BCCI mulling fee hike for Ranji players after Test Incentive Scheme

In a bid to address the balance between Test cricket and the lucrative IPL, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating to enhance the compensation for players involved in the prestigious Ranji Trophy, the premier domestic red-ball tournament.

Following the recent increase in payments for Test cricketers, the BCCI is now considering a similar incentive scheme for participants in the Ranji Trophy. A BCCI official revealed this development, stating that the board is exploring ways to reward players involved in red-ball Ranji Trophy cricket. The intention is to boost match fees to emphasise the significance of red-ball cricket.

“After the Test Cricket Incentive Scheme, the BCCI is working out how we can reward players who play red-ball Ranji Trophy cricket. The BCCI is planning to increase the match fees to give more importance to red-ball cricket,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.

Currently, Ranji Trophy players receive match fees ranging from INR 40,000 to INR 60,000 per day, depending on the number of matches played during the season. However, this pales in comparison to even the lowest base price of INR 20 lakh for an IPL player participating in two months of T20 cricket.

This move comes as players increasingly prioritize IPL commitments over domestic tournaments, with many IPL-contracted players opting out of Ranji Trophy matches to mitigate injury risks or maintain fitness for the lucrative T20 league.

Sometimes when an organisation takes a stand, it might not suit everyone: R Ashwin

Indian cricketer R Ashwin has expressed his backing for the BCCI's emphasis on prioritising Test cricket. He emphasized the importance of Test cricket, stating that the board aims to promote it and expects eligible individuals to participate in this format.

“Sometimes when an organisation takes a stand, it might not suit everyone, it might not work in favour of everyone, it might be detrimental to a few people. What we must understand here is the message being conveyed by the organisational body… that we are prioritising Test cricket, IPL is not everything as far as we are concerned. They are saying Test cricket is paramount…we are going to promote it and we expect people eligible top lay this format. In my view, they are making the right noises,” Ashwin said as quoted by Indian Express.

Ashwin also acknowledged players' autonomy in choosing their preferred formats, stating, "At the same time, whether a cricketer wants to do all the 12 months, or only wants to do the two months or whether they want to be relevant playing T20 cricket and one-day cricket and do not want to be playing Test cricket, is their choice."