The Pakistan Super League (PSL) started 8 years after the Indian Premier League (IPL). While the PSL has six teams, the IPL features ten. Let’s explore the differences between these two leagues, IPL vs PSL, to see how they compare in terms of teams, players, and overall fan experience.
Popularity of T20 Cricket Leagues
In the last ten years, T20 cricket leagues have gained worldwide popularity. Leagues like the IPL, Big Bash League (BBL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and PSL have attracted top players and a large fan base.
Fans often debate which league is better IPL or PSL mainly due to the cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan. Whenever these two teams meet in international matches, they draw huge audiences.
The IPL began in 2008, and the PSL was established later, in 2016. With six teams in the PSL and ten in the IPL, fans often wonder which league is superior. Let’s examine this further.
Salary Structures: IPL vs PSL
Importance of Salaries
High salaries in T20 tournaments are essential for players as they ensure financial stability. Players are often away from home for months, so their willingness to participate depends on the salaries they receive. While both leagues offer good pay, there is a significant difference in the salary structures.
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PSL Salary Categories
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offers five contract categories for PSL players, ranging from Platinum, the highest level, to Emerging, the lowest. A player’s salary is based on their category.
During the PSL draft, teams can choose up to three players each from the Platinum, Diamond, and Gold categories, five from Silver, and two from Emerging and Supplementary categories. Each category has a salary cap:
- Platinum: $130,000 – $170,000
- Diamond: $60,000 – $80,000
- Gold: $40,000 – $50,000
- Silver: $15,000 – $25,000
- Emerging: $7,500
- Supplementary: $50,000
In the IPL, there are no such categories, and there are no limits on player salaries. Each team has a budget for the auction, and players have a minimum base price. The minimum base price for registered players is ₹20 lakh.
Top Players in PSL 2024
In the 2024 PSL, 17 players are in the Platinum category, including Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and Fakhar Zaman, all earning between $130,000 and $170,000 (approx. ₹1.7 crore to ₹1.40 crore).
Top Players in IPL 2024
In contrast, the highest-paid player in IPL 2024 is Mitchell Starc, who was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹24.75 crore. Other top earners include Pat Cummins (₹20.50 crore), Sam Curran (₹18.50 crore), Cameron Green (₹17.50 crore), and KL Rahul (₹17 crore).
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Prize Money Comparison
The IPL generally offers much higher prize money than the PSL, reflecting their financial scale and global viewership differences.
- PSL 2023:
- Winners: Lahore Qalandars – PKR 120 million (approx. ₹3.40 crore)
- Runners-up: Multan Sultans – PKR 48 million (approx. ₹1.36 crore)
- Top run-scorer and wicket-taker: PKR 3.5 million each (approx. ₹14.86 lakh)
- IPL 2023:
- Winners: Chennai Super Kings – ₹20 crore
- Runners-up: Gujarat Titans – ₹12.50 crore
- Top run-scorer and wicket-taker: ₹10 lakh each
Prize Money Overview (Last Four Seasons)
| Year | IPL Winner | IPL Prize | PSL Winner | PSL Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | ₹20 crore | Karachi Kings | ₹3.5 crore |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | ₹20 crore | Multan Sultans | ₹3.5 crore |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | ₹20 crore | Lahore Qalandars | ₹3.5 crore |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | ₹20 crore | Lahore Qalandars | ₹3.5 crore |
Media Rights and Brand Value
The financial differences between the IPL and PSL are also clear in their media rights deals. In 2017, IPL’s global media rights sold for $2.55 billion (approx. ₹17,000 crore) for five years, while PSL’s rights fetched $36 million (approx. ₹300 crore) for three years in 2019.
Recently, PSL’s media rights for 2024 and 2025 were sold for $6.3 billion (approx. ₹52,000 crore), surpassing IPL’s five-season rights from 2022 to 2027, which were valued at $6.2 billion (approx. ₹51,000 crore).
The brand value also differs greatly. The IPL’s current brand value is about $10.7 billion (approx. ₹88,000 crore), while the PSL’s is estimated at $330 million (approx. ₹2,700 crore). Despite PSL’s progress, it still trails far behind the IPL, which is one of the most valuable cricket leagues globally.
“I don’t think any league can compete with the IPL, but if there is any league that stands behind it, it has to be the PSL.”
— Wahab Riaz on IPL vs. PSL
Cricketers’ Opinions
Many cricketers have shared their thoughts on whether the IPL or PSL is better.
Wahab Riaz mentioned on a YouTube channel, “The IPL has all the top international players. You can’t compare IPL with PSL; IPL is on a different level. Their organization and player drafts are unique. However, the quality of bowlers in the PSL is very high, and that’s why it doesn’t have many high-scoring games.”
Usman Khawaja stated during Australia’s tour of Pakistan in 2022, “PSL is a world-class league, but IPL is the best. There’s really no comparison. Players from all over the world go to IPL, and Indian players play there, so the debate ends. Other leagues like PSL, BBL, and CPL are also quality leagues, and everyone wants to play in them.”
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