A cousin of mine started playing cricket at 27 during the pandemic. He walked into a big-chain shop and walked out ₹42,000 poorer with a kit that included things he still hasn't touched — an inner glove for wet weather (Delhi in June?), a thigh guard he wore backwards for a month, and a chest guard he tried once and hated. If I had been on the other end of a WhatsApp chat that day, he'd have been kitted for under ₹18,000, with better basics and none of the regret.
The honest way to buy your first kit is in three levels — spread across seasons, not shopping trips. Level 1 is the non-negotiable day-one list. Level 2 is what you add once you know you're going to keep playing. Level 3 is the upgrade path for when cricket becomes serious. Every rupee below is what a real Indian shop actually charges in 2026 — not what a marketplace listing says before it discounts to sell you the wrong thing.
Level 1: The day-one starter kit (₹8,000–₹12,000)
If you're just starting — weekend cricket, twice-a-week nets, or joining a corporate team — this is the whole list. Don't add anything to it. Play a season, then upgrade what actually broke or bruised you.
- Kashmir willow bat — ₹2,500–₹4,500. Do not buy English willow yet. You will bang this bat up learning to middle the ball, and you won't feel the "ping" difference between grades until your technique catches up. Kashmir willow is honest wood at an honest price.
- Batting pads — ₹1,500–₹2,500. Look for club-level pads with HDF foam. Sized to your height, not one number bigger.
- Batting gloves — ₹900–₹1,800. Sausage-finger padding, PU palm. Size to your hand length — too big and the padding lands in the wrong place on impact.
- Abdominal guard (box) — ₹250–₹500. Non-negotiable. Not "for match days only". Every net session. Every time.
- Cricket shoes — ₹1,800–₹3,500. Rubber-stud sole if you're playing across surfaces. See our shoes guide for spike vs rubber decisions.
- Helmet — ₹1,500–₹2,500. BS7928:2013 certified, no cheaper. Read why helmet certification matters before you compromise on this.
Level 2: Add after your first season (₹4,000–₹6,000)
You've survived a season. You're still turning up for nets. Here's what to add now — and only the ones that match the injuries you've actually had:
- Thigh guard set (outer + inner) — ₹700–₹1,200. The moment you start facing anything above 110 kmph, you'll want this. Don't wear the inner one backwards like my cousin did.
- Arm guard — ₹400–₹700. If you've been hit on the forearm even once, add this. You will get hit again.
- Elbow guard — ₹400–₹700. For the leading (front) arm. Common at club level, especially against short-pitched bowling on turf.
- Chest guard — ₹1,200–₹2,000. Genuinely optional. Some batters find it restrictive; some feel unprotected without it. Try it, decide honestly.
- Kit bag (wheelie) — ₹1,500–₹3,500. Once your gear starts getting heavy, a wheelie bag saves your shoulder on match-day. Skip the shoulder duffel — it looks smart, breaks backs.
Level 3: The upgrade path (when you're serious)
If you're playing 30+ innings a season and averaging above 20, you've earned some upgrades. The moves that make a real difference:
- Upgrade to a Grade 2 or Grade 1 English willow bat (₹9,000–₹18,000). See our bat buyer's guide for how to pick.
- Buy a second bat — one for matches, one for nets. Your match bat lasts twice as long.
- Titanium-grille helmet (₹5,000+) — noticeably lighter, doesn't rust in humid seasons.
- Two pairs of batting gloves — rotate so sweat can dry between sessions. Doubles the life.
- Cricket whites and metal spikes if you've moved onto turf pitches.
The three things nobody tells beginners
1. A bat cover is not optional
A ₹200 bat cover extends your bat's life by half a season. It stops the toe from getting scuffed against your kit bag zip, and it keeps humidity off the willow between matches.
2. Buy proper cricket socks
Cricket socks — thick, cushioned, over-the-calf — prevent blisters and let your pads sit properly against your shin. Regular ankle socks slide down; pads dig into your calf; you play the season with sore legs for no reason. Spend ₹400 on two good pairs.
3. A small towel and a water bottle live in your bag forever
Gripping a wet bat handle in humid weather is how bats slip out of hands and injure fielders. Wipe your hands between overs. The towel weighs 60 grams. Carry it.
The full day-one shopping list
How Royal Cricket Shop actually helps
Message us on WhatsApp with three things: your height, your age or age group, and the surface you'll mostly play on. We send back a full day-one list with photos, sizes, and price options at both ends of your budget — with genuine notes on where to save and where not to. If a pad or glove doesn't fit when it arrives, we swap it within 7 days. That's how we've kitted out our own kids, our neighbours' kids, and a lot of first-timers who thought cricket gear was more expensive than it needs to be.
Cricket is our flagship. Football is our newer offering — if you're also picking up football boots or a match ball at the same time, we'll fit them into the same order and delivery.