Who Is the Richest Female Cricketer in India? (Updated 2026)

Last updated on: January 12, 2026

If you just want the clear 2026 answer:

Richest female cricketer in India overall (all-time): Mithali Raj – estimated net worth ₹40–45 crore.
Richest active Indian female cricketer: Smriti Mandhana – estimated net worth ₹32–35 crore.

All these numbers are estimates, based on media reports and financial blogs, not official BCCI data. But multiple independent lists now agree on this ranking.

Table of Contents

Why this question matters more than ever in 2026

If you had asked “Who is the richest female cricketer in India?” ten years ago, there wouldn’t even be serious data. Today, you have:

Equal international match fees for women and men in India – ₹15 lakh per Test, ₹6 lakh per ODI, ₹3 lakh per T20I.
The Women’s Premier League (WPL), where top Indian women earn ₹3–4 crore per season from one team contract alone.
Central contracts worth ₹50 lakh a year for Grade A women players (Harmanpreet, Smriti, Deepti).

On top of that, India’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup win sent brand money into women’s cricket like never before. Media and finance outlets now track “richest women cricketers” the same way they follow Bollywood and IPL stars.

So this is not just gossip. Looking at who is “richest” shows you:

How women’s cricket money really works
Why some players get ahead financially
And what it would take for a current star to pass a legend like Mithali Raj

What Does “Richest Female Cricketer” Really Mean?

Net Worth vs Annual Earnings

When you see “richest cricketer”, most sites are talking about net worth, not this year’s salary.

Net worth = everything a player owns (cash, property, investments, business stakes, brand money saved) minus what they owe.
Annual earnings = what they make in a year (salary, match fees, bonuses, endorsements).

So:

A player can have lower yearly income but higher net worth if she has:
- Played for 20+ years
- Bought property early
- Invested smartly
- Built a strong personal brand

That’s exactly why Mithali Raj, who retired from international cricket in 2022, is still richer overall than any active Indian woman cricketer in 2026.

Why net worth ≠ salary

For Indian women cricketers, net worth comes from a mix of:

Old BCCI salaries and match fees
WPL salaries (for the active ones)
Endorsement deals
Media work (commentary, analysis, presentation)
Coaching and mentoring roles
Small businesses and investments

Two players can have the same BCCI contract, but:

One invests in real estate, starts a café, and does 8–10 brand deals.
Another relies only on match fees.

Ten years later, their net worth will be very different, even if their raw cricket salary was similar.

How retirement can increase wealth

Strange but true: for top stars, retirement can speed up wealth growth.

Why?

Free schedule = more time for commentary gigs, mentorship, events and speaking.
Legacy value = brands want long-term, “safe” icons who won’t get banned or injured.
Senior legends get picked by ICC, broadcasters and leagues as faces of the sport.

You can see this pattern in:

Mithali Raj, now a regular voice in ICC events and a high‑profile mentor.
Jhulan Goswami, who retired but still earns from coaching, leagues and brand work with an estimated net worth around ₹8–12 crore.

So when you read “richest female cricketer in India”, do not think “biggest BCCI salary in 2026”. Think lifetime money + current influence.

Main Income Streams for Indian Women Cricketers

To really understand why Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana lead the pack, you need to know where the money comes from.

1. BCCI Central Contracts

BCCI has three grades for women:

Grade A – ₹50 lakh per year (Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma)
Grade B – ₹30 lakh per year (Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh)
Grade C – ₹10 lakh per year (younger and fringe players)

These are fixed retainers. Match fees are separate.

2. International Match Fees

Since late 2022, India’s women and men earn the same match fees:

Test – ₹15 lakh per match
ODI – ₹6 lakh per match
T20I – ₹3 lakh per match

For a regular in all formats, this can reach ₹1–3 crore a year just from India duty, depending on how packed the calendar is.

3. Women’s Premier League (WPL) salaries

This is the real game‑changer.

Typical Indian star salaries:

Smriti Mandhana (RCB) – ₹3.4 crore per season (highest in WPL history, kept at same price in 2023, 2024, 2025).
Harmanpreet Kaur (MI) – ₹1.8 crore per season.
Jemimah Rodrigues (DC) – ₹2.2 crore per season.
Shafali Verma (DC) – around ₹2 crore per season.

