Indian women’s domestic cricket has received a massive boost after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) more than doubled match fees, signalling a stronger push to deepen the talent pool beyond the international and Women’s Premier League (WPL) stages. The decision, cleared at the Apex Council meeting in Mumbai, comes in the wake of India’s historic ODI World Cup triumph and sustained Under-19 dominance.
Players featuring in the playing XI of senior domestic competitions will now earn INR 50,000 per day, up from INR 20,000, while reserves will take home INR 25,000 per day. The hike extends to age-group cricket as well, with first XI players now set to earn INR 25,000 per day, and reserves INR 12,500, more than doubling the previous rates.
The financial impact is significant. Age-group players who earlier earned just over INR 200,000 per season will now pocket close to INR 500,000, a shift that could reshape participation, retention, and long-term development in the women’s game.
The move follows sustained internal calls from state coaches and players, especially as the Women’s Premier League continues to expose gaps in depth and readiness at the domestic level. India’s back-to-back Under-19 World Cup titles have further underlined the need to invest early and consistently.
While central contract values remain unchanged, with top-grade women cricketers earning INR 50 lakh annually, the revised domestic pay structure marks a decisive step forward. For India’s next generation of women cricketers, the message is clear: performance at the domestic level now comes with meaningful reward, and real opportunity.
