Former international umpire Anil Chaudhary has revealed how much umpires earn during the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speaking on a recent podcast, Anil Chaudhary shared the match fees and payments officials receive, drawing attention to the financial rewards of officiating in the world’s biggest T20 league.
Chaudhary retired from professional umpiring in early 2025 after a distinguished 28-year career. Following his retirement from umpiring, he has moved into cricket commentary and podcast appearances. In March 2026, he also made his acting debut by featuring in the Haryanvi music video “Goli Toh Chalegi.”
It Is 4000 Dollars Per Match – Anil Chaudhary on IPL Umpires’ Earnings
Anil Chaudhary revealed that IPL umpires earn substantial match fees during the tournament. The former international umpire said an official can earn between ₹45 lakh and ₹50 lakh in a single IPL season, with higher payments for playoff and final matches.
“It is 4000 dollars per match. If you do playoffs, it is 6000 dollars. If you do final, it is 8000 dollars. Plus DA is around 6000 dollars,” Chaudhary said.
He also said that domestic umpires earn additional income outside the IPL. Chaudhary added that top officials can make another ₹20-25 lakh by officiating in domestic tournaments during the season.
“An average umpire who officiates in the IPL ends up earning around Rs 45-50 lakh in one season. Plus if you are doing domestic cricket and are one of the leading umpires, that is another Rs 20-25 lakh,” he added.
“You Get Around ₹8 Lakh” – Anil Chaudhary Reveals International Umpires’ Match Fees
Chaudhary also revealed how much umpires earn in international cricket. He said that officials receive fixed match fees for bilateral games, and their payment does not change even if a match is abandoned due to rain or other reasons.
“You get around Rs 2 lakh for a T20I game. Rs 8 lakh for a Test match. It does not matter if the match is abandoned,” he said. “The umpire’s payment will not be dependent on whether the match takes place or not.”
Anil Chaudhary Shares Views on India’s Top Captains 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 backed his instincts and was quick to take reviews, while Rohit Sharma became more selective and calculated with his decisions over time.
Chaudhary also praised MS Dhoni for his exceptional judgment while using DRS. He said that Dhoni’s calm approach and wicketkeeping position helped him make accurate decisions, although he recalled one rare occasion when even the former India captain got a review wrong.
Chaudhary retired from professional umpiring in early 2025. He made his T20I umpiring debut in October 2013 and officiated his first ODI a month later. He also served on the ICC International Panel of Umpires for more than a decade.
Anil Chaudhary is also the most experienced umpire in IPL history. He shares the record for the most on-field appearances with 131 matches and has officiated in 226 IPL matches across on-field and TV umpire roles.
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