By 2030, the game might look nothing like it does now – at least according to Lalit Modi, who started the Indian Premier League and once led it. The money involved? Possibly staggering. Instead of today’s Rs 125 crore player purse per team seen in IPL 2026 plans, he expects a jump well beyond seven times that amount within four seasons. Not just small growth. A shift so large it reshapes contracts entirely. Big names on field may pocket close to Rs 150 crore for one year alone. Numbers like these weren’t even imaginable earlier. Yet here they stand, suggested as near-future reality
One glance at how much players earn shows something clear. Teams face strict spending limits when hiring talent. Expect the total pot for salaries in an IPL season to hit about USD 100 million – around Rs 932 crore. This sets the ceiling per franchise. Top performers, active across sixteen matches, might pocket one million dollars per match. One thing’s clear: the leading trio – or maybe four – on any squad will earn around fifteen to sixteen million each year. That kind of pay is coming, no question about it. By 2030? Absolutely, says he during his time on The Overlap Cricket.
Punjab Kings kept their streak alive on Thursday during IPL 2026, reaching the target with room to spare after strong half-centuries from Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer. Seven wickets down they finished, handing Mumbai Indians yet another loss – now four straight. Batting with flow and timing, both openers set the tone early. The result stung harder for Mumbai, still searching for form. Each boundary added pressure, building momentum fast.
Out of nowhere, de Kock slammed 112 not out while Dhir chipped in with 50, stitching together 132 for the third wicket to steady Mumbai’s ship early. Still, their total of 195 for six felt light despite the flat pitch playing into Punjab’s aggressive batting rhythm
Out of nowhere, Prabhsimran took charge when Jasprit Bumrah failed to strike, giving away 41 runs without reward. A routine catch slipped through fingers at a crucial moment, letting Mumbai feel the heat later on. Then came a blistering knock – 80 unbeaten runs from just 31 deliveries, laced with eleven boundaries and two maximums. At the other end, captaincy met form as Iyer clicked again, reaching 66 in 35 balls, mixing five fours with four towering sixes. Together, they built something solid – a 139-run partnership for the third wicket that shifted momentum firmly their way.
PBKS reached their target with room to spare, finishing at 198 for 3 off just 47.5 overs. Their chase of 196 ended early, twenty-one deliveries left unused when they crossed. Mumbai’s bowling once again fell short as a group effort failed to contain. Only Allah Ghazanfar stood out, picking up two wickets while giving away thirty-one runs
