While Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are arguably three of the biggest brands in cricket, they aren’t the richest from their sport.
New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli have evolved into some of the most iconic brands in sports, extending their influence far beyond cricket. Their rise can be attributed to several factors, with their status as some of the greatest cricketers of their era being the most significant. Yet, despite their immense fame and success, they are not the wealthiest cricketers globally or even within India.
The title of the richest cricketer belongs to Aryaman Birla, the son of billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla. In 2023, Aryaman was appointed as a director at Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL) and also serves on the boards of Aditya Birla Management Corporation and Grasim Industries. Widely seen as the future of the Birla conglomerate, he has established himself as a key figure in the business world. However, before stepping into the corporate arena, Aryaman pursued a career in cricket and even scored a first-class century.
Aryaman was born in July 1997 in Mumbai, then moved to Madhya Pradesh, where the headquarters of the cement unit of the Aditya Birla Group is situated. But, he decided to take part in the junior circuit in the state and gradually rise up the ranks. He made his senior-level debut in Ranji Trophy for MP against Odisha in November 2017. Aryaman built a solid 72-run opening stand in debut innings with Rajat Patidar, who smashed 123 runs. However, he managed to get 16 off 67 balls and six off 27 in that game.
Aryaman Birla made his mark nearly a year later at Eden Gardens in a match against Bengal. After Manoj Tiwary’s unbeaten double century powered Bengal to declare at 510/9, Madhya Pradesh (MP) were bowled out for 335, prompting the hosts to enforce a follow-on. In a determined effort, Aryaman battled his way to an unbeaten 103 off 189 balls, securing a hard-fought draw for his team.
At the time, Aryaman Birla expressed that he was beginning to feel more at ease as a cricketer, as his skills were gaining recognition over his family name. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, he shared, “Performances are the best way of earning trust and respect, so when I started scoring runs, people started seeing me in a different light. When I first came to MP, I was known more by my last name. I kept hearing ‘Birla’s son, Birla’s grandson.’ But through my performances, I changed perceptions, they started seeing me differently.”
“That’s been my biggest achievement so far. Recently someone came and asked me ‘you’re so seedha saadha (simple and straightforward), we didn’t even know you’re from the Birla family.’ That to me was a sign of change.”
Aryaman Birla’s performances, including the standout innings at Eden Gardens, created enough buzz to earn him an IPL contract with the Rajasthan Royals during the 2018 auction. However, despite being with the team for two seasons, he couldn’t break into the playing XI. Injuries soon derailed his cricketing journey, leaving him unable to play after January 2019. By November, Rajasthan Royals released him, and a month later, in December 2019, Aryaman announced an “indefinite sabbatical from cricket.”
Then, Birla made a career switch and entered his family’s business and enjoyed considerable success. Although Aryaman Birla’s exact net worth isn’t publicly disclosed, it is estimated to be approximately INR 70,000 crore.