In a stunning display of her rising value, Deepti Sharma commanded ā¹3.2 crore from UP Warriorz during Thursday's WPL 2026 player auction, making her the headline purchase of the bidding event .
Despite this landmark achievement within the women's game, Sharma's earnings pale in comparison to the Indian Premier League's (IPL) top contracts, with Rishabh Pant's ā¹27.00 crore salary dwarfing Deepti's by nearly nine times .
The disparity stems from fundamental structural differences between the two leagues, including team purse sizes, broadcast revenues, and market maturity, even as the WPL demonstrates impressive year-on-year growth in commercial value and player salaries.
Record WPL Signing Amid Competitive Bidding
The 2026 WPL auction saw fierce competition for top talent, with 87 players finding teams and a total of ā¹40.8 crore ($6.99 million) spent across the five franchises . Deepti Sharma's return to UP Warriorz for ā¹3.2 crore made her the most expensive signing of the current auction, falling just short of Smriti Mandhana's record ā¹3.4 crore deal from 2023 .
Other notable acquisitions included:
- Amelia Kerr (New Zealand) - ā¹3 crore to Mumbai Indians
- Shikha Pandey (India) - ā¹2.4 crore to UP Warriorz
- Sophie Devine (New Zealand) - ā¹2 crore to Gujarat Giants
In a surprising turn, Australia captain Alyssa Healy went unsold during the marquee set, becoming the only player not purchased from that elite group . The auction also saw several England players, including Heather Knight, Amy Jones, and Sophia Dunkley, remain unpicked .
The IPL Comparison: A Different Financial Universe
When compared to the financial firepower of the IPL, the WPL's record salaries appear modest. The following table illustrates the stark contrast between the top purchases in both leagues:
Top Player Salaries Comparison
| League | Player | Team | Salary (ā¹ crore) |
| IPL | Rishabh Pant | (Retained) | ā¹27.00 crore |
| IPL | Various Top Players | Multiple | ā¹15-20 crore+ range |
| WPL | Smriti Mandhana | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ā¹3.40 crore |
| WPL | Deepti Sharma | UP Warriorz | ā¹3.20 crore |
The financial divide becomes even more apparent when examining the structural constraints under which each league operates:
Structural Differences Between IPL and WPL
| Parameter | IPL | WPL | Impact on Salaries |
| Team Purse Size | ā¹120 crore | ā¹15 crore | Limits maximum possible player bids |
| Teams | 10 franchises | 5 franchises | Reduced competitive bidding |
| Squad Size | Up to 25 players | 15-18 players | Smaller overall salary pool |
| Overseas Players | 8 in squad, 4 in XI | 6 in squad, 4 in XI | Similar international talent allocation |
| Media Rights | ā¹48,390 crore (2023-27) | ā¹951 crore (2023-27) | Vastly different revenue generation |
Why the Financial Gap Persists: Market Realities and Structural Foundations
The significant disparity in player salaries between IPL and WPL stems from several foundational factors:
Commercial Ecosystem and Market Maturity
The IPL launched in 2008 and has enjoyed nearly two decades of institutional investment, media attention, and brand development . This head start allowed the men's league to build massive viewership, with the 2023 IPL final attracting 505 million television viewers . In comparison, the WPL is only entering its fourth season in 2026, having been founded in 2023 . While the WPL is showing impressive growth—30 million viewers watched the first WPL 2025 match on TV—it remains early in its commercial development journey .
Revenue Generation and Distribution
The IPL's media rights value of ā¹48,390 crore for the 2023-27 cycle creates a financial ecosystem that supports higher player salaries . The WPL's media rights, while respectable at ā¹951 crore for the same period, represent just 2% of the IPL's broadcast revenue . This direct correlation between media rights income and player compensation capabilities explains much of the salary gap.
Institutional Investment History
Men's cricket in India has benefited from decades of institutional patronage, infrastructure development, and cultural reinforcement . As noted in commentary on women's cricket development, "Men's cricket did not become a commercial powerhouse on its own merit alone. It was built on years of institutional patronage, media attention, and cultural reinforcement" . The WPL represents a significant step toward creating similar institutional support for women cricketers, but requires time to mature.
Signs of Growth and Future Outlook
Despite the disparities, the WPL demonstrates strong upward trajectory and growing commercial confidence:
- New Sponsorships: The league recently added four new sponsors worth ā¹48 crore for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, including premium brands like ChatGPT and Kingfisher Packaged Drinking Water .
- Expanding Reach: The 2026 season will be held from January 9 to February 5 across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, continuing the league's geographic expansion .
- Increasing Valuations: The WPL has quickly become the world's premier women's cricket property and the second-most valuable women's sports league globally, behind only the WNBA .
The WPL's growth mirrors the development pattern of other women's leagues, such as football's Women's Super League in England, which saw club revenues increase 34% to £65 million in 2023/24 through enhanced commercial and matchday income .
Conclusion: Progress Made, But Parity Remains Distant
Deepti Sharma's record ā¹3.2 crore contract represents a significant milestone for the Women's Premier League and reflects the growing market value of elite women cricketers. Her achievement, alongside other high-value signings, demonstrates the league's accelerating commercial development.
However, the nine-to-one salary ratio between IPL's top earner Rishabh Pant and WPL's record holder Deepti Sharma underscores the considerable financial distance that remains. As the WPL continues to develop its audience, expand its franchise base, and negotiate future media rights, the gap will likely narrow.
For now, the WPL represents both the rapid progress of women's cricket in India and the long journey ahead before financial parity with the men's game becomes reality. The league's impressive growth trajectory suggests that future auctions may continue to push player salaries upward, gradually bridging the divide between the two premier competitions.
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