For top internationals, one WPL contract can equal many years of old domestic income. Forbes and other reports note that elite players in WPL now earn up to around 400,000 USD (₹3–3.5 crore) per season.

4. Brand endorsements & sponsorships

After the 2025 World Cup win, brand money exploded:

Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues are now getting ₹1 crore+ per deal from some brands, according to sports marketing agencies.
Smriti alone has endorsed a long list: Nike, Puma/Rexona, Red Bull, Hyundai, Hero MotoCorp, Mastercard, Herbalife, Gulf Oil, banking and FMCG brands.

This is now the biggest chunk of total income for the top stars.

5. Media work, commentary & mentoring

This is where retired legends shine:

Mithali Raj is a regular in ICC commentary and analysis teams for women’s T20 World Cup and 2025 ODI World Cup.
She was mentor and advisor for Gujarat Giants in the WPL for the first two seasons, and from late 2024 she took up a similar mentor role at the Andhra Cricket Association.

These roles pay well and are low risk compared to playing.

6. Social media & personal ventures

Smriti Mandhana has over 14 million Instagram followers, making her one of India’s biggest women sports influencers. That pushes up her sponsored post rates.
She runs SM18 Café in Sangli, a family‑run sports café that builds her off‑field brand and can earn steady income.
Several players invest in property and small businesses, which quietly add to net worth over time.

🏆 Mithali Raj – The Richest Female Cricketer in India (Overall)

Multiple 2024–2026 lists of richest Indian women cricketers put Mithali Raj at the top, with an estimated net worth of ₹40–45 crore:

Sports and finance outlets peg her around ₹41–43 crore (about 5 million USD).
GoodReturns and Free Press Journal summarize the range as ₹40–45 crore, ranking her No.1.
CricTracker’s 2026 list of “Top 3 richest women cricketers in India” also has Mithali at 40–45 crore, ahead of Smriti and Harmanpreet.

Why retirement didn’t slow her earnings

Mithali retired from international cricket in 2022, but:

She moved straight into commentary for ICC events, including Women’s T20 World Cup and World Cup coverage.
She became mentor and advisor for Gujarat Giants in the WPL (first two seasons), then accepted a long‑term cricket development role with Andhra Cricket Association.
Brands continue to use her as a trusted, long‑term face – Usha International, Jacob’s Creek, L’Oréal Paris and others have featured her as ambassador.

So while she no longer draws match fees, her brand and media income are steady, and her old career earnings are already locked into assets.

Her long‑term financial advantage

What sets Mithali ahead of active stars like Smriti?

Career length – 22 years at the top level.
Consistent BCCI contracts – she was a Grade A player in the women’s central contract era, drawing around ₹30 lakh per year at peak, plus match fees.
Early endorsements – she picked up deals when women’s cricket visibility was low, then grew with the market.
Post‑retirement roles – top‑tier media and mentoring work at ICC and WPL level.

That combination explains why, even in 2026, no Indian woman cricketer has passed her total wealth yet.

Mithali Raj’s Net Worth in 2026 – Full Breakdown

Estimated Net Worth (2026)

Putting together the main estimates:

SportsTiger: around ₹41.93 crore (about $5 million) for 2024.
Cricbites: ₹35–40 crore around 2025.
GoodReturns, Free Press Journal and Times Now: ₹40–45 crore, calling her India’s richest woman cricketer.
Global “richest women cricketers” lists place her around ₹43 crore in 2025.

A conservative 2026 range is ₹40–45 crore.

Because she is retired, her net worth is stable:

No big injury risk
No risk of being dropped
Brand image is “safe, legendary, dependable”

Career earnings from cricket

During her playing years, Mithali’s cricket money came from:

BCCI central contracts – Grade A, earning about ₹30 lakh per year for several seasons.
Match fees – for most of her career, women’s fees were low, but in 2022 they were raised to ₹15 lakh (Test), ₹6 lakh (ODI), ₹3 lakh (T20I) in line with men’s rates.
Tournament bonuses – ICC and BCCI bonuses for World Cups and series wins (exact figures are not made public, but standard for senior stars).

