BCCI's Jay Shah announces Rs 25 lakh IPL award, but it's not for Kohli, Starc, or other star players

In recognition of their hard work, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced on Monday a reward of Rs 25 lakhs each for the groundsmen and curators of the 10 regular IPL venues and Rs 10 lakhs each for those at the three additional venues. This announcement celebrates their efforts in providing excellent pitches throughout the tournament.

Unsung Heroes of IPL 2024

Shah described the groundsmen and curators as "unsung heroes" who ensured the quality of pitches despite challenging weather conditions. "The unsung heroes of our successful T20 season are the incredible ground staff who worked tirelessly to provide brilliant pitches, even in difficult weather conditions," Shah posted on 'X'.

Reward Details

The groundsmen and curators at the 10 regular IPL venues—Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur—will receive Rs 25 lakhs each. Those at the additional venues—Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Dharamsala—will get Rs 10 lakhs each.

IPL Season 2024:

IPL-2024 concluded with the Kolkata Knight Riders defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The season saw high-scoring matches, with Sunrisers Hyderabad breaking the team total record twice, scoring 287 for three against RCB and 277 for three against Mumbai Indians. The 250-run mark was surpassed eight times this season.

Past Recognitions

This is not the first time Shah has rewarded pitch curators and groundsmen. Last year, as president of the Asian Cricket Council, he announced a cash reward of USD 50,000 for Sri Lanka's pitch curators and groundsmen during the Asia Cup. After IPL-2022, he awarded Rs 1.25 crore to the curators and groundsmen of all six IPL 2022 venues.