6 months rest and salary of Rs 27 crores… Brother, life should be like this cricketer!

What if someone told you that you could work only half a year and still earn over Rs 27 crore? Sounds like a dream, right? Well, that’s the life of South African wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen, who announced his retirement from international cricket in June 2025.

Klaasen’s mantra is simple: 6 months of rest, 6 months of work. And in those 6 months, he travels the world with his bat, entertaining fans in different T20 leagues and minting crores.

Klaasen’s “working months”

• January – Busy smashing runs in the SA20 League (earns about Rs 45 lakh).

• March–May – A two-month money-spinner in the IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he pockets a staggering Rs 23 crore.

• June – Off to the USA for Major League Cricket, salary over Rs 1.53 crore.

• July–August – In England, starring in The Hundred, earning more than Rs 2.32 crore.

Total earnings from T20 leagues

Put all this together and Klaasen’s yearly cricket paycheck crosses Rs 27.30 crore — for just half a year’s work!

What about the other 6 months?

While most cricketers slog in bilateral series, Klaasen enjoys a completely different rhythm. He spends his “rest months” holidaying with family, traveling, and staying away from cricket, recharging himself before the next T20 season begins.

Modern-day freelancer cricketer

Klaasen’s lifestyle shows how the cricketing world has changed. With T20 leagues booming globally, players can now choose this freelancer model of cricket — work in bursts, earn in crores, and enjoy long breaks.