It’s not every day that India’s biggest cricket stars turn up in domestic tournaments and when they do, the buzz is impossible to miss. Earlier this week, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma featured in the opening rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, instantly turning regular matches into must-watch events. Thousands of fans flooded the grounds, with some even climbing trees just to catch a glimpse of their heroes in action.
While the Vijay Hazare Trophy may not offer the glitz, money or global attention of the Indian Premier League, it remains a vital part of India’s domestic white-ball structure. The presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma not only brought attention to the competition but also sparked conversations around how domestic cricketers are paid and how the tournament is structured.
Unlike the IPL where salaries are decided through auctions and star value plays a big role, the Vijay Hazare Trophy follows a fixed payment system. For the 2025–26 season, players are paid match fees based on their experience in List A cricket, not their fame or international status.
In this tournament, experience matters more than celebrity. Players who have featured in over 40 List A matches fall into the senior category. They earn Rs 60,000 per match if they are part of the playing XI and Rs 30,000 if named as reserves. Those with 21 to 40 matches are placed in the mid-level category and receive Rs 50,000 per game when playing and Rs 25,000 when on the bench. Cricketers with up to 20 List A appearances earn Rs 40,000 per match in the XI and Rs 20,000 as reserves.
Both Virat Kohli, representing Delhi, and Rohit Sharma, playing for Mumbai, fall into the senior bracket. Despite being global superstars, they earn the same match fee as any other experienced domestic player – Rs 60,000 per game.
This figure is a sharp contrast to their international earnings, where both the players receive Rs 6 lakh per ODI from the BCCI. Along with match fees, players in the Vijay Hazare Trophy also receive daily allowances to cover travel, food and accommodation during the tournament.
Even without massive paychecks, the sight of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in domestic colours proves one thing clearly — Indian cricket’s biggest stars can still make local grounds feel like international arenas.
