India Celebrates World Cup Queens, But Their Pay Still Tells a Different Story
Harmanpreet earns 50L; Kohli gets 7Cr annually.
Fresh off their historic Women’s World Cup triumph over South Africa, India’s women cricketers are national heroes—yet their BCCI contracts reveal a stark pay disparity with the men’s team. The 2024-25 women’s retainership, announced March 24, 2025, places captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma in Grade A at ₹50 lakh annually. Grade B (Renuka Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Shafali Verma) earns ₹30 lakh, while nine Grade C players, including Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana, receive ₹10 lakh.
In contrast, the men’s 2024-25 contracts, released April 21, 2025, feature an elite A+ grade worth ₹7 crore—140 times the women’s top tier. Grade A men earn ₹5 crore, Grade B ₹3 crore, and Grade C ₹1 crore. While match fees are identical—₹15 lakh per Test, ₹6 lakh per ODI, ₹3 lakh per T20I—the men play significantly more games, amplifying the earnings gap.
The disparity underscores a systemic imbalance: even after lifting India’s first Women’s World Cup with a 52-run final victory, the top women’s salary barely matches a mid-tier men’s retainer. Harmanpreet, who led the charge at DY Patil Stadium, earns less in a year than Virat Kohli does in under two Tests. Critics argue this reflects unequal investment despite rising viewership and performance parity.
Also Read: India Women’s World Cup Winners Get ₹51 Crore Bonus as BCCI Celebrates First ICC Crown
BCCI officials defend the structure, citing revenue differences and the men’s team’s longer season. Yet with women’s cricket drawing record crowds and sponsors, pressure mounts for parity. The World Cup win has sparked calls for contract upgrades, with fans demanding the board reward champions proportionately.
As celebrations continue, the pay gap remains a jarring footnote to glory. India’s women have proven their worth on the field—now the BCCI faces the challenge of matching it in the paycheck.
Also Read: PM Modi Applauds ‘Exceptional Teamwork’ as India Lift Maiden Women’s World Cup
