The new pay structure is set to be very lucrative for playing staff as the country’s Test stars will have the chance to earn double what they did before.

Indian cricketers who are in the playing XI will now earn Rs. 15 lakh (approx AED 82,800) per match while those on the bench will earn Rs. 7 lakh (approx AED 38,600).

Previously, players earned Rs. 7 lakh (first eleven) and Rs. 3.5 lakh (approx AED 38,600) (reserves) per Test.

Commenting on the new pay structure, BCCI President Anurag Thakur – as quoted by Cricbuzz – said: “I have always maintained that we need to do more for Test cricket and cricketers both, and this is the first step in that direction.”

The Indian team are currently playing New Zealand in the second Test of a three-match Test series at Eden Gardens, Kolkata – and the hosts won the first Test at Kanpur by 197 runs.

A series win against the Blackcaps will take India back to the number one spot in the ICC Test Rankings.

The Kolkata Test is the second of 13 Tests that India will play this home season. After three Tests against New Zealand, Virat Kohli’s men will face England in a five-match Test series which will be followed by one Test against Bangladesh and four Tests against Australia.