The new cricket season has begun, and the world’s two most-watched T20 leagues are once again facing off—but not in the way you might expect.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is currently in full swing, and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) began recently on April 11. Both competitions promise spectacular fireworks, pivotal moments, and world-class performances.

But, beneath all the drama and six-hitting turmoil, supporters can’t help but wonder: which league is genuinely putting more money in the coffers of its champions? It’s not a tight battle.  Not even remotely.

Let’s get right to it. When it comes to prize money, the IPL, which has been running for 17 years, is on another planet.  The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) isn’t shy about flaunting its financial might, and the 2025 edition of the IPL shows that.

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The champion?  They will receive a whopping ₹20 crore, or almost $2.4 million USD.  The runner-up receives ₹13 crore (about. $1.56 million), while teams finishing third and fourth earn ₹7 crore and ₹6.5 crore, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the PSL, the numbers aren’t quite on par.  The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has declared that the 2025 PSL champions will receive $500,000, equivalent to about PKR 14.07 crore.

The runner-up will receive $200,000 (about PKR 5.62 crore).  And that’s it.  There are no additional payments or awards for placing third or fourth—only a heightened focus on the final.

To be clear, this is not a criticism of the PSL.  The league’s viewership and popularity continue to grow, with 150 million digital views expected by 2024.  But what about the IPL?  It included 620 million.  And with a broadcast rights agreement worth $6.2 billion vs PSL’s $36 million, the gap is understandable.

So, while both leagues guarantee top-tier cricket, when it comes to paying champions, the IPL outperforms the competition.