In a historic development, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has taken a big and necessary step for its players. In fact, MCA has decided to introduce a proper contract system for Mumbai’s domestic cricketers from the 2026-27 season.
The state association took this bold decision to help players working hard in domestic cricket but not getting chances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or the India national cricket team. Now, this historic move will finally give them some financial support and stability.
Mumbai players will get annual contract, MCA took a bold step
According to the Indian Express report, the Mumbai Cricket Association has divided the players into three categories – Grade A, Grade B and Grade C. Grade A players will earn between ₹12 lakh to ₹20 lakh per year, while Grade B players will get ₹8 lakh to ₹12 lakh.
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Grade C players will get ₹8 lakh annually from MCA. This is the first time that a state union in India has come up with such a contract system. This structure has been introduced mainly for those players who have been performing brilliantly in domestic tournaments but are still not getting the big opportunities.
MCA president Ajinkya Naik said, “We had earlier promised that MCA will bring in the contract system, and we have finalized it in the last Apex Council meeting. A lot of thought has gone into it, and we have tried to cover each and every area. Not all players get a chance to play in the IPL. This contract will help many of the players of today who play all formats of the game for Mumbai.”
Strict rule set contract system; Mumbai players ready for financial incentives
However, there are some basic rules for joining the annual contract system of Mumbai Cricket Association. A player must be registered with the MCA and fit as per its fitness standards.
Also, players who have played for India or been part of the IPL team in the last two seasons will not be eligible. The selection committee will also recommend the players before giving them contracts.
In 2024, the Mumbai Cricket Association decided to pay Ranji Trophy players the same match fees as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The board pays players around ₹40,000 to ₹60,000 per day, and the MCA also pays a similar amount.
Therefore, Mumbai players earn money from both BCCI and Mumbai Cricket Association for each match, and now this contract system is a great reward for their hard work.
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Wankhede set to host MI vs PBKS IPL 2026 clash
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, managed by the Mumbai Cricket Association, is currently getting ready for the big IPL 2026 game between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday, April 16.
However, the Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai team is struggling and is unable to find the right team combination. They have lost their last three matches and are currently in ninth place with just one win.
On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings is performing very well. They have not lost a single match so far, have won three matches, while one match against KKR was lost due to rain.
