I received a message today from a player well into his Indian contract. He wasn’t ignoring anything. He just wasn’t educated on how quickly the INR can shift. The move happened quietly, and before he realised it, a big part of his salary had been eroded.

Today he is down $40,000 in four weeks.

His question was simple.

“Is the rupee doing terrible, or is the problem the Aussie dollar?”

It is a fair question. The real answer is that it is not just the AUD. The Indian Rupee has been weak across the board and every major currency has pushed higher. When you look at the charts, the story becomes very clear.

AUDINR has broken out after a 4 percent move in 4 to 6 weeks and more than 13 percent this year.

USDINR has surged to record highs. The USD strength in 2025 has pushed emerging market currencies under pressure and the INR has been no exception.

EURINR is trending the same way. Higher highs. Strong momentum. A clear upward trend.

GBPINR is breaking out as well. The same pattern. The same squeeze. The same impact.

When you pull all of this together, you see the real issue.

It is not one currency. It is the entire picture.

Anyone earning in INR and converting back out to AUD, USD, EUR or GBP has lost between 8 and 20 percent of their contract value this year.

That is a massive hit to your take home earnings.

A few simple drivers.

1. INR weakness

The rupee has been soft through 2025. US economic strength and capital flows into the USD have created pressure across most emerging market currencies.

2. USD strength helping the entire group

When the USD strengthens, it often lifts AUD, EUR and GBP through correlation and global sentiment. That has created broad pressure on INR.

3. AUD receiving a fresh boost

Recent Australian CPI came in hotter than expected. Markets shifted their expectations and the AUD picked up momentum. That move added to the pressure for anyone in the AUDINR pair.

This combination has created a perfect storm for athletes taking contracts in India. Salaries that looked lucrative on paper are suddenly worth a lot less when converted back home.

When players move overseas, they focus on the club, the opportunity, the lifestyle and the contract figure.

What they forget to look at is the exchange rate that decides the real value of that contract.

A contract worth 150k or 250k can drop 15 percent in a matter of months.

A million dollar package can drop 80k to 150k without the player doing a single thing wrong.

Currency swings silently eat away at your salary.

Unless you have a plan.

Here are the exact strategies I use with players, agents and families.

1. Get paid in USD when possible

Many Indian clubs will agree to this. USD is more stable. You can hold it in a currency account and convert when it suits you. It creates flexibility and protection.

2. Use a forward contract when you sign

This locks in your exchange rate and protects your contract value. If your deal is worth 250k or 500k or more, protecting the value is essential. You protect your income before the market has a chance to take a slice of it.

3. Run the numbers on the risk

Before you sign, look at the currency pair. Look at the one year and three year range. Understand what a negative move could cost you. Most players never do this. It can make or break your season financially.

4. Get educated

If you know how to look at a chart, understand the ranges and levels, and know when a move is likely, you are already ahead. Technical levels give your triggers. Strategy gives you clarity.

India is becoming a bigger market for foreign players. Salaries are improving. Opportunities are growing. But the currency risk is serious and it affects every single player who takes an offer there.

If you are an athlete, an agent, or a family member supporting someone playing in India, think about what losing 10 to 20 percent of a contract actually means.

Rent. Savings. Family support. Travel. Training.

All of it gets squeezed.

And it is completely avoidable.

If you want help protecting your contract or planning around INR exposure, book a call.

Do not wait until the market has already taken the money from you.

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