IntelScoops

July 31, 2025

In the past two decades, no entity has reshaped international cricket more profoundly than the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Once a regional board competing for influence, the BCCI today stands as the sport’s financial superpower — a position many argue it has used not only to rule, but also to risk ruining the global integrity of the game.

Rise to Power

The BCCI’s transformation began in the early 2000s with the explosive growth of Indian television rights and sponsorship deals. As India’s economy liberalized and cricket viewership soared, the board gained unprecedented commercial clout. Media deals, particularly with Star Sports and Sony, soon netted billions, dwarfing the incomes of other national cricket boards.

However, it was the launch of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 that became the true turning point. The franchise-based T20 tournament, flush with celebrity owners and lucrative broadcasting rights, redefined cricket’s financial model. By 2015, India contributed an estimated 70-80% of the ICC’s revenue. Influence followed money.

Controlling the ICC

With financial dominance came political power within the International Cricket Council (ICC). India, along with England and Australia — the so-called “Big Three” — engineered a revenue-sharing model in 2014 that disproportionately favored them. Though revised under pressure, the BCCI continues to wield outsized authority in scheduling, policy-making, and tournament hosting.

The BCCI’s influence also determines bilateral series, as nations reluctant to toe its line have seen tours delayed, shortened, or ignored. Pakistan, despite strong fan demand, remains isolated from India in bilateral formats due to geopolitical and political considerations. Smaller cricket boards often concede ground for fear of losing fixtures — and revenue.

The Politics Within

Domestically, the BCCI has been mired in allegations of opacity and political interference. The board is often chaired or influenced by politicians or politically connected figures. The current leadership continues this trend, blurring the line between governance and government.

The Supreme Court of India attempted reform through the Lodha Committee recommendations in 2016, which sought transparency, term limits, and cooling-off periods. But implementation has been partial at best, with many reforms diluted or delayed.

“Candle and Coin” Cricket

Critics also lament the “commodification” of cricket under BCCI’s reign — where revenue trumps sporting spirit. Test cricket, once the game’s pinnacle, is increasingly sidelined in favor of IPL windows and T20 leagues. National schedules are designed to protect franchise commitments, and player burnout has become commonplace.

Terms like “candle cricket” (short-lived, marketable formats) and “coin cricket” (driven by commercial deals) have entered public discourse. Legends of the game have voiced concerns over cricketers prioritizing leagues over national duty — a shift attributed largely to the IPL’s cultural and financial dominance.

Global Fallout

The ripple effects are global. Emerging cricket nations struggle to gain prominence or secure fixtures, as their financial value to the BCCI is limited. Even established cricketing boards like South Africa and the West Indies have adapted their domestic schedules around IPL commitments to avoid losing players.

The recent expansion of franchise ownership, with IPL teams buying stakes in South African, Caribbean, and American leagues, has raised fears of a monopoly ecosystem where a few Indian corporations control the careers — and destinies — of global cricketers.

Conclusion

India’s cricket board has every right to celebrate its business acumen and success in popularizing the sport. Yet, with great power comes greater responsibility — one many feel the BCCI has ignored. Instead of lifting the global game, it has created a gravitational pull so strong that every other stakeholder risks being reduced to a satellite in its orbit.

Until cricket’s governance is rebalanced in the interest of the sport — not just the market — the question remains: is the BCCI the savior of cricket, or its most powerful threat?