Her playing career started before the big money era, yet the sheer length and consistency of her run built a strong base.

Post‑retirement income sources

Even after hanging up her boots, Mithali’s income streams are strong:

Commentary & expert roles
- Named in star‑studded commentary teams for ICC women’s events, alongside top global names.
- These are well‑paid media jobs, often across full tournaments.
Mentorship and advisory positions
- Mentor and advisor, Gujarat Giants (WPL) for the first two editions.
- Later took up a mentor role at Andhra Cricket Association, guiding state pathways and the senior women’s team.
- Mentors in WPL‑level setups and state associations are paid like senior coaches in some cases.
Brand endorsements after retirement
Mithali has represented or been linked with:
- Usha International (appliances and fans brand)
- Jacob’s Creek (global wine brand, ICC partner)
- L’Oréal Paris
- Puma
- Mutual fund campaigns
- Manyavar and other lifestyle brands
For a legend of her stature, even a handful of active deals per year can mean a healthy seven‑ or eight‑figure annual income.

Personal brand & legacy value

Why do brands still invest in Mithali Raj in 2026?

She is the all‑time leading run‑scorer in women’s ODIs and one of the greatest batters in women’s cricket.
Her image is calm, consistent, dignified – perfect for banks, education, insurance, and long‑term brand campaigns.
ICC’s own equal pay announcement quoted her reaction, and she has been a public voice for women’s cricket growth.

In simple words: her legacy is an asset that keeps paying.

The Richest Active Female Cricketer in India (2026)

⭐ Smriti Mandhana – Richest Active Player

Almost every recent list of richest Indian women cricketers places Smriti Mandhana at No.2 overall and No.1 among active players, with estimates around ₹32–35 crore.

Why she leads among current players:

Grade A BCCI contract – highest category (₹50 lakh per year).
Highest WPL salary – ₹3.4 crore per season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
One of the most endorsed women athletes in India – multiple major brands across sports, auto, banking, FMCG and personal care.
Huge social media reach – over 14 million Instagram followers.

Active income vs lifetime wealth

This is the key difference:

Lifetime wealth leader (overall) – Mithali Raj, thanks to 20+ years of career + post‑retirement roles.
Top active earner and fastest growing – Smriti Mandhana.

If Smriti keeps this pace for another 5–7 years, she has a real chance to pass Mithali’s net worth.

Smriti Mandhana’s Net Worth & Earnings (2026)

Estimated net worth & growth

Different sources give close but slightly different numbers:

Crictoday (2026 update for 2025): ₹32–34 crore.
NDTV Sports: ₹32–34 crore by late 2025.
GoodReturns list: around ₹33 crore.
CricTracker and multiple “richest women” lists: ₹32–34 crore, sometimes rounded to ₹35 crore.

What’s more important is the trend:

Crictoday shows her net worth roughly as:

2022 – ₹22–24 crore
2024 – ₹28–30 crore
2025 – ₹32–34 crore

So she has added roughly ₹10+ crore in about three years, thanks mainly to WPL and endorsements.

BCCI central contract & match fees

Smriti is in Grade A of BCCI women’s contracts:

Annual retainer: ₹50 lakh.
Plus match fees at ₹15 lakh / Test, ₹6 lakh / ODI, ₹3 lakh / T20I.

If she plays a full calendar of ODIs and T20Is, her India match income alone easily crosses ₹1–1.5 crore per year, sometimes more with packed schedules.

WPL earnings – the big accelerator

In the 2023 WPL auction, RCB bought Smriti Mandhana for a record ₹3.4 crore, the highest for any player (men or women had never seen such a number in women’s leagues in India).
She has been retained at the same price through the following seasons (2024, 2025), and there’s no sign of a pay cut.

That means:

₹3.4 crore per WPL season just from team salary.
With league length and revenues rising, future renegotiations are likely to be even higher.

She also plays in overseas leagues like:

The Hundred (England) – reportedly around ₹62–75 lakh per season.
Women’s Big Bash League (Australia) – earlier deals around ₹30 lakh per season.

