# IPL Salary Debate 2026: Are Cricketers Grossly Underpaid Despite the League’s Billion-Dollar Boom?

URL: https://technosports.co.in/ipl-salary-debate-2026-are-cricketers/  
Published: 2026-03-27  
Updated: 2026-03-27  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

The IPL just sold two franchises for over **$3 billion combined**. Yet the players — the very people who fill stadiums and draw billions of eyeballs — are walking away with a fraction of that pie. Former India opener Abhinav Mukund has had enough of the silence, and frankly, he’s got a point.

## IPL vs Global Leagues — The Money Gap

| League | Season Duration | Player Revenue Share | Top Annual Salary |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **IPL 2026** | ~2 months | ~18% | ₹24 crore (~$2.9M) |
| **English Premier League** | 10 months | ~70% | $30M+ |
| **NFL (USA)** | ~6 months | ~50% | $60M+ |
| **MLB (Baseball)** | ~7 months | ~50% | $40M+ |

## Mukund’s Argument: The Numbers Don’t Add Up

Mukund, speaking on The Great Indian Cricket Show on Doordarshan, argued that franchises earn ₹400–500 crore annually, while spending only ₹100–120 crore on player salaries — a ratio he called disproportionately low. His solution? Raise the salary cap to ₹200–250 crore per franchise — effectively doubling player pay.

He also made a sharp observation: the highest-paid IPL cricketers often rely more on endorsements than league contracts for income, indicating that IPL salaries alone may not reflect a player’s true market value.

![IPL](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IPLm-e8.webp)

For 2026, each IPL franchise operates with a purse of ₹125 crore — a figure that has steadily risen over the years but remains central to the league’s competitive balance. [Filmibeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/unni-mukundan/upcoming-movies.html)

> 🔗 **Also Read:** [IPL 2026 Full Schedule, Fixtures & Match Timings — Technosports](https://www.technosports.co.in)

## But Is It Really That Simple?

Not entirely. The IPL’s salary cap isn’t just about money — it’s about parity. Unlike open-market leagues where clubs can spend freely, the IPL’s auction-based structure prevents wealthier teams from monopolising talent, which is a key factor behind the league’s sustained competitiveness and popularity.

The per-match math also changes things. On a per-match or per-week basis, top-tier IPL players can rival or even exceed many global athletes — it’s when salaries are viewed annually that the gap widens, given the IPL’s short two-month window compared to year-round leagues like the EPL or NFL.

That said, the revenue-share gap is hard to ignore: IPL players receive roughly **18% of league revenues** versus nearly **70% in the EPL** — a stark contrast that lends real weight to Mukund’s frustration.

> 🔗 **Related:** [IPL 2026 Auction Results & Team Squads — Technosports](https://www.technosports.co.in)

For more on how T20 leagues structure contracts and revenue globally, visit the [Indian Premier League Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Premier_League).

## FAQs

### **Q1. What is the IPL salary cap in 2026?**

 Each IPL franchise has a total purse of ₹125 crore for IPL 2026, with the highest individual player contracts capped at ₹24 crore per season under BCCI’s auction rules.

### **Q2. Why are IPL players considered underpaid compared to footballers?**

  
IPL players earn only around 18% of league revenues, while EPL footballers receive nearly 70% — and the IPL’s two-month format makes annual salary comparisons with year-long leagues inherently lopsided.