The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently revealed the annual retainership structure for the Indian women’s cricket team, shedding light on how the salaries of female players compare with their male counterparts. The structure, which applies for the 2024–25 season, divides women cricketers into three central contract categories.
Players in Grade A earn ₹50 lakh per year, those in Grade B receive ₹30 lakh, while Grade C players take home ₹10 lakh annually. These retainers serve as fixed payments aside from match fees and bonuses.
This revision underlines the BCCI’s growing recognition of women’s cricket, especially following India’s historic ODI World Cup triumph. Senior stars such as Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma are expected to feature in the top category, rewarding both experience and performance consistency.
Comparison with Men’s Contract Structure
While the BCCI has made strides toward improving the financial landscape for women cricketers, a sharp gap still remains when compared with the men’s team. The men’s central contracts feature four grades—A+ (₹7 crore), A (₹5 crore), B (₹3 crore), and C (₹1 crore). The top male players, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah, therefore, earn significantly higher retainers than their female counterparts.
However, the BCCI has taken an important step toward parity by ensuring equal match fees for both men and women. Irrespective of gender, every player now earns ₹15 lakh for a Test, ₹6 lakh for an ODI, and ₹3 lakh for a T20I. This move, announced in late 2022, was widely applauded as a landmark decision in global cricket administration.
Bridging the Gap: Equal Pay, Unequal Opportunities
Despite the progress, the overall earnings of women cricketers remain considerably lower due to the disparity in the number of matches played. The men’s team plays far more international fixtures across formats each year, offering them greater opportunities to accumulate match fees and bonuses.
Yet, the growing popularity of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and India’s recent international success are gradually changing the equation. Increased viewership, sponsorship interest, and media visibility have strengthened the case for revisiting pay structures in the near future.
As Mithali Raj and other legends have noted, “Equality begins with opportunity.” The BCCI’s move toward matching match fees is a significant step forward—but ensuring equal scheduling, investment, and exposure will ultimately determine true parity in Indian cricket.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
