The Women In Blue are marching ahead as a formidable outfit in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. Team India’s campaign so far has been a ride full of ups and downs. After a stellar victory over arch-rivals Pakistan, the hosts New Zealand thwarted India in the second fixture. However, Mithali Raj and her troops came back strong as they hammered the mighty Caribbean side courtesy of twin tons from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. But defending champions England outclassed Team India, as the team’s batting collapse hurt their chances to avenge the loss in the 2017 WC finals. The Women In Blue currently are at No.3 on the points table. In this article, we look at the salary structure set by BCCI for our cricketing heroes on the field.
The BCCI classifies 3 major types of annual contracts to cricketers: Categories A, B, and C. Senior women Grade A cricketer gets Rs 50 lakhs annually. The senior women grade B players get Rs 30 lakhs every year. Senior women grade C cricketers are paid Rs 10 lakhs every year.
1. Mithali Raj
India’s ODI and Test captain Mithali Raj has been a true ambassador for female cricket in India. The highest run-scorer in women’s ODI cricket, Raj is one of the greatest of all time. She is awarded a Grade A category from BCCI and therefore gets Rs 50 lakhs annually. Besides, she also endorses several brands and is currently associated with Allen Solley, American Tourister, NextGen Fitness Studio, and Royal Challenge.
2. Harmanpreet Kaur
India’s T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur is widely regarded as one of the best batters of her generation. Her ability to hit the ball out of the park at will makes her a nemesis for the opposition bowlers. The Number 7 of the Indian women’s cricket team is under the Grade A category and hence she gets Rs 50 lakhs every year.
3. Smriti Mandhana
ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Smriti Mandhana is a prolific run-scorer at the top of the batting order for Team India. The swashbuckling southpaw is also under the Grade A category and therefore, gets Rs 50 lakhs every year. She also holds endorsements with popular global brands like Hero MotoCorp, POWER, Amstrad India, Nike, ITC Vivel, and Alcon Laboratories.
4. Poonam Yadav
India’s spin queen Poonam Yadav has often proven why she is a game-changer with the ball in shorter formats of the game. The leg-spinner is an indispensable member of the squad and henceforth is under the Grade A category. Thus, she too receives a sum of Rs 50 lakhs annually.
5. Jhulan Goswami
The Chakdah express Jhulan Goswami is a colossal figure in women’s cricket. The leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs, Goswami remains a match-winner for Team India, spearheading the pace battery. She is currently awarded a Grade B contract and is paid Rs 30 lakhs annually.
6. Deepti Sharma
The 2020 Arjuna Awardee, Deepti Sharma is currently ranked 4th in the ICC rankings of women all-rounders. The flamboyant southpaw is under the Grade B category and hence gets Rs 30 lakhs every year.
7. Sneh Rana
Spin bowling all-rounder, Sneh Rana has been a player who shines in the most crunch situation. Be it with the bat in the lower middle order or with the ball, she is amongst the most bankable cricketers in Mithali Raj’s troops. She is under a Grade B contract and thus gets Rs 30 lakhs every year.
8. Ekta Bisht
The left-arm orthodox spinner, Ekta Bisht is India’s first bowler to pick up a hat-trick in T20Is. The Uttarakhand cricketer made her debut back in June 2011 and has so far represented the national side in 62 ODIs, 42 T20Is, and 1 Test. She too is awarded a Grade B contract and receives a sum of Rs 30 lakhs annually.
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9. Yastika Bhatia
Team India’s aggressive opener Yastika Bhatia is one of the rising stars of international women’s cricket. The 21-year old youngster is under the Grade C category and therefore, receives Rs 10 lakhs annually.
10. Richa Ghosh
In her very short stint in international cricket and global T20 leagues, Richa Ghosh has made her mark as a wicket-keeper batswoman. She too is awarded a Grade C contract from BCCI and gets a sum of Rs 10 lakhs annually.
11. Shafali Verma
The teenage sensation of Team India, Shafali Verma is a destructive opener who can single-handedly win matches demolishing the opposition bowlers. She became the youngest Indian ever to play a T20I when she made her debut in 2019 against Proteas at the age of 15. She is under the Grade C category and therefore is paid Rs 10 lakhs annually.
12. Pooja Vastrakar
Pooja Vastrakar is another young cricketer who has sealed her spot in the XI courtesy of her consistent performances with the bat and ball. The 22-year-old player is awarded a Grade C contract and therefore gets Rs 10 lakhs annually.
13. Rajeshwari Gayakwad
India’s frontline spinner, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is a master of leaving batters bewildered with her left-arm orthodox spin. Gayakwad is awarded a Grade C contract and therefore gets Rs 10 lakhs each year.
14. Taniya Bhatia
Wicket-keeper batter Taniya Bhatia was named by ICC as one of the five breakout stars in 2018, the year she made her debut. Bhatia holds a Grade C contract and henceforth gets Rs 10 lakhs annually.
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15. Meghna Singh
The right-arm seamer hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Meghna Singh bolsters the fast bowling unit of Team India. She is presently under a Grade C contract and thus gets Rs 10 lakhs every year.
16. Renuka Singh
Renuka Singh is a promising right-arm medium-fast bowler from Himachal Pradesh who hogged the limelight after being the highest wicket-taker in the 2019–20 Senior Women’s One Day League. She is awarded a Grade C contract and therefore receives a sum of Rs 10 lakhs every year.
17. Simran Dil Bahadur
Simran Bahadur is a young fearless all-rounder who bats left-handed but bowls right-arm medium-fast. She is under the Grade C category and therefore gets Rs 10 lakhs each year.