Put together, her total cricket income per year (BCCI + match fees + WPL + overseas leagues + ICC bonuses) can comfortably sit around ₹4–6 crore, depending on that year’s schedule and wins.

Brand endorsements – her biggest money source

For Smriti, brands are the real gold mine now.

Brands she has been associated with include:

Sports & performance – Nike, Puma/Rexona, SG Cricket, Red Bull, Herbalife, Boost
Auto & fuel – Hyundai, Gulf Oil
Banking & finance – SBI, PNB MetLife, Equitas Small Finance Bank
Lifestyle & FMCG – Garnier, Nestlé Maggi, Volini, B Natural, Emami, Mastercard
Social causes – UNICEF India partnerships

Reports and marketing agencies note:

Before the World Cup win, many of her brand deals were in the ₹50 lakh – ₹1.5 crore per brand per year range.
After India’s 2025 World Cup victory, her endorsement fees crossed ₹1 crore per deal for several brands, and overall brand value jumped by over 50%.

For you, the key point is simple: Smriti now earns more from brands than from cricket itself.

Social media influence

Analytics sites show Smriti with around 8–14 million followers on Instagram, with the Instagram profile itself now displaying 14M+ followers in late 2025.
Her posts regularly pull hundreds of thousands of likes, with high engagement.

This scale of reach lets her:

Charge strong rates for sponsored posts and campaigns.
Offer brands both TV + league visibility + social media reach in one package.

Personal ventures – SM18 Café and more

Smriti has begun turning her fame into small businesses:

She co‑owns “SM18 Café” in Sangli, Maharashtra – a sports‑themed café decorated with cricket memories and aimed at local youth and families.
Reports mention property investments in Sangli, Mumbai and Delhi, plus a small car collection.

These are not yet as large as her endorsement income, but they:

Diversify her money
Build a brand beyond cricket, which will help her even after retirement

Other Richest Indian Female Cricketers (2026 Rankings)

Below Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana, here’s where other big names stand.

Harmanpreet Kaur

Estimated net worth (2025–26): roughly ₹24–26 crore, with many lists rounding it to about ₹25 crore.
Ranked third‑richest Indian woman cricketer in several 2025–26 lists.

Income drivers:

BCCI Grade A contract – ₹50 lakh per year.
WPL (Mumbai Indians captain) – ₹1.8 crore per season.
Brand deals with HDFC Life, ITC Foods, Boost, CEAT, Puma, Tata Safari, Asian Paints, Jaipur Rugs, Omaxe and others.
A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) post in Punjab, which adds job security and reputation.

Why leadership doesn’t always mean higher net worth:

As captain, Harmanpreet is the emotional leader, but her endorsement value started later compared to Mithali and Smriti.
She has strong deals now, but Smriti’s digital reach and market positioning are slightly ahead, which is why Smriti’s net worth is higher despite similar BCCI income.

Jemimah Rodrigues

Estimated net worth (2025–26): roughly ₹12–15 crore, with some sources putting her at ₹15 crore in 2025–26.
Sits in the top 10 richest Indian women cricketers, but below Smriti and Harmanpreet.

Key factors:

BCCI Grade B contract – ₹30 lakh per year.
WPL (Delhi Capitals) – ₹2.2 crore per season.
Endorsements with Hyundai, Gillette, Red Bull, Platinum Evara, boAt, Hamilton Beach and others.
Strong youth appeal on social media, especially after her World Cup performances.

Jemimah is in the “rising wealth” zone – not at Smriti or Harman level yet, but growing fast.

Shafali Verma

Estimates differ, but they all agree on one thing: Shafali is already a multi‑crore star in her early 20s.

Hindi and English reports place her net worth anywhere between ₹10–12 crore and ₹15–20 crore as of late 2025.
Many balanced cricket finance sites settle around ₹10–12 crore or ₹8–11 crore.

Income drivers:

BCCI Grade B contract – ₹30 lakh per year.
WPL (Delhi Capitals) – around ₹2 crore per season.
Brand deals with Pepsi, SG/DSC Cricket, ProQuest Nutrition, Bank of Baroda and others.
Huge boost from being Player of the Match in the 2025 World Cup final and a key name in India’s title run.

