The upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises a thrilling competition, but the prize money for the victorious team, despite a 53% increase from the previous edition, is still less than the IPL paychecks of top Indian cricketers Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer.
The winning team of the Champions Trophy will take home a prize of $2.24 million (approximately ₹20.8 crore), which is part of the total prize pool of $6.9 million. This marks a substantial increase from the 2017 edition, where the winner earned ₹13.6 crore. The runners-up will receive ₹10.4 crore, and losing semi-finalists will be awarded ₹5.2 crore each.
However, the prize money for winning the Champions Trophy, even with the assured participation funds and match victories, falls short of the lucrative IPL contracts secured by Pant and Iyer. Rishabh Pant became the highest buy in IPL auction history when Lucknow Super Giants acquired him for ₹27 crore, while Shreyas Iyer fetched ₹26.75 crore from Punjab Kings. Venkatesh Iyer, also a sought-after IPL player, was bought for ₹23.75 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders.
Despite the increased prize pool, it is evident that IPL contracts are far more financially rewarding for Indian cricketers, reflecting the growing commercialization and global appeal of the IPL.
The Champions Trophy will be a highly competitive event with the world’s top eight ODI teams, including India and Pakistan, participating. Matches will be held across Pakistan’s cities of Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, marking the first global cricket tournament hosted by the country since 1996.
