The ten Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises spent a total of Rs 2,30,45,00,000 at the mini-auction in Dubai on December 19. Seventy-two players, including 30 from overseas, were sold on an action-packed day. Australia’s Mitchell Starc shattered IPL salary records when Kolkata Knight Riders acquired his services for a whopping Rs 24,75,00,000. Harshal Patel was the most expensive Indian player sold when Punjab Kings got him for Rs 11,75,00,000 and little-known Sameer Rizvi, 20, was the most expensive uncapped Indian cricketer when he went to Chennai Super Kings for Rs 8,40,00,000.
The mini-auction is a mad place as teams have continued to splurge in order to plug notable gaps ahead of a new season. The need factor plays a major role in the auction dynamics and it was on display in Dubai. So how exactly does the salary structure work? Do the players get the entire amount? When do they get the amount? Here’s a quick explainer:
Do the players get the entire amount?
Yes, players get the entire amount. Taxes are worked out accordingly but the bid is their annual salary from the franchise. Say, for instance, CSK got Sameer for Rs 8.4 crore, then he would get that amount from the franchise and afterwards taxes are worked out. Since a year is left before the three-year cycle ends and a mega auction is likely in 2024, it will be a one-year contract.
Had this been the mega auction, it would have been a three-year contract with the various retention and release clauses already mentioned. For overseas players, 20% of the bid amount is shared with the home board. The amount comes from the IPL central revenue pool. So, for instance, if an Australian player goes for Rs 20 crore, Cricket Australia will get Rs 4 crore.
When do they get the amount?
This differs from franchise to franchise. While some prefer to pay the entire amount upfront, say, before the season, a few opt for a 50-50 approach, and others also explore a three-part process where a certain percentage is paid before the season, a major chunk during, and the remainder afterwards.
What happens to the salary if a player gets injured?
There are two situations – if a player is injured during the season or before the season gets underway. If the player is injured and opts out before the season, the franchise doesn’t need to compensate him. If a player is available and doesn’t play all games, he will continue to get the entire salary, and a match-fee structure, which is followed by the various cricket boards, is not followed when it comes to the IPL.
Who pays for players’ injury treatment?
If a player gets injured during the season, his IPL franchise bears the cost of the treatment. Some teams like Mumbai Indians have also taken care of players off-season and ensured their well-being even when the IPL was not on. During the tournament, IPL franchises have to cover all costs but some have extended the cover off-season too.
Do players get anything in excess of salary?
Yes, players get a daily allowance while travelling with the team. The amount differs for home and foreign assignments. For instance, the number was different when IPL was played in the UAE during the Covid pandemic. For a home tournament, a team could pay anywhere around Rs 5,000 per day to its players to cover food and other incidental expenses. While most of the expenses are taken care of by the franchises, the player can use the DA amount to pay for in-room dining and other food expenses, if any.
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