IPL cricketers earn more per match than other sportspersons
The Indian Premier League is, undoubtedly, one of the biggest and most watched leagues in the world. The league is set to enter its 12th season, since its inception in 2008. Over time, we have witnessed some stunning financial deals, being etched by the franchises. A new report has now stated that the IPL cricketers earn more per match than players in other sports.
What is the scenario?
According to the latest Global Sports Salary survey, players participating in the IPL go on to earn more per game than those in any other sport. Last season saw Royal Challengers Bangalore paying a mammoth sum to acquire the services of Virat Kohli. He is one the highest paid players in the history of IPL. Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni is also rewarded handsomely.
IPL versus the English Premier league
According to a report, the English Premier League (EPL) is the richest football league. First-team players earn £2.99 mn on an average annually (Rs. 24 crore). In IPL, players earn an average of £274,624 (Rs. 2.2 crore) per match (14 matches a season). In simple terms, there is a difference of around £78,703 (Rs. 70 lakh) in earnings per match between IPL and EPL.
IPL vs EPL: Taking the entire season into account
When one compares IPL to EPL, the amount of games each IPL team plays (14) is less than that of EPL where teams play 38 matches. The top teams in EPL also play European competitions. There is also the League Cup and FA Cup. Therefore, while taking the entire season into account, the salaries of IPL players are way less than EPL players.
IPL's valuation has seen a stunning growth
The valuation of IPL has also increased considerably. It grew by a 19% to touch $6.3 billion in 2018. Prior to that, it was $5.3 billion in 2017. When one looks at the brand valuation, according to a report by corporate finance advisory firm Duff & Phelps, it was pointed out that Mumbai Indians top the list ($113 mn). KKR are second ($104 mn).
