Former international umpire Anil Chaudhary has revealed how much umpires earn during the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speaking on a podcast recently, Anil Chaudhary shared the match fees and payments that officials receive, drawing attention to the financial rewards of umpiring in the world’s biggest T20 league.
Chaudhary retired from professional umpiring in early 2025 after a distinguished career of 28 years. After retiring from umpiring, he has become involved in cricket commentary and podcasts. In March 2026, she made her acting debut by starring in the Haryanvi music video “Goli To Chalegi”.
It’s $4000 per match – Anil Chaudhary on IPL umpires’ earnings
Anil Chaudhary revealed that IPL umpires earn handsome match fees during the tournament. The former international umpire said an official can earn between ₹45 lakh to ₹50 lakh in an IPL season, with higher payouts for playoff and final matches.
“It’s $4000 per match. If you make the playoffs, it’s $6000. If you make the finals, it’s $8000. Plus the DA is around $6000,” Choudhary said.
He also said that domestic umpires earn additional income outside the IPL. Choudhary said top officials can earn an additional ₹20-25 lakh by umpiring in domestic tournaments during the season.
“An average umpire officiating in the IPL earns around Rs 45-50 lakh a season. Plus if you are doing domestic cricket and are one of the leading umpires, it’s an additional Rs 20-25 lakh,” he said.
“You get around ₹8 lakh” – Anil Chaudhary reveals match fees of international umpires
Chaudhary also told how much umpires earn in international cricket. He said officials receive fixed match fees for bilateral games and there is no change in their pay even if matches are canceled due to rain or other reasons.
“You get around Rs 2 lakh for a T20 match. Rs 8 lakh for a Test match. It doesn’t matter if the match gets cancelled,” he said. “The umpire’s pay will not depend on whether the match takes place or not.”
Anil Chaudhary shares views of India’s top captains on DRS
During the same podcast, Chaudhary also shared his views on how India’s top captains used the Decision Review System (DRS). He said that Virat Kohli often follows his instincts and is quick to pick up reviews, while Rohit Sharma has become more selective and calculated with his decisions over time.
Chaudhary also praised MS Dhoni for his exceptional decision while using DRS. He said Dhoni’s calm attitude and wicketkeeping position helped him take accurate decisions, although he recalled a rare occasion when the former Indian captain also got his review wrong.
Chaudhary retired from professional umpiring in early 2025. He made his T20I umpiring debut in October 2013 and officiated in his first ODI a month later. He also served on the ICC International Umpire Panel for over a decade.
Anil Chaudhary is also the most experienced umpire in IPL history. He shares the record for most appearances on the field with 131 matches and has umpired 226 IPL matches on the field and in TV umpire roles.
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