Former India cricketer Abhinav Mukund has sparked a fresh debate around player salaries in the Indian Premier League, claiming that despite the league’s massive financial success, cricketers are still “grossly underpaid.” Speaking on Doordarshan, Mukund argued that while IPL contracts—often ranging between ₹20 to ₹25 crore for top players—may seem lucrative, they don’t truly reflect the league’s overall valuation.
According to him, the gap between franchise earnings and player salaries remains significantly wide when compared to other global sporting leagues. “I feel IPL players are grossly underpaid… if you look at leagues like Formula 1 or baseball, the top athletes earn far more in proportion to the league’s revenue,” Abhinav Mukund explained. “If IPL is among the top sporting leagues globally, then players should be compensated accordingly.”
Abhinav Mukund also pointed to reports suggesting that IPL franchises generate approximately ₹400–500 crore annually. Despite that, the salary purse for teams remains relatively restricted. He believes the current cap should be revisited and potentially doubled to ensure a fairer distribution.
ALSO READ: Andre Russell Explains His New ‘Power Coach’ Role With KKR After IPL Exit
“At least ₹100–120 crore is currently being spent on player salaries. That should ideally go up to ₹200–250 crore,” he added, stressing that a revised salary structure would better align with the league’s financial strength.
The argument gains further traction when considering the staggering valuation of IPL franchises, with some teams reportedly sold for over ₹32,000 crore. Yet, player salaries account for only a small percentage of the league’s overall revenue—estimated at around 8.5%.
In comparison, leagues like the English Premier League and the NBA allocate a significantly higher share of their revenues—often between 40% to 60%—towards player wages. This stark contrast highlights the structural differences in revenue sharing models.
However, there is another side to the debate. Unlike football leagues, where players compete across a full season spanning several months, IPL cricketers participate in a relatively short window of around two months, featuring in roughly 14–16 matches per season.
ALSO READ: Irfan Pathan Backs KL Rahul To Open with Prithvi Shaw For DC In IPL 2026
Still, Mukund’s comments have reignited conversations about player value, particularly regarding the Board of Control for Cricket in India, which reportedly earns over ₹ 4,000 crore annually from the IPL. With player contracts forming only a fraction of that figure, the discussion around fair compensation in modern franchise cricket is far from over.
