Here’s where things get fun: players also earn match fees (about INR 5 lakh or $6,000 per game), plus win bonuses from franchises. Imagine slapping a six over the boundary and pocketing an extra $1,000—that’s the dream, right? Some teams even throw in performance bonuses for centuries, hat-tricks, or player-of-the-match awards. Cricket’s pretty sweet when you’re good at it.
And let’s not forget the non-monetary perks: free gear, top-tier trainers, and five-star hotels. I’m not saying they live like royalty, but they definitely eat better than me on a Tuesday night takeaway.
How much do women footballers get paid? - BBC News
The Elephant in the Room: Why the Gap?
Okay, let’s state the obvious: men’s IPL players earn 20 to 30 times more. The highest-paid female player in 2026, Harmanpreet Kaur, took home INR 2 crore ($240,000)—while a male IPL rookie might earn that in signing bonuses alone. It stings, doesn’t it? But here’s the truth: revenue drives salaries.
The WPL’s broadcast rights sold for INR 951 crore ($115 million), while the men’s league pulled in over $6 billion. So until women’s cricket fills stadiums and sponsors flood in, that gap will stay stubborn. It’s a classic chicken-and-egg situation—ironically, the players are the eggs, and we’re still waiting for the chicken to lay gold.
