With huge pay and media coverage, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 rules the sports scene; Indian hockey players battle with financial imbalance and poor recognition despite their Olympic achievements. Whereas hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh makes only ₹78 lakh in the Hockey India League (HIL), IPL stars like Rishabh Pant earn ₹27 crore yearly. IPL’s ₹120 crore each franchise dwarfs the HIL’s ₹4 crore team budget. Media coverage is still limited and much smaller viewership. Players such as Savita Punia show annoyance over little sponsorships, underscoring the immediate need of improved financial backing and acceptance for Indian hockey.