The Ranji Trophy, India’s premier home cricket match, has undergone a monetary transformation lately, with prize cash now rivalling worldwide tournaments. Vidarbha’s third Ranji Trophy triumph in seven years not solely introduced glory but additionally a big monetary reward. Let’s discover how the prize cash compares to world cricket occasions, the breakdown of participant salaries, and what this implies for Indian home cricket.
Vidarbha’s triumph and historic prize cash
On Sunday, Akshay Wadkar-led Vidarbha clinched their third Ranji Trophy title on the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. The ultimate in opposition to Kerala resulted in a draw, however Vidarbha was declared the winner primarily based on their first-innings lead. This victory earned Vidarbha INR 5 crore in prize cash, a considerable improve from the INR 2 crore awarded to winners earlier than 2023. Kerala, as runners-up, obtained INR 3 crore.
The Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced a big hike in home match prize cash in April 2023. This improve displays the board’s dedication to strengthening home cricket, which is usually overshadowed by the Indian Premier League (IPL). For context, the shedding semi-finalists of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will obtain $560,000 (roughly INR 5.2 crore), simply INR 20 lakh greater than Vidarbha’s reward.
A Comparability with ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 highlights the stark distinction between home and worldwide cricket rewards. Whereas the Champions Trophy winner will take dwelling $2.24 million (INR 20.8 crore) and the runner-up $1.12 million (INR 10.4 crore), the semi-finalists’ prize cash intently aligns with Ranji Trophy winners. This parity underscores BCCI’s efforts to raise home cricket’s stature and incentivize gamers to take part actively.
Prize cash breakdown: Ranji Trophy vs Champions Trophy
| Match Stage | Prize Cash |
| Ranji Trophy Winner | INR 5 crore |
| Ranji Trophy Runner-Up | INR 3 crore |
| ICC Champions Trophy Semi-Finalists | ~INR 5.2 crore |
| ICC Champions Trophy Winner | ~INR 20.8 crore |
Additionally READ: Fans react Karun Nair leads Vidarbha to their 3rd Ranji Trophy title after a draw against Kerala in the 2024-25 final
Ranji participant wage breakdown
Past workforce rewards, particular person gamers additionally profit financially by means of match charges and retainerships. The BCCI revised participant salaries lately to make sure parity with different codecs like IPL.
Ranji Trophy Match Charges (2023-24 Season onwards)
- Gamers with 41-60 matches: INR 60,000 per day (taking part in XI), INR 30,000 per day (reserves)
- Gamers with 21-40 matches: INR 50,000 per day (taking part in XI), INR 25,000 per day (reserves)
- Gamers with 0-20 matches: INR 40,000 per day (taking part in XI), INR 20,000 per day (reserves)
- Non-playing squad members: INR 25,000 per day
For tournaments like Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophies:
- Vijay Hazare follows an analogous pay construction however on a per-match foundation.
- Syed Mushtaq Ali gamers earn INR 17,500 per sport.
I’m happy to announce a rise in prize cash for all @BCCI Home Tournaments. We’ll proceed our efforts to put money into Home Cricket – which is the spine of Indian Cricket. Ranji winners to get ₹5 crores (from 2 cr), Sr Ladies winners ₹50 lacs (from 6 lacs)🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Cgpw47z98q
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) April 16, 2023
A senior participant taking part in a complete Ranji season can earn roughly INR 25 lakh from match charges alone. With proposed wage hikes into consideration by the BCCI, prime performers might probably earn as much as INR 75 lakh yearly—bringing them nearer to IPL-level earnings.
The monetary overhaul signifies BCCI’s intent to revive curiosity in red-ball cricket amid rising competitors from franchise leagues. Issues over declining high quality and participant workload have prompted discussions amongst stakeholders like Ajit Agarkar to additional improve home cricket’s enchantment.
Vidarbha’s success story exemplifies how elevated monetary rewards can encourage groups and gamers to excel on the home degree. Karun Nair’s standout efficiency this season—scoring over 800 runs—additional highlights the expertise pool nurtured by tournaments just like the Ranji Trophy.
