BCCI's new rule to boost IPL player earnings with match fees from 2025

From the 2025 season onwards, players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) will enjoy a significant boost to their earnings, with the BCCI introducing match fees of INR 7.5 lakh (approximately US$ 9,000) per game.

This is in addition to the value of the players' contracts, meaning franchises will now pay players for their individual appearances throughout the season. The announcement was made by BCCI secretary Jay Shah via a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, with each franchise set to allocate INR 12.6 crore (approximately US$ 1 million) as match fees for the entire season.

This match fee fund will be separate from the franchise's auction purse. To explain the breakdown, the 12 players named on the team sheet will collectively receive INR 90 lakh per match. For a full league phase, where each team plays 14 matches, this amounts to a total of INR 12.6 crore for the season.

As of now, this new structure has yet to be officially communicated to the ten IPL franchises, who are still awaiting the final retention rules ahead of the 2025 mega auction, where squads will be built. However, the IPL hinted at this proposal during a July meeting with team owners and representatives to discuss the new retention regulations.

During the discussions, IPL officials stressed the importance of incentivising players financially, particularly since franchises are receiving more revenue than in previous seasons. One key reason behind the introduction of match fees was to boost the income of players signed at or near their base price at auction but whose performance and stature had grown since then. At the 2024 auction, the lowest base price for uncapped players was INR 20 lakh (approximately US$ 24,000), while capped players started at INR 50 lakh (approximately US$ 60,000).

A prominent example of a player who would have benefitted from this new structure is Rajat Patidar of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Initially signed as an uncapped player for his base price of INR 20 lakh, Patidar's salary increased to INR 50 lakh when he earned his India cap. In IPL 2024, Patidar played 15 matches, meaning he would have earned an additional INR 1.125 crore if the match fee system had been in place.

However, not all franchises are entirely on board with the new system. Some have raised concerns about the impact on players who spend the majority of the season on the bench. In IPL 2024, under existing contracts, players received an incremental performance fee based on the team's overall finish in the league. Franchises have suggested an alternative where, instead of match fees, the IPL could provide an incentive fund that teams could distribute at their discretion, rewarding standout performances. Despite these suggestions, the IPL appears to have opted to proceed with the match fee plan.