IPL 2025: BCCI introduces INR 7.5 lakh match fee for players

Players in the upcoming IPL 2025 season are set to benefit from a significant financial boost. The BCCI has introduced a match fee of INR 7.5 lakh (around US$ 9,000) per game, which will be paid in addition to players' existing contracts.

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced the move on X (formerly Twitter), stating that each franchise will allocate a separate budget of INR 12.60 crore (US$ 1 million approx.) as match fees for the season.

This allocation will not be part of the auction purse, which franchises use to sign players. Instead, the match fee will be divided among the 12 players listed on the team sheet for each match. This means that for every match, INR 90 lakhs (around US$ 108,000) will be paid as match fees. Over the 14-match league phase, this adds up to INR 12.60 crore.

Jay Shah celebrated the move on social media, saying it would reward players for their consistency and strong performances. He pointed out that a player featuring in all league matches would earn an additional INR 1.05 crore (US$ 126,000 approx.) on top of their contract.

This decision aims to address players who were signed at lower base prices in the auction but whose value and performances have grown significantly. For example, RCB's Rajat Patidar, initially signed for INR 20 lakh as an uncapped player, would have earned an extra INR 1.125 crore last season through this match fee system had it been in place.

However, the IPL franchises have raised some concerns about how this would affect players who spend time on the bench. Previously, bench players received a performance-based bonus from the auction purse, called Incremental Performance Pay. Some franchises suggested that instead of a per-game match fee, the IPL should create an incentive pool for teams to reward players based on their performance. Despite this feedback, the IPL has decided to stick with the new match fee plan.

As of now, the match fee policy has not been formally shared with the 10 franchises, who are also waiting for the final retention rules ahead of the 2025 mega auction. The BCCI and IPL management had hinted at the match fee system during a meeting with franchise owners in July, where the focus was on finding ways to reward players more fairly.