The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has become the first state cricket association in India to announce an official player contract system for both its men’s and women’s domestic cricketers.
Players have been placed into three grades:
- Grade A – ₹12 lakh per year
- Grade B – ₹8 lakh per year
- Grade C – ₹6 lakh per year
This initiative isn’t just about paying players. It’s about giving domestic cricketers real financial security and stability. In a sport where an injury or any other setback can keep a player off the field for months, this kind of financial support acts as a cushion during uncertain times.
And the best part — this system covers both men’s and women’s team players, putting them on equal footing.
Hopefully, following Mumbai’s lead, other state cricket associations will introduce similar contracts for their domestic players too. For Indian domestic cricket, this is genuinely a positive step forward.
List of Contracted Players
Men
| Grade A (₹12 Lakh) | Grade B (₹8 Lakh) | Grade C (₹6 Lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| Siddhesh Lad | Mohit Avasthi | Suved Parkar |
| Shams Mulani | Aakash Anand | Sairaj Patil |
| Hardik Tamore | Himanshu Singh | |
| Jay Jain | ||
| Sumeir Zaveri | ||
| Atharva Bhosle | ||
| Manan Bhat | ||
| Ayush Vartak |
Women
| Grade A (₹12 Lakh) | Grade B (₹8 Lakh) | Grade C (₹6 Lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| Humairaa Kaazi | Sanika Chalke | Prakashika Naik |
| Vrushali Bhagat | Zeal Dmello | |
| Fatima Jaffer | ||
| Sadhvi Sanjay | ||
| Kashish Nirmal |
This move benefits players in several important ways:
Financial stability: Domestic cricketers often struggle financially, since their income usually depends only on match fees and seasonal earnings. A contract system like this gives them a steady, guaranteed income they can rely on.
Support during injuries: When a player gets injured and isn’t sure whether they’ll be able to return to the field, that uncertainty is stressful — both mentally and financially. A financial cushion during this period can make a real difference, giving players room to recover without worrying about money.
A reason to stay with their home state: In the past, many players switched states in search of better opportunities and financial security. With contracts like this in place, staying and playing for one’s home state becomes a far more secure and rewarding choice, which could help reduce this trend.
Rewarding hard work fairly: Ultimately, this is a necessary step toward giving cricketers the recognition their hard work deserves. Hopefully, more state associations follow this example and offer their players the same security and respect.