes to be a cricketer. Follow the step-by-step guide in the blog to become a cricketer.
Who is a Cricketer?
Well, a cricketer is a person who professionally plays the sport of cricket. Professional cricket is a demanding and competitive sport. Only a few talented people make it as professionals, and even fewer make it as top international players. In cricket, there are four basic types of players. Batsman, bowler, wicketkeeper, and all-rounder.
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How to become a Cricketer? [4 Step Guide]
Step 1: Educational qualifications
Despite the fact that no formal education is required to play cricket, it is recommended that you complete as much education as possible as a backup to get into a different profession because competition is fierce and getting into national or IPL teams is difficult. Furthermore, some cricket academies require students to have completed their class 10th.
Step 2: Certification courses and project courses
A few certification courses are listed below:
- Ultimate Cricket Batting Course: All Levels
- Cricket Career Preparation
- Be an Explosive T20 Cricket Batsman
- Mental Toughness Training for Cricket
- Cricket coaching from Madan Lal cricket academy
- Online cricket mentoring course
Step 3: Choosing an Academy
Once you’ve decided to pursue a career in cricket, enrol in a professional academy. These academies play a significant role in pointing you in the right direction for becoming a successful cricketer. Your coach, mentor, and the experience you gain will all aid you in reaching your goal.
- Top academies to become a cricketer in India:
Name of Institution | Location |
Karnataka Institute of Cricket | Bangalore |
National Cricket Academy | Bangalore |
Sehwag Cricket Academy | Jhajjar |
Madan Lal Cricket Academy | Delhi |
Jaipur Cricket Academy | Jaipur |
National School of Cricket | Dehradun |
VB Cricket Academy | Chennai |
Vengsarkar Cricket Academy (VCA) | Mumbai |
L.B Shastri Cricket Academy | Delhi |
Sonnet Cricket Club | Delhi |
- Top academies to become a cricketer abroad:
Name of Institution | Location |
The Revolution Cricket Academy | United Kingdom |
The Gary Kirsten Cricket (GKC) Academy | South Africa |
Australian Cricket Institute (ACI) | Australia |
ICC Global Cricket Academy | UAE |
Cornwall Cricket Club | New Zealand |
Ricardo Powell Cricket Academy (RPCA) | USA |
Step 4: How to prepare to be a professional cricketer?
- Exercise and Eat Healthy: Professional cricketers have excelled in their field due to their discipline. Cricket is a physically demanding sport that requires players to be in good physical condition because games can last several hours. Your fitness must be at its peak in order to stay on the ground and perform. A healthy diet and exercise routine will help you develop the strength and endurance required for your role.
- Join the school/college cricket team: Cricket, as a team sport, cannot be fully learned by simply honing your skills. You must also work as a team. Your school/university teams will assist you in understanding team dynamics, which is a critical aspect of beginning a cricket career. School/University can easily assist you in advancing to the next stage of your professional training. That is, to be chosen for the district level.
- Becoming a Professional Player: After the district level, you must now advance to the state level before being considered for the IPL or the national team. When you play for your district, you will gain the necessary experience to make it to the state teams and compete in important tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
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24 most important skills for becoming a cricketer
- For Batsman:
- The ability to quickly pick up length
- A sound technique
- Superior hand-eye coordination
- Quick reflexes
- Wrist flexibility
- High levels of concentration
- Upper and core body strength
- Excellent balance and weight transfer
- Excellent cardiovascular fitness
- Agility over short distances
- For Bowler:
- The ability to bowl an accurate, consistent line and length
- A smooth and repeatable run-up
- Good flexibility
- Core strength
- The ability to bowl several ‘variation’ deliveries
- The ability to spin the ball (if you are a spin bowler)
- Excellent cardiovascular fitness
- For fielder and wicketkeeper:
- Excellent hand-eye coordination
- A sense of anticipation
- High levels of concentration
- Quick reflexes
- Fast sprinting
- The ability to catch a cricket ball consistently
- An ability to throw the ball accurately
Salary of a cricketer:
Salary in India
In India, the BCCI finances both men’s and women’s international and domestic cricket teams. The BCCI pays Indian cricketers (both men and women) based on their performance, which is reflected in the BCCI’s grading system as points.
- Men’s International Cricketer Salary:
Grade A + | Grade A | Grade B | Grade C |
INR 7 Cr | INR 5 Cr | INR 3 Cr | INR 1 Cr |
- Women’s International Cricketer Salary:
Grade A | Grade B | Grade C |
INR 50 Lakhs | INR 30 Lakhs | INR 10 Lakhs |
- Men’s Domestic Cricketer Salary:
Category | Salary |
Seniors(above 40 matches) | INR 60,000 |
Under 23 | INR 25,000 |
Under 19 | INR 20,000 |
- Women’s Domestic Cricketer Salary:
Category | Salary |
Senior women (playing XI) | INR 20,000 |
A cricketer in India can also earn money through advertising, sponsorship, becoming a brand ambassador, competing in other cricket leagues such as the IPL, owning brands, and other means.