She is in the classic “early earnings vs future upside” phase:

Already a crorepati many times over
Age on her side
Aggressive batting style attracts brands and leagues worldwide

Quick Net Worth Comparison (India, 2025–26)

Player	Status	Estimated Net Worth (₹ crore)	Main Income Sources
Mithali Raj	Retired	40–45	Past BCCI + match fees, ICC commentary, WPL/state mentoring, long‑term endorsements
Smriti Mandhana	Active	32–35	BCCI Grade A, India match fees, WPL (₹3.4 cr), overseas leagues, heavy endorsements, SM18 Café
Harmanpreet Kaur	Active	24–26	BCCI Grade A, India match fees, WPL (₹1.8 cr), endorsements, government job
Jemimah Rodrigues	Active	12–15	BCCI Grade B, India match fees, WPL (₹2.2 cr), youth‑oriented brand deals
Shafali Verma	Active	10–15 (varies by source)	BCCI Grade B, WPL (~₹2 cr), World Cup bonuses, fast‑growing endorsement list

(These are media‑based estimates, not audited figures.)

Why Retired Players Can Be Richer Than Active Stars

When you think “richest”, you might picture the most in‑form player right now. But wealth is about the whole career.

1. Lifetime earnings vs peak earnings

A retired legend like Mithali Raj:

Played for two decades, collecting salaries and match fees long before WPL existed.
Shifted into new, stable income sources (commentary, mentoring) without expensive travel and training loads.
Has more time to manage investments and business deals.

An active star like Smriti Mandhana:

Might earn more this year, but she’s only 29.
Needs time for that high annual income to turn into accumulated net worth.

2. Media roles create steady income

Big tournaments now automatically call former stars like Mithali for:

ICC commentary and analysis
Expert panels, studio shows, interviews

These jobs:

Need no fitness tests
Can continue for decades
Often pay per match or per series in strong currencies

3. Legacy equals long‑term money

Retired players can:

Write books
Have biopics or documentaries made
Take long‑term ambassador roles for ICC, BCCI and NGOs
Keep endorsing insurance, education, finance and other “trust‑heavy” sectors

So do not be surprised when you see a retired player sitting above current stars in wealth lists. That’s exactly what is happening with Mithali Raj vs Smriti Mandhana today.

How WPL Changed Women’s Cricket Wealth in India

Pre‑WPL reality

Before WPL:

International women cricketers in India had central contracts topping at ₹50 lakh and low match fees.
Domestic players earned about ₹20,000 per day in senior tournaments, meaning a full season might bring only around ₹2 lakh.
Brand interest was limited to a handful of stars like Mithali and Jhulan, with smaller deals.

Post‑WPL income explosion

Since the WPL launched:

Team franchises were sold for about $572 million total, and media rights fetched around $116 million for the first five years.
Elite players now earn up to around $400,000 (₹3–3.5 crore) per season in WPL.
Smriti Mandhana’s ₹3.4 crore contract became the reference point for high‑end deals.

After India’s 2025 World Cup win:

Sponsorship spending around WPL and women’s cricket is projected to cross ₹100–130 crore per season.
BCCI expanded equal pay to domestic cricket – women in domestic senior tournaments now earn ₹50,000 per day for playing XI, matching men.

In plain language: the floor has gone up, not just the ceiling.

Why future players may surpass Mithali Raj

Given:

Rising WPL salaries
Increased number of women’s leagues worldwide
Equal match fees and improved domestic pay
Bigger and more frequent endorsements after India’s 2025 triumph

A top Indian woman cricketer starting her career now could, over 15–20 years, comfortably build a bigger net worth than Mithali, if she:

Stays fit
Stays in demand
Builds a brand like Smriti is doing

Can Any Active Player Overtake Mithali Raj Financially?

Yes, and the closest is Smriti Mandhana.

