The BCCI Apex Council meeting in Mumbai on December 22, 2025, was a huge deal for women cricketers. India Women domestic cricket salary have boosted in all formats. However, it doesn’t erase inequality overnight, but it changes the daily reality for players grinding through India’s domestic circuit.
India Women Domestic Cricket Salary Revision by BCCI
The revised structure marks the most meaningful financial upgrade women’s domestic cricket has seen in years. Approved at a Mumbai Apex Council meeting, the decision followed India’s triumph at the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, a moment that shifted both perception and leverage.
Here’s what the new India women domestic cricket salary framework looks like:
Senior one-day & multi-day matches
- Playing XI: ₹50,000 per day
- Reserves: ₹25,000 per day
Senior T20 matches
- Playing XI: ₹25,000 per day
Junior levels (U-23 & U-19)
- Playing XI: ₹25,000 per day
- Reserves: ₹12,500 per day
SUGGESTED READ: ACA-VDCA Stadium Sections in Visakhapatnam to be Named After Iconic Indian Women Cricketers
Salary Structure Before Revision
| Category | Playing XI (per day) | Reserves (per day) |
| Senior One-Day/Multi-Day | ₹20,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Senior T20 | ₹10,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Junior (U-23/U-19) One-Day/Multi-Day | ₹10,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Junior T20 | ₹10,000 (or less specified) | ₹5,000 (or less specified) |
That’s a 2.5-fold increase in most categories. For players who feature consistently across formats, annual earnings now land between ₹12 lakh and ₹14 lakh. It brings top women domestic cricketers close to what some male players with 21–40 Ranji Trophy appearances earn.
Furthermore, the impact goes beyond numbers. Domestic seasons are long where travel is constant and injuries are common. Previously, many players relied on secondary income or family support.
India women domestic cricket salary hike doesn’t create wealth, but it creates stability. And stability allows players to train better, recover properly, and plan careers instead of exits.
Match Officials Also Benefit From Revised Pay Structure
Not just players, umpires and referees get major pay raises. Following the new pay structure, they now earn:
- ₹40,000 per day for league matches
- ₹50,000–₹60,000 per day for knockout games
A Ranji Trophy league umpire now makes about ₹1.6 lakh per match, while knockout fixtures fetch ₹2.5–3 lakh.
Comparing BCCI Men’s and Women’s Cricketers Salary Gap
Even after India women domestic cricket salary hike, the salary gap remains large.
At the top end, BCCI men’s contracts still operate in a different financial universe.
Men’s Grade A+ makes ₹7 crore annually, while women’s Grade A earns ₹50 lakh annually. That’s about 93% less at the highest tier.
Drop one level and the contrast sharpens:
- Men’s Grade A: ₹5 crore
- Women’s Grade B: ₹30 lakh
That’s over 16 times more for men. At Grade C, men earn ₹1 crore, women ₹10 lakh. A 10x gap.
Is This Huge Salary Gap Abnormal?
As a matter of fact, men’s cricket generates far more revenue. Broadcast deals, sponsorships, and league income tilt heavily one way. The IPL makes much more money than the WPL.
A top IPL male player can earn ₹27 crore in a season, while the highest WPL salary sits around ₹3.4 crore.
A Step Closer To Global Standards in Women’s Domestic Cricket
India women domestic cricket salary reform mirrors steps taken by boards like Cricket Australia, though India still trails in contract parity.
The shift also sends a message internally. Domestic cricket is no longer a holding pattern before the WPL. It’s a viable professional phase. That matters for depth, injury cover, and long-term quality.
This isn’t equality. Not yet. But it is the direction. And in a system as layered as Indian cricket, direction often matters more than declarations.
Stay Tuned With JeetWin Sports For More Updates!
