Winning an international trophy is supposed to be the pinnacle of cricketing success. But what if we told you that Team India’s prize money for lifting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is still less than what Rishabh Pant earned without even playing a single match?
Rohit Sharma’s men delivered a dominant performance in the tournament, remaining unbeaten and clinching the trophy with a thrilling win against New Zealand. Their reward? A prize purse of ₹20 crore. Sounds impressive, right? Well, here’s the twist—Rishabh Pant, who didn’t even step onto the field during the Champions Trophy, pocketed ₹27 crore from his IPL contract with Lucknow Super Giants. Yes, you read that right. A player who wasn’t even part of the tournament made ₹7 crore more than the entire Indian squad combined.
This stark contrast highlights the growing financial disparity between international cricket and franchise leagues. The ICC, the governing body of world cricket, rewards its champions with what seems like a hefty sum, but when compared to the money floating around in IPL auctions, it almost feels insignificant.
Let’s break it down further. That ₹20 crore prize money isn’t just for the playing XI—it gets distributed among the entire squad and support staff. By the time it reaches individual players, it’s a fraction of what Pant will receive from his IPL deal. The irony? Pant’s biggest contribution to this tournament was watching the games from the comfort of his home.
This raises a bigger question: Is international cricket losing its financial dominance? With players now securing life-changing contracts in T20 leagues, the allure of representing the nation for pride and honor is competing with massive franchise paychecks. The IPL has turned cricket into a billion-dollar industry, where one auction can change a player’s fortune overnight.
If a global trophy is worth less than an IPL contract, does the ICC need to rethink its prize structures? Or are we heading toward an era where franchise leagues overshadow international cricket altogether? The numbers don’t lie—and they tell a fascinating story.
