Do Indian Women Cricketers Really Earn as Much as Men

Written by Karan Sharma

India’s women’s team shined bright in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

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But fans are asking — do they earn the same as men?

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In 2022, BCCI announced equal match fees for men and women.

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Both get ₹15 lakh for Tests, ₹6 lakh for ODIs, and ₹3 lakh for T20Is.

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So, Smriti Mandhana earns as much as Virat Kohli per match.

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But the big gap lies in annual contracts.

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Top men cricketers earn ₹7 crore a year; women earn ₹50 lakh.

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That’s nearly 14 times less than their male counterparts.

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The reason? Higher revenue, viewership, and matches in men’s cricket.

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Still, the 2025 World Cup proves — women’s cricket deserves equal rewards.

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