The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the Vijay Hazare Trophy added extra excitement to India’s premier domestic one-day tournament. While the competition does not carry the glamour or massive pay cheques of the Indian Premier League, it remains one of the most prestigious events in India’s white-ball calendar — and the presence of two modern legends only amplified fan interest.
Even though both star cricketers are centrally contracted with the BCCI, their earnings from the Vijay Hazare Trophy are modest compared with the crores they receive through the IPL and international cricket. As per the 2025–26 pay framework, player fees in the tournament are fixed and based strictly on domestic List A experience.
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26: Match-Fee Structure
Unlike the auction-driven IPL, salaries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy are standardized. Players fall into categories depending on how many List A matches they have played:
Senior Category (over 40 List A matches)
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Playing XI: ₹60,000 per match
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Reserves: ₹30,000 per match
Mid-Level Category (21–40 matches)
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Playing XI: ₹50,000 per match
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Reserves: ₹25,000 per match
Junior Category (0–20 matches)
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Playing XI: ₹40,000 per match
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Reserves: ₹20,000 per match
Because Rohit (Mumbai) and Kohli (Delhi) both have long domestic and international resumes, they fall into the senior bracket. That means each receives ₹60,000 per game, the same as any other experienced domestic cricketer. For comparison, each of them earns about ₹6 lakh per ODI under BCCI’s central contract structure.
Additional Earnings
Players in the Vijay Hazare Trophy can also earn beyond the standard match fee through:
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Daily allowances covering travel, meals and stay
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Performance awards, including ₹10,000 for the Player of the Match
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Prize money shares for teams progressing to knockouts and finals
For their appearances — and strong performances — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli each earned ₹60,000 per match, plus an additional ₹10,000 each for Player-of-the-Match performances in games against Sikkim and Gujarat respectively.
While the financial rewards may not rival international cricket, their participation gave the tournament a major boost — and highlighted how even India’s biggest stars value domestic competition.