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Who’s the Highest Paid Cricketer?
Virat Kohli is known as the richest cricketer in the world in 2023, even becoming the only cricketer on Forbes highest-paid athlete list in 2020. He earns millions from his sponsorships, endorsements and advertising deals and has proven himself to be more than a cricketer- he is a bonafide businessman and entrepreneur. Some of his endorsements include PUMA, Myntra, Uber India, Audi, Vicks and more!
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Salaries of Cricketers abroad
The following is a list of the highest salaries paid to international cricketers by their respective countries:
Country | Salary |
England | INR 9.8 Crores |
Australia | INR 4.2 Crores |
South Africa | INR 1.8 Crores |
New Zealand | INR 1.3 Crores |
Sri Lanka | INR 58 Lakhs |
Pakistan | INR 46 Lakhs |
Bangladesh | INR 41 Lakhs |
Top Cricket Tournaments in India
Men | Women |
Duleep Trophy | Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy |
Vijay Hazare Trophy | Senior Women’s One Day League |
Deodhar Trophy | Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy |
Ranji Trophy | Senior Women’s T20 League |
Irani Cup | Indian Women’s Premier League |
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy | |
Indian Premier League |
Top Cricket Tournaments in the World
Men | Women |
ICC Cricket World Cup | ICC Women’s World Cup |
ICC Championship Trophy | Senior Women’s T20 Challengers Trophy |
T20 World cup | Women’s Indian Premier League |
Ashes Series | Women’s Big Bash League |
NatWest Series | Women’s County Championship |
Border-Gavaskar Trophy | |
Asia Cup | |
Commonwealth Bank Series | |
Indian Premier League | |
Big Bash League | |
Pakistan Super League | |
Bangladesh Premier League | |
Sri Lanka Premier League | |
County Championship |
More about cricket?
If you’ve arrived at this point in the blog, it can only mean one thing: you enjoy cricket and may one day become a cricketer yourself! As a bonus, a few cricket documentaries are included here. Check them out and have fun exploring more!
- Fire in Babylon (2010)
- Death of a Gentleman (2015)
- Out of the Ashes (2010)
- Roar of The Lion (2019)
- Sachin: A Billion Dreams (2017)
- Viv Richards: King of Cricket (1987)
- Bodyline: It’s Just Not Cricket (2002)
- Brian Lara (1995)
- Shane (2022)
Consistent performance is the most important factor in becoming a cricketer. The scorecard will always determine whether you are worthy of being on the National team. All you have to do is work hard with the right technique and believe in yourself. The results will follow. Best wishes on your path to becoming a cricketer!
FAQs related to how to become a cricketer
How can I start a career in cricket?
Ans: Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started in cricket:
1. Make certain that you enjoy the game.
2. Consider which aspect of cricket you want to participate in.
3. Make an effort to watch a lot of cricket.
4. Purchase all of the required equipment
5. Try to establish good habits and techniques early on.
6. Join a local cricket club
7. Consistently and diligently practice
8. Improve and maintain your physical fitness.
9. Set short and long-term goals for yourself.
10. Be certain that you have what it takes to succeed.
11. Participate in domestic cricket competitions.
12. Break into the starting eleven of the national cricket team.
Can I start cricket at 17?
Ans: There isn’t a specific age requirement to begin playing cricket. In fact, you can start teaching your children the game as soon as they can hold a bat or a ball! However, the average age for children to begin participating in competitive cricket is around 5 years old.
What are the qualifications to become a cricketer?
Ans: You need no essential qualification to become a cricketer. To be a professional cricketer, you must be athletic, hardworking, energetic, and familiar with all terms and rules of the game.
Can I become cricketer after 12th?
Ans: Many top and successful cricketers began when they were younger than 11 years old. This does not rule out the possibility of becoming a cricketer after 12th or if you are over the age of 18. There are cricketers who began their careers late. The following is a list of a few cricketers and their ages at debut:
1. Saeed Ajmal – 30 years
2. Rangana Herath – 26 years
3. Sanjay Bangar – 29 years
4. Misbah-Ul-Haq – 26 years
5. Kedar Jadhav – 29 years
How to become a cricketer without academy?
Ans: Joining a local cricket team hosted by your school or local community centre is the most convenient way to play recreational cricket. These teams will have access to equipment, fields, and certified referees. Also, practice a lot as it is critical for any aspiring cricketer to practice on a regular basis.