What it would take

For Smriti to pass Mithali’s ₹40–45 crore mark, she needs:

A few more years of ₹3.4+ crore WPL seasons (or higher if her contract rises)
Consistent presence in India’s XI, keeping BCCI Grade A and full match fees
10+ high‑value brand deals at ₹1 crore+ per year as long as her form and image stay strong
Smart investing (property, business, mutual funds) so earnings are not just spent but compounded.

Given she is still under 30, this is realistic.

The “Smriti Mandhana roadmap” for future stars

For younger players like Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma, the roadmap is clear:

Performance – big runs/wickets in ICC events and WPL.
Visibility – strong digital presence, honest connection with fans.
Diverse brands – not just bats and shoes, but banks, autos, FMCG, tech.
Early business moves – cafes, academies, training content, investments.

If they follow this, the “richest Indian woman cricketer” crown will keep changing hands.

Lessons From India’s Richest Female Cricketers

Here’s what you, as a reader, can take from their journeys.

1. Performance alone isn’t enough

Every name on the rich list is a top performer. But:

Many brilliant players who never built a brand are not in the top earners.
The richest ones turned performance into stories and visibility.

For your own field, that means:

Do great work, but also let people see it and understand it.

2. Personal branding matters

Smriti’s rise shows how image, social media and relatability can multiply earnings:

She is seen as approachable, grounded, hard‑working.
That makes brands, leagues and fans trust her.

You don’t have to be fake. Just:

Share your journey
Talk clearly
Be consistent with your values

3. Plan for life after your “peak” years

Mithali and Jhulan prove that your second career can be as powerful as your first:

They moved into commentary, mentoring, and development roles.
They stayed close to the game, and money kept flowing.

Whatever you do – cricket, business, content creation – your long‑term plan is as important as your best season.

Final Verdict

To wrap it up in one simple answer for you:

Richest female cricketer in India (overall, all‑time):
Mithali Raj, with an estimated net worth of ₹40–45 crore as of 2025–26.
Richest active female cricketer in India (2026):
Smriti Mandhana, with an estimated net worth of ₹32–35 crore and the fastest‑growing earnings among Indian women cricketers.

Mithali leads because of her long career, smart post‑retirement roles and stable brand image. Smriti leads the active group thanks to her WPL record salary, Grade A contract, massive endorsements and 14M+ social media following. Over the next few years, if Smriti and the younger generation keep performing and building their brands, India may see its first woman cricketer comfortably above the ₹50 crore net‑worth mark.

FAQs

Who is the richest female cricketer in India in 2026?

Mithali Raj is widely reported as the richest Indian woman cricketer, with an estimated net worth of ₹40–45 crore.

Who is the richest active Indian women cricketer right now?

Smriti Mandhana is the richest active Indian woman cricketer, with an estimated net worth around ₹32–35 crore.

What is Mithali Raj’s net worth after retirement?

Major lists and finance portals put Mithali Raj’s net worth between ₹40–45 crore in 2025–26, driven by her long playing career plus commentary, mentoring and endorsements.

How much does Smriti Mandhana earn from WPL?

Smriti Mandhana earns ₹3.4 crore per season in the Women’s Premier League with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the highest WPL salary so far.

What is Smriti Mandhana’s BCCI salary?

She holds a Grade A BCCI women’s contract worth ₹50 lakh per year, plus match fees of ₹15 lakh per Test, ₹6 lakh per ODI and ₹3 lakh per T20I.

Do Indian women cricketers get equal match fees as the men?

Yes. Since late 2022, Indian women and men receive the same match fees for international games: ₹15 lakh for Tests, ₹6 lakh for ODIs, and ₹3 lakh for T20Is.

Who are the top three richest Indian women cricketers?

Most updated 2025–26 lists agree on this top three:

Mithali Raj – ₹40–45 crore (retired)
Smriti Mandhana – ₹32–35 crore (active)
Harmanpreet Kaur – ₹24–26 crore (active)

Can any active player overtake Mithali Raj in the future?

Yes. If Smriti Mandhana keeps her WPL salary, endorsements and performance going for another 5–7 years, she has a strong chance to overtake Mithali Raj’s net worth. Rising stars like Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma also have the tools to reach that level if they combine performance with smart branding and investments.