How much does a full cricket kit cost for an adult beginner in India?

A full beginner kit for leather-ball cricket realistically runs ₹8,000-12,000 if you buy sensibly, not the absolute cheapest options. Roughly: a Kashmir willow bat around ₹2,000-3,000, batting pads around ₹1,500-2,500 for a decent entry pair, batting gloves around ₹1,200-2,000, an abdominal guard for maybe ₹300-500, and a helmet if you don't already have access to a shared one, which can add another ₹2,000-3,000. The box and the helmet are the two things I'd genuinely not cheap out on. A bad box is a real injury risk the first time you take an inside edge onto your body, and a proper helmet with a grille matters a lot more once you're facing genuine pace rather than tennis-ball bowling - the impact difference between a tennis ball and a cricket ball is bigger than people expect coming from casual games. On the bat and pads, mid-range is genuinely fine to start - you don't need premium gear to learn technique, and a lot of clubs have loaner kit for your very first few sessions if you want to confirm you'll stick with it before spending the full amount. I'd suggest borrowing or renting for your first two or three sessions, then buying once you know leather-ball cricket is something you want to keep doing regularly.