Comparison · IPL vs Saudi Pro League
IPL vs Saudi Pro League: what the same contract pays after tax
On a $2,500,000 contract, a mid-market IPL player keeps about $1,156,680 and a mid-market Saudi Pro League player keeps about $2,375,000. Saudi Pro League pays $1,218,320 more for the identical headline number.
The same money in six markets
| League | Club | Market | Keeps | Net on $2.5M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | India | 54% | $1,156,680 |
| IPL | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | India | 54% | $1,156,680 |
| IPL | Delhi Capitals (DC) | India | 54% | $1,156,680 |
| Saudi Pro League | Al Hilal SFC | Saudi Arabia | 95% | $2,375,000 |
| Saudi Pro League | Al Khaleej FC | Saudi Arabia | 95% | $2,375,000 |
| Saudi Pro League | Al Raed | Saudi Arabia | 95% | $2,375,000 |
IPL runs from 54% to 54% depending on the market; Saudi Pro League runs from 95% to 95%. The spread inside a league is usually larger than the gap between leagues.
What the league takes before tax
| Deduction | IPL | Saudi Pro League |
|---|---|---|
| Agent commission cap | 7% | 5% |
| Escrow withheld | — | — |
| Agent fee on $2.5M | $175,000 | $125,000 |
These come off the top, before any income tax. The agent commission gap alone is worth $50,000 on this contract.
Why the difference exists
Tax geography does most of the work. IPL's clubs sit in India, while Saudi Pro League's sit in Saudi Arabia. Where a club plays decides the state or national rate, and that rate is charged on the full salary rather than only the portion earned at home.
That is why the best market in the worse-paying league can still beat the average of the better-paying one — a point worth checking before treating either league as uniformly better.