How much salary do the cheerleaders who dance on fours and sixes get? Know the whole truth about the fees and luxury facilities for one match.

New Delhi. The 19th season of IPL will start from March 28. The final will be played on 31 May. While on the field the players are in the news for bidding crores of rupees and showering runs, on the other hand, the cheerleaders who boost the enthusiasm of the spectators outside the boundary are also an integral part of 'cricket-tainment'. But have you ever wondered how much money these professionals who spend hours of energy in the stadium get for a match? Are their earnings limited to dance only or is there something more to the story of the facilities they get? Let us understand this 'glamour economics' of IPL with figures. There is no 'fixed salary' for cheerleaders in IPL. According to media reports, their fees depend on which franchise they are associated with. Every team has its own budget and method of payment.

Shahrukh Khan's team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is considered to be at the forefront in terms of paying cheerleaders. KKR pays its cheerleaders around Rs 24,000 to Rs 25,000 per match. These two big teams Mumbai Indians and RCB are also not lagging behind in this race. She gives around Rs 20,000 per match to her cheer squad. In Chennai Super Kings (CSK), this amount is around Rs 17,000 per match. Among other teams, teams like Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals pay between Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 as base match fee.

Not just match fees, there are also plenty of bonuses and allowances
The match fee is just the beginning. The real earnings of cheerleaders are linked to their performance and the victory of the team. If their team wins the match, many franchises give them an additional bonus of Rs 3,000 per match. There is a huge demand for these professionals even outside the field. They get Rs 5,000 to Rs 12,000 per session separately for corporate events, sponsored parties and promotional photoshoots. If the entire season (including playoffs) is included, a cheerleader can easily earn Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

Five Star Facilities and 'Net Savings'
Even though this amount may seem less in comparison to the players, the thing to note is that the personal expenses of cheerleaders are almost zero. The franchisees bear all their 'lifestyle' expenses, including stays in luxury five-star hotels, air travel expenses, daily food allowance and medical insurance and security. This means that the match fee they receive is their 'net saving'.

Rigorous selection process and global recognition
Becoming a cheerleader is not just about dancing, but one has to go through a rigorous selection process. Most of the performers in IPL come from countries like Russia, Ukraine, Brazil and America. However, in the last few years there has been a 30 per cent increase in demand for Indian dance squads, who are now introducing regional dances like Bhangra and Lavani to the IPL stage.