A Tale of Two World Champions: The Stark Contrast in Match Fees for Indian Women’s Cricket Teams

While one team basks in riches, the other makes do with mere pennies. The recent victories of India’s women’s cricket teams highlight a glaring disparity in rewards.

Blind Women’s Team Makes History
The Indian Women’s Blind Cricket Team created history by winning the T20 Blind World Cup in Colombo on 23 November, defeating Nepal in the final. This achievement came just 25 days after the Indian Women’s Cricket Team won the Women’s ODI World Cup on 2 November. Both teams are world champions, yet the prize money and match fees reveal a shocking contrast.

Prize Money Disparity
The Women’s ODI World Cup-winning team received nearly ₹90 crore in rewards from the ICC and BCCI. In contrast, each player of the Blind Women’s Cricket Team will receive only ₹1–1.5 lakh. Moreover, this reward is being provided by a private organization rather than the Blind Cricket Association.

Match Fees Comparison
Indian women cricketers on the national team earn substantial match fees:

• Test match: ₹15 lakh per player
• ODI: ₹6 lakh per player
• T20: ₹3 lakh per player

Additionally, they hold annual BCCI contracts ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh, which provide a fixed income even without playing matches.

Blind Cricketers Get Mere Coins
By comparison, players of the Indian Women’s Blind Cricket Team earn just ₹3,000 per match. With rising inflation, this amount is almost negligible. The team operates under the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), a private trust responsible for funding match fees, kits, training camps, and international tours through donations and sponsorships. Unlike mainstream cricket, the BCCI does not currently oversee blind cricket in India.

History Repeats Itself
Indian women’s cricket also faced similar struggles before BCCI recognition. Early players earned ₹1–2 thousand per match, traveled by train, and stayed in basic accommodations. About a decade ago, BCCI merged the women’s team into its fold, dramatically improving pay and facilities.

Looking Ahead
Internationally, many cricket boards provide blind cricketers with contracts, competitive match fees, and other benefits. Pakistan, for instance, has implemented this system. Indian blind cricketers have long petitioned the BCCI for similar recognition. If granted, they too could receive better pay and facilities, reflecting their world-champion status.