India’s cricket captain Virat Kohli, who tied the nuptial knot early this week with longtime girlfriend and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, has been given an unexpected wedding gift by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)!

Prior to his marriage, Kohli had earlier held talks with senior BCCI officials on the issue of rise in pay-packet for himself and for players falling various grades as stipulated by the Board, arguably the richest cricket board in the world. Kohli is presently a remuneration of Rs.5 crores per annum and it was expected that his request for increase in pay would be honoured with a 40%-60% increase.

However, surprising Kohli and everyone, the BCCI has announced that Kohli’s remumeration is getting hiked to Rs.10 crores per annum, which is a 100% increase and which comes as a pleasant wedding gift for the cricketer, who is considered by many as a ‘living legend’ of cricket. Kohli had earlier argued with the BCCI for increase in pay to team-mates stating that though they were playing more cricket than other players from countries, they were getting only less in comparison with them.

Kohli’s version had the support of M.S. Dhoni and coach Ravi Shastri. The existing fee of Rs.15 lakhs per Test and Rs.6 lakh each for ODI/T20 is likely to be increased 100%. Kohli thus becomes the highest paid cricketer in the world with a pay-packet of Rs.10 crores followed by M.S. Dhoni, who doesn’t play Tests these days with a pay of Rs.8 crores. Kohli thus beats Australian captain Steve Smith (Rs.9 crores) as the world’s highest paid cricketer!

Hats off Kohli!