The financial gap between the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has become a major talking point in world cricket. With PSL expanding to eight teams and franchise numbers going public, the difference in team valuations, prize money, and player earnings shows just how far apart these two leagues are.
Here is the latest and corrected 2026 comparison, with full depth and accuracy
WPL vs PSL: Full Financial Comparison Overview
| Category | WPL | PSL |
|---|---|---|
| Highest Team Price | ₹1289 crore | ₹59 crore |
| Lowest Team Price | ₹757 crore | ₹11 crore |
| Highest Player Salary | ₹3.50 crore (Smriti) | ₹2.57 crore (Warner) |
| Winner Prize Money | ₹6 crore | ₹4.13–₹4.31 crore |
| Runner-up Prize | ₹3 crore | ₹1.65–₹1.72 crore |
| Semifinalists | ₹1 crore | ₹0.77 crore |
| Expansion Value | Extremely High | Low |
| Commercial Strength | Very High | Moderate |
| Global Audience | Fast growing | Regional |
WPL vs PSL: Latest Financial & Structural Comparison (2026): WPL is only three seasons old but already stands among the world’s most valuable cricket leagues. PSL remains a competitive men’s T20 league with strong cricketing quality, but its franchise pricing and financial numbers remain much lower. The difference became clearer after the 2026 PSL franchise auction.
1. Team Valuations: WPL Far Ahead of PSL
WPL Franchise Prices
These are among the highest in women’s sports globally.
| WPL Team | Price (INR) |
|---|---|
| Gujarat Giants | ₹1289 crore |
| Mumbai Indians | ₹912 crore |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | ₹901 crore |
| Delhi Capitals | ₹810 crore |
| UP Warriorz | ₹757 crore |
Lowest WPL team costs ₹757 crore, still far above PSL’s most expensive team.
PSL 2026 Franchise Prices (New Teams)
PSL added Hyderabad and Sialkot ahead of the 2026 season.
| PSL Team | Price (PKR / USD / INR) |
|---|---|
| Sialkot | PKR 1.85B ≈ $6.55M ≈ ₹59 crore |
| Hyderabad | PKR 1.75B ≈ $6.2M ≈ ₹56 crore |
Both PSL teams combined (₹114 crore) cost less than 10% of one WPL team.
Lowest PSL Team Price
| Team | Valuation |
|---|---|
| Quetta Gladiators | ₹11 crore |
Key Takeaway
- WPL’s lowest-priced team (₹757 crore) is 13 times higher than PSL’s highest-priced new franchise (₹59 crore).
- Some IPL or WPL players earn nearly half the cost of an entire PSL team.
Read Also: ISPL 2026 Schedule, Venue, Teams, Squads, Captains
2. Player Salaries: WPL Stars Earn More Than PSL’s Best
The salary gap is one of the clearest differences between the two leagues.
Highest-Paid Players (Corrected Figures)
| League | Player | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| WPL | Smriti Mandhana | ₹3.50 crore |
| PSL | David Warner | ₹2.57 crore |
WPL’s highest salary > PSL’s highest salary
Smriti Mandhana alone earns more than PSL’s top international pick
WPL Salary Highlights
- Jemimah Rodrigues – ₹2.2 crore
- Deepti Sharma – ₹2 crore+
- Simran Shaikh – ₹1.9 crore
Many WPL players now earn more than PSL’s local stars.
PSL Salary Highlights (2026 Draft)
- Overseas Platinum category: ₹2–3 crore range
- Warner at ₹2.57 crore was the highlight signing
- Local stars remain significantly lower than WPL’s top earners
3. Prize Money: WPL Gives Bigger Rewards
WPL Prize Money
| Position | Prize (INR) |
|---|---|
| Winner | ₹6 crore |
| Runner-up | ₹3 crore |
| Semifinalists | ₹1 crore |
PSL Prize Money
| Position | Prize (INR Equivalent) |
|---|---|
| Winner | ₹4.13–₹4.31 crore |
| Runner-up | ₹1.65–₹1.72 crore |
| Semifinalists | ₹0.77 crore |
WPL winners and runner-ups earn more than PSL winners and runner-ups.
WPL semifinalists earn more than PSL semifinalists.
4. Revenue, Viewership & Market Strength
Why WPL Generates Higher Revenue
- Very high viewership across India
- Premium sponsorship demand
- Strong digital engagement
- BCCI’s commercial strength
- Franchise owners with massive budgets
WPL has quickly become the world’s second-most valuable women’s sports league.
PSL Revenue Challenges
- Broadcast rights are significantly smaller
- Security concerns impacted some matches
- Overseas player participation reduced due to scheduling
- Investor confidence remains limited
Although PSL is highly competitive on the field, its financial ecosystem is much smaller.
6. Why the Gap Is So Big
BCCI’s Financial Power: India’s cricket market is massive, lifting WPL team valuations and salaries.
Stronger Media Rights: WPL’s TV and digital deals are worth many times more than PSL’s.
Bigger Sponsorship Market: Indian brands invest heavily in cricket, boosting team and player earnings.
Auction Model vs Draft Model: WPL’s auction promotes higher bidding wars, increasing salaries.
Conclusion
The numbers clearly show that WPL is now financially much bigger than PSL. From team ownership costs to player salaries and prize money, WPL’s growth has been astonishing. PSL remains a strong cricketing league with great talent and fan support, but commercially, it cannot match WPL’s scale.
FAQs
1. Which league is financially bigger, WPL or PSL?
WPL is far bigger in team price, prize money, revenue, and player salaries.
2. Does WPL really have teams worth more than PSL teams?
Yes. WPL’s lowest team costs ₹757 crore, while PSL’s top new team is priced near ₹59 crore.
3. Who is the highest-paid player across these leagues?
Smriti Mandhana earns ₹3.5 crore in WPL. David Warner earns ₹2.57 crore in PSL.
4. Why are PSL teams so cheap compared to WPL?
The commercial market in Pakistan is much smaller, and investor bidding is lower.
5. Will the gap grow in the future?
Yes. WPL is expanding its market rapidly and attracting global attention
