Batting superstar Virat Kohli will pick up the Indian Premier League's largest-ever salary - US$2.7 million (Dh9.92m) - in this year's tournament, with a host of big foreign names including Australian captain Steve Smith also cashing in.

Kohli will stay with Royal Challengers Bangalore alongside South Africa's AB de Villiers, who will earn $1.7 million in the cash-rich event started by the Indian cricket board in 2008.

The Indian captain's salary for the eight-team, 20-over tournament spread over two months beats the $2.5 million earned by allrounder Yuvraj Singh with Delhi in 2015.

Delhi Daredevils announced Ricky Ponting as head coach for the 2018 season. The batting legend coached Mumbai Indians to the 2015 title during a two-year stint.