From cricket to concrete: Why Shreyas Iyer and other players are investing in real estate?Leading cricketers, including Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, have turned to real estate as a long-term wealth creation and investment strategy
Shreyas Iyer’s latest real estate transaction has once again drawn attention to the growing appetite for property investments among the sporting elite. The cricketer has leased an apartment in Mumbai’s Worli, one of the country’s most expensive residential real estate markets, for three years at a total rent of ₹7.14 crore, according to property registration documents accessed by Square Yards. The deal reflects a broader shift in how high-earning athletes and celebrities approach wealth creation. Experts say Bollywood stars and cricketers share a common financial reality: a relatively short window of peak earning years. As a result, real estate has emerged as a preferred avenue for both capital appreciation and wealth preservation. While film personalities often diversify into commercial assets, production offices and holiday homes, cricketers are increasingly gravitating towards premium residential properties in key cities, viewing them as stable, income-generating assets that can provide long-term financial security beyond their playing careers. The trend also points to a generational change. Earlier generations of athletes typically turned to property investments closer to retirement. Today’s cricketers, however, are entering the real estate market much earlier, backed by higher earnings, endorsement income and professional wealth management. For many, real estate is no longer merely a post-retirement safety net but a core component of a broader financial planning strategy while they are still at the peak of their careers. Shreyas Iyer is not alone in viewing real estate as a key component of wealth creation. From Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav to Shivam Dube, KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, a growing number of Indian cricketers are actively investing in property. The rationale is rooted in the nature of a sporting career. Much like Bollywood actors, cricketers operate within a relatively short window of peak earnings. While most professionals may have careers spanning three to four decades, top athletes often have only five to 15 years to maximise their earnings. Real estate offers an avenue to convert those earnings into long-term assets that can appreciate in value, generate rental income and provide financial security long after retirement. Iyer’s own portfolio illustrates this trend. Over the years, he has built a significant real estate presence in Mumbai, including investments in luxury residences at Worli’s World Towers and other premium residential and commercial properties. He is joined by several of his contemporaries. Shubman Gill purchased a luxury apartment in Mumbai’s Juhu for over ₹20 crore, while Suryakumar Yadav’s family has acquired multiple apartments in the Godrej Sky Terraces project in Deonar, according to property registration documents.
Similarly, Shivam Dube bought two apartments in Oshiwara for approximately ₹27.5 crore, while Rohit Sharma’s family has invested in premium residential properties in Mumbai. Together, these transactions reflect a broader trend of cricketers building long-term property portfolios alongside their sporting careers. KL Rahul has also been active in the real estate market. In 2024, the cricketer purchased a luxury apartment in Mumbai’s Pali Hill for ₹20 crore. A year later, in March 2025, Rahul and his father-in-law, actor Suneil Shetty, jointly acquired a seven-acre land parcel in Owale, Thane West, near Mumbai for ₹9.85 crore, further highlighting the growing appeal of real estate among India’s sporting and entertainment elite. In January this year, cricketer Virat Kohli and his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, purchased a land parcel of over five acres in Alibaug, a popular second-home destination near Mumbai, for ₹37.86 crore, according to property registration documents accessed by CRE Matrix. Why do cricketers invest in real estate?Real estate consultants say the investment patterns of India’s leading cricketers point to a clear objective: wealth preservation alongside wealth creation. Unlike stocks, which can be highly sensitive to market sentiment and geopolitical developments, real estate is a tangible asset that has historically appreciated over time. A property can be lived in, rented out, leveraged for financing or passed on to the next generation, making it an attractive long-term store of value. The appeal is particularly strong for cricketers and Bollywood stars, who share a common financial challenge: a relatively short window of peak earnings. While actors often diversify into commercial properties, production offices and holiday homes, cricketers are increasingly gravitating towards premium residential real estate in major cities. Such assets not only offer the potential for capital appreciation but can also generate rental income and provide financial security long after a sporting career ends, say experts. Another factor is familiarity. Professional cricketers spend much of the year travelling across India’s largest cities for domestic tournaments, international matches and the IPL. Over time, they develop a deep understanding of local property markets, gaining insights into emerging neighbourhoods, infrastructure upgrades and high-growth micro-markets. As a result, many prefer investing in locations they know well rather than venturing into unfamiliar business opportunities, they said. The financial profile of today’s cricketers has also evolved dramatically. Earnings now come not only from international matches and domestic cricket but also from IPL contracts, brand endorsements, sponsorships and social media collaborations. With multiple income streams flowing in during their peak years, financial advisors increasingly encourage athletes to diversify their wealth across asset classes, with real estate often forming a key part of that strategy. Ultimately, the strategy is about building resilience in an uncertain financial environment. A well-located property that generates steady rental income can continue delivering returns long after an IPL contract expires or endorsement deals fade. In that sense, real estate has become an important pillar of wealth management for modern athletes, complementing investments in stocks, mutual funds, bonds and other financial instruments, said experts. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
|
