Women’s cricket in India has changed completely over the last five years.
What started as a passion-driven sport with minimal financial rewards has become a legitimate career option.
The Women’s Premier League reshaped everything. Salaries jumped. Brand deals multiplied.
Players who once balanced cricket with regular jobs now earn more than many corporate professionals.
From retired icons to active match-winners, these cricketers have built wealth through performance and smart career decisions.
Richest Indian Women Cricketers in 2026
Here’s who made it to the list of richest Indian women cricketers in 2026.
India’s Highest-Earning Women Cricketers
| Rank | Cricketer | Net Worth (2026) | Key Income Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mithali Raj | ₹42+ Crore | Commentary, Endorsements, Mentorship |
| 2 | Smriti Mandhana | ₹35+ Crore | WPL, BCCI Contract, Brand Deals |
| 3 | Harmanpreet Kaur | ₹26+ Crore | Captaincy, WPL, Sponsorships |
| 4 | Jhulan Goswami | ₹9+ Crore | Coaching, Media Rights, Brands |
| 5 | Shafali Verma | ₹9+ Crore | BCCI Contract, WPL, Endorsements |
| 6 | Deepti Sharma | ₹8+ Crore | WPL, International Cricket, Sponsors |
| 7 | Jemimah Rodrigues | ₹6+ Crore | WPL, Brands, Digital Content |
| 8 | Pooja Vastrakar | ₹4+ Crore | BCCI Contract, WPL, Match Fees |
| 9 | Yastika Bhatia | ₹2+ Crore | WPL, Domestic Cricket, Contract |
| 10 | Renuka Singh Thakur | ₹1.2+ Crore | Central Contract, WPL, Sponsors |
1. Mithali Raj – Net Worth: ₹42+ Crore
Mithali Raj net worth tops the list even after retirement. Two decades of international cricket created financial stability that keeps growing.
How She Earns:
- BCCI pension and retirement benefits
- Commentary across major broadcasters
- Mentorship at cricket academies
- Brand endorsements (Lenskart, Rio Pads)
- Speaking engagements and events
Career Highlight: Captained India in two ODI World Cup finals. Scored over 10,000 international runs.
Her influence hasn’t dimmed. Young players still seek her advice. Broadcasters value her insights. Academy directors want her name attached to their programs. Building a legacy pays better than most realize.
2. Smriti Mandhana – Net Worth: ₹35+ Crore
Smriti Mandhana net worth makes her the wealthiest active Indian woman cricketer. Her elegant batting style attracts fans. Her marketability attracts premium brands.
How She Earns:
- BCCI Grade A contract (₹50 lakh yearly)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore WPL (₹3.4 crore per season)
- Major brands: Hero MotoCorp, Garnier, BAS, Puma
- International match fees and bonuses
Career Highlight: First Indian woman to score a double century in day/night Test cricket.
Watch her drive through covers, and you understand why brands queue up. That 171 in Brisbane wasn’t just runs. It was a statement about grace under pressure that resonated beyond cricket fans.
3. Harmanpreet Kaur – Net Worth: ₹26+ Crore
Harmanpreet Kaur net worth reflects her value as both batter and captain. That 171* against Australia in the 2017 World Cup semifinal changed Indian women’s cricket forever.
How She Earns:
- BCCI central contract
- Mumbai Indians WPL captaincy (₹1.8 crore per season)
- Brand deals (Puma, CEAT Tyres)
- International cricket earnings
Career Highlight: First Indian woman to play 100 T20 Internationals.
She taught this generation not to fear big moments. When India chased 274 against New Zealand at Lord’s and fell short, the team didn’t collapse mentally. Harmanpreet’s influence runs deeper than statistics show.
4. Jhulan Goswami – Net Worth: ₹9+ Crore
The “Chakda Express” retired as cricket’s greatest woman fast bowler. Her post-retirement income proves that respect converts to revenue.
How She Earns:
- BCCI retirement benefits
- Coaching at premier academies
- Biopic media rights
- Brand partnerships
- Expert commentary
Career Highlight: 355 international wickets, more than any woman in history.
Young pacers still study her bowling action. Her sessions at the National Cricket Academy shape India’s next generation. When she demonstrates how to bowl a yorker, twenty-year-olds take notes like it’s an exam.
5. Shafali Verma – Net Worth: ₹9+ Crore
Shafali Verma plays cricket with fearless aggression. That approach has built serious wealth at just 22 years old.
How She Earns:
- BCCI central contract
- Delhi Capitals WPL contract
- Growing brand portfolio
- International match earnings
Career Highlight: Youngest Indian to represent across all three formats.
She treats a 135 kph bouncer like a gentle delivery. Most batters would defend nervously. Shafali pulls it over square leg with disdain. That mindset doesn’t just win matches. It wins sponsorship deals.
6. Deepti Sharma – Net Worth: ₹8+ Crore
Deepti Sharma provides what every captain needs: reliable all-round performance. She contributes meaningfully with both bat and ball.
How She Earns:
- BCCI central contract
- UP Warriorz WPL salary
- Brand partnerships
- International cricket income
Career Highlight: One of India’s leading T20I wicket-takers.
Her calm approach balances India’s aggressive style. When top-order batters go hard and fail, Deepti rebuilds. When spinners need middle-over breakthroughs, Deepti provides them. That consistency has real market value.
7. Jemimah Rodrigues – Net Worth: ₹6+ Crore
Jemimah Rodrigues understands modern cricket needs on-field performance and off-field connection. She delivers both.
How She Earns:
- Delhi Capitals WPL contract
- Multiple endorsement deals
- Digital content partnerships
- Social media collaborations
- International cricket
Career Highlight: Made India debut at just 17 years old.
