Indian cricket team salary is built around two main payments from the BCCI: an annual central-contract retainer and a fee for each international match played. The contract grade determines the fixed yearly component, while Test, ODI and T20I appearances bring separate match fees. IPL agreements, endorsements and other commercial work are separate from this national-team pay structure.
The two parts of an India player’s BCCI income
A central contract provides an eligible player with a fixed annual retainer. It recognises a player’s standing, experience and contribution to the national side, rather than paying solely for individual matches. The BCCI places contracted men’s players in four grades: A+, A, B and C. The annual amount reduces across those categories.
Match fees sit alongside the retainer. A contracted cricketer does not receive only the annual grade amount; international appearances add fees based on the format. This distinction matters when comparing players. A player involved in Tests, ODIs and T20Is may receive a different total annual amount from a player in the same contract grade who plays fewer matches.
BCCI central contract grades and annual retainers
The published salary structure described for Indian men’s cricketers has four annual contract levels. The amounts below are fixed retainers and do not include international match fees, IPL payments or commercial endorsements.
| BCCI contract grade | Annual retainer |
| A+ | ₹7 crore |
| A | ₹5 crore |
| B | ₹3 crore |
| C | ₹1 crore |
Grade A+ is generally associated with senior players who have major roles across formats. The other grades cover players at differing stages of their international careers and with varying workloads. A grade is not a simple ranking of talent: availability, recent contribution, role in the side and involvement across formats can all affect the shape of a contract list.
The contract system also should not be read as a monthly salary scale. Although annual retainers can be divided for a rough monthly comparison, the announced figures are annual amounts. Match fees remain a separate stream, so a player’s earnings in a particular year depend heavily on selection and appearances.
Documented 2024–25 Grade A+ player list
For the 2024–25 BCCI central-contract cycle, the Grade A+ list included Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. Each was listed with a ₹7 crore annual retainer. This was the highest grade in that contract cycle.
The Grade A+ names should be understood in their specific 2024–25 context rather than treated as a permanent list. Central contracts are reviewed periodically, and a player’s grade can change between cycles. Selection in a current squad and presence in an older contract list are also different matters: squads are chosen for particular series, while central contracts cover a broader annual arrangement.
BCCI news entries through 6 October 2026 included several squad announcements, including India and India A squads for the New Zealand tour, but did not set out a new men’s central-contract player roster. Therefore, the documented 2024–25 Grade A+ names remain useful historical context, not confirmation of a later contract grade.
International match fees by format
In addition to the annual retainer, Indian men’s players have been listed with the following approximate fees for an international appearance:
| Format | Approximate fee per match |
| Test | ₹15 lakh |
| ODI | ₹6 lakh |
| T20I | ₹3 lakh |
Tests carry the highest listed per-match fee because the format requires a substantially longer commitment than a one-day or T20 international. A Test player selected across a long series can therefore add significant match-fee income to the fixed contract payment. ODI and T20I fees are lower, but regular involvement across white-ball cricket can still make a material difference over a season.
These fees should not be confused with prize money, tournament rewards or performance incentives. A match fee compensates for representing India in that fixture. Other payments may apply under different arrangements, but they are not part of the basic grade-and-format structure shown above.
Why appearances matter as much as grade
A central contract offers stability, but it does not make every player’s earnings identical. Consider two players on the same grade: one could feature regularly in every format, while the other could be picked only for a handful of white-ball matches. Their annual retainer would match, but their match-fee totals would differ.
This is why a headline figure such as ₹7 crore or ₹1 crore does not represent a player’s total income. It is the fixed contract component. International workload is the next major variable, especially for players who are regulars in Test cricket as well as ODIs and T20Is.
IPL salary is separate from BCCI pay
An IPL salary is paid under a franchise arrangement and is separate from a BCCI central contract. Players may be purchased at auction, retained under franchise rules or signed under the relevant IPL process. The value depends on demand, team requirements, playing role and a player’s reputation, rather than on the BCCI contract grade alone.
This separation explains why a player without a top central contract can still earn a substantial amount through an IPL deal. Equally, an established India player’s BCCI retainer does not determine the value of a franchise agreement. The two income streams arise from different competitions and different contracts.
For supporters assessing player availability, form and roles before a series or tournament, a dream11 prediction discussion is more useful when it focuses on probable playing XIs, format-specific records and match conditions rather than assumptions based on a player’s salary grade.
Endorsements and commercial income
Endorsements are another separate category. Prominent Indian cricketers may work with brands in areas such as clothing, automobiles, sports equipment and digital services. Such agreements are based on a player’s public profile, market appeal and commercial arrangements, not automatically on international contract status.
As a result, it is misleading to combine BCCI retainers, match fees, franchise income and endorsements into one “salary” number without identifying what is included. A central-contract retainer is the clearest base figure because it relates directly to national-team employment. Total annual earnings, by contrast, can vary widely and may include income that has nothing to do with an India appearance.
What determines a player’s contract position?
The central-contract system reflects more than one measure of performance. International consistency is important, but selectors and administrators also consider the player’s role, fitness, experience, availability and relevance across formats. A specialist Test player and a white-ball regular may both be valuable while having different workloads.
Leadership responsibilities can also raise a player’s importance within the set-up, though captaincy alone does not define a grade. For newer international players, a Grade C deal has been described as the entry-level central-contract category, with a ₹1 crore annual retainer before match fees. Sustained performance can create a case for movement in future contract cycles.
Reading Indian cricket salary figures carefully
The cleanest way to understand Indian cricket team salary is to separate the fixed annual retainer from fees earned through international appearances. Grade A+ carried ₹7 crore in the documented 2024–25 men’s list, followed by ₹5 crore for A, ₹3 crore for B and ₹1 crore for C. Tests, ODIs and T20Is then added approximate per-match fees of ₹15 lakh, ₹6 lakh and ₹3 lakh respectively.
In short, a BCCI grade is an important indicator of a player’s national-team contract, but it is not the whole financial picture. Match involvement, IPL contracts and commercial work make each player’s final yearly earnings different.