Cricket: Kiwi players set to rake in the cash in IPL

Corey Anderson is the highest paid New Zealander in the IPL. Photo / Getty Images

The Black Caps deserve a well-earned rest after their long and absorbing World Cup campaign, but for several of them the cricket will keep on coming in the form of the Indian Premier League.

The IPL gets underway this week and will include several of the Black Caps who featured prominently in the World Cup.

Any complaints about being over-worked are unlikely to be voiced too loudly, however, given the the money on offer in the cash-rich league.

Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum, who fashioned himself into a national hero during New Zealand's run to the Cup final, will turn out for the Chennai Super Kings along with compatriot Matt Henry. The gulf in status between the two is reflected in the size of their contracts - McCullum's $627,000, Henry's a fraction of that at $58,000.

But McCullum's fee is dwarfed by that of two of his national teammates, Corey Anderson and Trent Boult. The Mumbai Indians signed Anderson for a whopping $866,000 last year, and just a few weeks ago Boult received the windfall of his life when the Sunrisers Hyderabad agreed to shell out $814,000 for him.

Price tags are fickle things in the IPL, and the value of players doesn't always accord with traditional cricket logic. For instance, Kane Williamson was recently named New Zealand's T20 player of the year, but his contract of $129,000 is relatively modest.

Two other Kiwis will also be heavily involved in the league, albeit as coaches rather than players. Former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming will resume his duties as head coach of the Chennai Super Kings, while Daniel Vettori will take charge of the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The competition kicks off this Thursday (NZT) with the Kolkata Knight Riders taking on the Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens.

New Zealand players signed to IPL teams:

Chennai Super Kings
Matt Henry - $58,000
Brendon McCullum - $627,000

Kolkata Knight Riders
Jimmy Neesham - $107,000

Mumbai Indians
Corey Anderson - $866,000
Mitchell McClenaghan - $64,000

Rajasthan Royals
Tim Southee - $230,000

Royal Challengers Bangalore
Adam Milne - $150,000

Sunrisers Hyderabad
Kane Williamson - $129,000
Trent Boult - $814,000