She gets something crucial: fans want to know the person, not just watch the player. Her social media engagement creates opportunities batting alone couldn’t. That 76 against Australia mattered, but so did showing fans what happened before and after.
8. Pooja Vastrakar – Net Worth: ₹4+ Crore
Pooja Vastrakar’s pace-bowling all-round abilities give India crucial team balance. Her journey from Madhya Pradesh shows what persistence builds.
How She Earns:
- BCCI central contract
- Mumbai Indians WPL salary
- International match fees
- Growing sponsorship deals
Career Highlight: Key performances during the 2023 T20 World Cup.
Her energy lifts the entire team. She fields at third man with intensity, bowls at 115 kph the next over, then bats at seven and clears boundaries. That versatility pays well.
9. Yastika Bhatia – Net Worth: ₹2+ Crore
Yastika Bhatia has established herself as India’s dependable wicketkeeper-batter. Steady performances in pressure situations have built both reputation and wealth.
How She Earns:
- BCCI central contract
- Mumbai Indians WPL salary
- Domestic cricket earnings
- Match fees and bonuses
Career Highlight: Consistent performer when matches get tight.
She represents India’s strengthening bench. Having players like Yastika ready to step in shows how competitive selection has become. That competition raises everyone’s game.
10. Renuka Singh Thakur – Net Worth: ₹1.2+ Crore
Renuka Singh Thakur has rapidly become India’s primary new-ball option. Her rise from Himachal Pradesh happened quickly because her skills demanded it.
How She Earns:
- BCCI central contract
- Royal Challengers Bangalore WPL contract
- International match fees
- Emerging sponsorship portfolio
Career Highlight: Leading wicket-taker for India in multiple tournaments.
Her new-ball swing provides early breakthroughs. That ability to remove top-order batters in powerplays makes her invaluable. Captains build bowling strategies around her opening spell.
Expert insight: How WPL Transformed Women’s Cricket Finances?
The Women’s Premier League didn’t just raise salaries. It created a professional ecosystem where sustainable cricket careers became possible.
Before WPL, top Indian players earned under ₹30 lakh annually from cricket. Now, mid-tier WPL players earn that in one season. Top performers multiply it several times.
The money matters, but visibility matters more long-term. Brand managers noticed. Young girls saw viable careers. Corporate sponsors invested. The system became self-sustaining.
When Delhi paid ₹2.2 crore for Jemimah in 2023, it wasn’t charity. It was a calculated business. Her value justified that investment. That’s when you know professionalization is real.
Net Worth of Indian Women Cricketers Versus Global Stars
Indian players now compete financially with international cricket stars. The earnings gap has narrowed significantly.
Top 10 richest female cricketers in the world rankings include multiple Indian names.
Ellyse Perry from Australia leads globally at approximately ₹50+ crore, but Mithali and Smriti aren’t far behind.
Here’s what’s interesting: Indian players often earn more from endorsements than from cricket.
India’s massive market creates advantages. A brand deal here reaches 1.4 billion people.
That scale creates opportunities that Australian or English players can’t access.
The richest women cricketer debate increasingly features Indian names.
As WPL expands and brand investments grow, expect more Indians to top global earnings charts.
Why These Numbers Matter Beyond Personal Wealth?
These figures represent more than individual success. They show systemic progress.
When Mithali started in the late 1990s, women cricketers fought for basic facilities. Now they negotiate six-figure franchise contracts.
When Jhulan bowled her first international over, nobody discussed women’s cricket salaries publicly. Now it generates regular headlines.
The next generation benefits most. Girls watching Smriti drive or Harmanpreet pull see cricket as a real profession, not just a hobby that might pay someday.
That shift in perception changes everything.
Indian Women Cricket Players Salary List 2026
The payment structure has improved dramatically:
BCCI Central Contracts (Yearly Retainer):
- Grade A: ₹50 lakh
- Grade B: ₹30 lakh
- Grade C: ₹10 lakh
Women’s Premier League Pay Scale:
- Top tier: ₹3-4 crore per season
- Middle tier: ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore per season
- Entry tier: ₹10-50 lakh per season
International Match Fees (Equal to Men):
- Test match: ₹15 lakh
- ODI: ₹6 lakh
- T20I: ₹3 lakh
This structure makes professional cricket financially sustainable. Players can focus entirely on cricket from their early twenties without needing backup careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is the richest women cricketer in India currently?
Mithali Raj holds the top position with a net worth exceeding ₹42 crore in 2026.
- What is Smriti Mandhana’s net worth in 2026?
Smriti Mandhana’s net worth stands at approximately ₹35+ crore, making her the wealthiest active Indian woman cricketer.
- How much is Harmanpreet Kaur worth?
Harmanpreet Kaur’s net worth is estimated at ₹26+ crore, including WPL captaincy and endorsements.
- What do WPL players earn per season?
Top WPL players earn ₹3-4 crore per season, while mid-tier players make ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore.
- Are women’s cricket match fees equal to men’s?
Yes, BCCI equalized match fees in 2022 (Tests: ₹15 lakh, ODIs: ₹6 lakh, T20Is: ₹3 lakh).
Conclusion:
The wealth these players have built shows what happens when talent meets real opportunity.
WPL created that opportunity. These athletes seized it with skill and consistency.
More importantly, they’ve opened doors.
Every girl picking up a cricket bat now knows this sport can provide genuine financial security, not just trophies.
These net worth figures will keep climbing.
As WPL expands and more brands invest, expect these numbers to look modest within five years.
The foundation is solid. The growth has just begun.
Also Check:
- Indian Cricket Players Salaries 202
- Indian Cricket Team Coaches List
- Indian Cricketers Who Have Government Job
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