In a significant move to promote gender equality in cricket, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a substantial increase in match fees for women cricketers and match officials in domestic cricket. The decision, which was approved at the Apex Council meeting on December 22, 2025, aims to create a more balanced and equitable ecosystem while rewarding performance and strengthening the foundation of domestic cricket. This decision follows India's historic victory at the Women's ODI World Cup in November 2025.
The revised pay structure will see senior women cricketers in the playing XI for domestic one-day and multi-day tournaments now earn ₹50,000 per day, a significant jump from the previous ₹20,000. Reserve players will also benefit, with their daily fee increasing to ₹25,000 from ₹10,000. For T20 matches, players in the playing XI will receive ₹25,000, while reserves will earn ₹12,500. Junior women cricketers in the Under-23 and Under-19 categories will also see their match fees doubled, with those in the playing XI earning ₹25,000 per day and reserves receiving ₹12,500 per day. For junior T20 matches, the playing XI will get ₹12,500 and reserves ₹6,250.
According to BCCI officials, a leading domestic woman cricketer participating across all formats in a full season could now earn between ₹12 lakh and ₹14 lakh. Previously, a senior woman cricketer would receive around ₹2 lakh for a season if the team only played the league stages of senior tournaments. The move has been widely welcomed as a step towards financial security for women cricketers, incentivizing performance, and potentially boosting participation and retention across genders.
Match officials, including umpires and match referees, will also see a substantial increase in their remuneration. For league-stage domestic matches, officials will earn ₹40,000 per day. In knockout fixtures, the per-day fee will range from ₹50,000 to ₹60,000, depending on the match's level and operational demands. As a result, umpires officiating in Ranji Trophy league matches are expected to earn approximately ₹1.60 lakh per game, while knockout encounters could fetch between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹3 lakh per match.
BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla stated that the decision to more than double the match fees of domestic women cricketers was a continuation of the initiative started by former BCCI Secretary and current ICC Chairman, Jay Shah, who introduced pay parity for India's international cricketers. This move by the BCCI is expected to encourage more women to take up cricket professionally and strengthen the overall domestic cricket ecosystem. The revised pay structure addresses longstanding gender gaps in domestic earnings and complements the thriving Women's Premier League (WPL).
The decision to increase match fees for women cricketers and match officials is a significant step towards creating a more equitable and sustainable ecosystem for cricket in India. It acknowledges the growing popularity of women's cricket and provides greater financial security and motivation for players and officials alike. With this increase, the BCCI is reinforcing its commitment to developing women's cricket and ensuring that all stakeholders are rewarded for their contributions to the sport.
