As the Women's One Day World Cup kicks off with a much-anticipated clash between India and Sri Lanka, stark differences in the earnings of the two teams’ players have come under the spotlight. The income disparity between Indian and Sri Lankan women cricketers is significant, reflecting wider gaps in cricketing infrastructure and investment.

Sri Lankan women cricketers under contract with Sri Lanka Cricket earn between ₹3.51 lakh to ₹10.55 lakh annually, when converted from Sri Lankan rupees ranging from 1.2 million to 3.6 million. This comparatively modest sum highlights the limited financial incentives available for Sri Lankan female players.

In terms of match fees, Sri Lankan women receive approximately 66,657 rupees for playing an ODI or T20 game, which increases to about ₹84,318 with a win bonus. In stark contrast, Indian women cricketers earn about ₹6 lakh per ODI match—nearly 9 times the basic match fee paid to their Sri Lankan counterparts.

This vast earnings gap underscores the greater support and professionalization of women's cricket in India. Notably, Indian stars like Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur earn in a couple of matches what several Sri Lankan cricketers might make in an entire year.

The financial disparity also reflects broader differences in cricket development between the two countries—India’s investment in women's cricket has dramatically increased player salaries and match fees, helping attract and retain top talent in a way Sri Lanka has yet to match[Source].

As these two teams face off in the World Cup, the decisive performances on the field will highlight the ongoing evolution of women's cricket, even as the off-field inequalities persist