Indian cricket legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are currently making headlines not just for their performances, but also for their participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, one of the most prestigious domestic one-day tournaments in the country. Seeing two of India’s biggest international stars feature in domestic cricket has drawn massive crowds to stadiums, with fans eager to watch their heroes in action. Alongside their on-field presence, discussions around how much Kohli and Rohit earn in the Vijay Hazare Trophy have also gained attention.

Importance of the Vijay Hazare Trophy

The Vijay Hazare Trophy holds a special place in India’s domestic cricket structure. It is the premier List A tournament and plays a key role in grooming talent for the national side. While the competition features many young and emerging players, the inclusion of experienced internationals like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma adds immense value, both in terms of quality and fan interest.

Despite their global stardom, the tournament follows a structured and uniform payment system. Unlike international cricket or franchise leagues, players in the Vijay Hazare Trophy are paid based on experience rather than popularity or reputation.

How Match Fees Are Decided

According to tournament regulations for the 2025–26 season, player payments in the Vijay Hazare Trophy are determined by the number of List A matches they have played in their careers. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has divided players into three broad categories: senior, mid-level, and junior.

This system ensures fairness and consistency across teams, with players earning match fees purely on the basis of experience and participation.

Earnings of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma fall into the senior category, which includes players who have featured in more than 40 List A matches. Given their extensive international and domestic careers, both comfortably meet this criterion.

Under the current structure, senior-category players earn ₹60,000 per match when they are part of the playing XI. If they are named in the squad but do not play and remain on the reserve bench, they receive ₹30,000 for that match.

This means that for every Vijay Hazare Trophy match they play, Kohli and Rohit earn ₹60,000—the same amount as any other senior domestic cricketer with similar experience, regardless of international stature.

Match Fees for Other Players

The payment structure also covers mid-level and junior players:

• Mid-level category: Players who have played between 21 and 40 List A matches fall into this group. They earn ₹50,000 per match when playing and ₹25,000 if they are part of the squad but not in the playing XI.

• Junior category: Cricketers with 20 or fewer List A matches are classified as juniors. These players receive ₹40,000 per match when they play and ₹20,000 when they remain on the bench.

This tiered system is designed to reward experience while still ensuring that younger players receive meaningful compensation as they build their careers.

Comparison With International Match Fees

While ₹60,000 per match may seem modest considering the stature of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the contrast becomes clearer when compared to their international earnings. For One Day Internationals, BCCI reportedly pays senior Indian players approximately ₹6 lakh per match. This highlights the vast difference between domestic and international match fees.

However, domestic tournaments like the Vijay Hazare Trophy are not primarily about financial gain for established stars. For players like Kohli and Rohit, participation is often driven by match practice, fitness, form assessment, and contributing to domestic cricket’s growth.

More Than Just Match Fees

It is also worth noting that earnings in domestic cricket are not limited to match fees alone. Players under central contracts, endorsements, and team arrangements continue to earn through other channels. For senior players, domestic appearances are as much about maintaining rhythm and setting an example for younger cricketers as they are about compensation.

Final Takeaway

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has once again highlighted the importance of domestic cricket in India. Despite being among the highest-paid cricketers in the world, both stars earn the same match fee as any other senior domestic player—₹60,000 per match—under the tournament’s experience-based payment system.

Their presence reinforces the value of domestic competitions and sends a strong message about respecting the structure that forms the backbone of Indian cricket.