Inside BCCI’s pay grades: How Indian cricketers earn crores

Indian cricket runs on a strict hierarchy. The BCCI’s four-grade system quietly decides who earns crores and who stays on the edge. Performance isn’t just pride here—it directly reshapes income, status, and long-term security, season after season.

Grade A+ is cricket’s private club. Just a handful of names sit here, earning ₹7 crore annually before a single ball is bowled. Consistency, leadership, and match-winning moments are the price of entry—and the cost of exit is brutal.

One bad season can cost a player crores. The grading system doesn’t forgive form slumps, injuries, or long breaks. Promotions and demotions happen quietly, but the financial impact lands loud—often reshaping careers overnight.

The BCCI isn’t just wealthy—it’s dominant. Broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and IPL revenue fuel salaries unmatched in global cricket. Experts note that India’s commercial pull now defines global cricket economics, not tradition or trophies.

Match fees are only the base layer. Endorsements, brand deals, and IPL contracts can dwarf BCCI pay for star players. For others, national contracts remain the difference between stability and uncertainty.

A strong IPL season can rewrite a player’s financial future. Perform once on prime-time television, and endorsements follow. Analysts often call the IPL the fastest wealth accelerator Indian sport has ever created.

Grade C players earn a fraction of the top tier—but carry the highest pressure. One injury, one missed selection cycle, and income drops sharply. For many, this is cricket’s most unstable zone. (Representative pic)

The pay difference between top and emerging players reveals cricket’s harsh truth. Fame compounds money. A captain earns more sitting out a series than a newcomer earns playing one.

Cricket careers are short, income peaks early, and risk is constant. Financial planners often warn players that one good contract must last a lifetime—because form, fitness, and selection can vanish fast.