The timing of the announcement is significant, coming just weeks after the Indian women’s team ended a decade-long drought to lift their maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title on home soil in November 2025.
The New Salary Structure
The revised pay scale represents a 150% increase in earnings for many players. Under the new directive, senior women cricketers will see their daily match fees jump from ₹20,000 to ₹50,000.
Breakdown of the Revised Fees:
• Senior Women (One-Day/Multi-Day): Playing XI members will now earn ₹50,000 per day, while reserve players will receive ₹25,000 (up from ₹10,000).
• Senior Women (T20): Match fees for the playing XI have been set at ₹25,000 per game, with reserves taking home ₹12,500.
• Junior Categories (U19/U23): Younger talents will now receive ₹25,000 per day for being in the playing XI and ₹12,500 as reserves.
According to BCCI officials, a top-tier domestic player featuring in all formats throughout a full season can now expect to earn between ₹12 lakh and ₹14 lakh, a substantial rise from the previous average of approximately ₹2 lakh per season.
A Boost for Match Officials
The financial windfall extends beyond the players. In an effort to professionalize the entire domestic circuit, the BCCI has also scrapped the grouping system for umpires and match referees, introducing a uniform fee structure:
• League Matches: Umpires and referees will be paid ₹40,000 per day.
• Knockout Stages: Fees will range between ₹50,000 and ₹60,000 per day depending on the stature of the match.
"A Paradigm Shift"
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla hailed the move as a continuation of the pay parity vision established by former Secretary and current ICC Chairman Jay Shah.
"We have more than doubled the match fees to ensure financial security for our domestic players," Shukla stated. "The World Cup victory was a watershed moment, and it is only right that the benefits of that success reach every level of the game."
The move has been widely lauded by former players, including legendary captain Diana Edulji, who noted that the hike would "encourage many more young girls to take up the sport without worrying about financial burdens."
The new pay structure is set to be implemented with immediate effect, starting with the upcoming domestic white-ball season.