SPORTS bcci Albert August 19, 2025 0 Comments

Beyond the Runs and Wickets | Why the BCCI is the Most Powerful Force in World Cricket (And What it Means for You)

Pull up a chair. Let’s talk about something we all love: Indian cricket. We talk about Virat’s cover drive, Bumrah’s yorker, and the sheer joy of a win against Australia. But behind every single ball bowled, every contract signed, and every series scheduled, there’s a giant, unseen force at play. An entity so powerful it makes other international sports bodies look like local clubs.

I’m talking, of course, about the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The BCCI .

Here’s the thing. Most of us see the BCCI as just a logo on a jersey or a name that flashes on the screen. But to truly understand modern cricket, you have to understand the BCCI. And I don’t just mean knowing who the president is. I mean understanding why a decision made in a Mumbai office can make the English and Australian cricket boards rearrange their entire summer. It’s not magic. It’s a masterclass in power, money, and leverage. Let’s peel back the layers.

The Billion-Dollar Engine | Why Money is Just the Starting Point

Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. The BCCI is unbelievably, staggeringly rich. When they sold the IPL media rights for the 2023-2027 cycle, the deal was worth over ₹48,000 crore. Let me rephrase that. That’s not the board’s total worth; that’s just one deal for one tournament’s broadcast rights. This financial might dwarfs what almost all other cricket boards earn combined.

But the real question isn’t that they have money. It’s why, and what that money buys.

The “why” is simple: You. And me. And a billion other Indians. We are the largest, most passionate, and most commercially lucrative cricket audience on the planet. Broadcasters like Disney Star and Viacom18 are willing to pay astronomical sums because they know that when the Indian cricket team plays, the nation stops. This audience is the BCCI’s golden goose.

So, what does this money buy? Influence. Pure and simple.

It allows the BCCI to effectively control the world cricketing body, the ICC . Take a look at the latestICC revenue sharingmodel. The BCCI is set to take home roughly 38.5% of the ICC’s net earnings. The next highest, the ECB (England), gets about 6.8%. It’s not even a competition. The justification is that India generates the lion’s share of the revenue, so it deserves the biggest piece of the pie. And when you have that kind of financial leverage, you get to call the shots on everything from tournament scheduling to rule changes.

“We Are Not the Government” | The BCCI’s Masterstroke of Autonomy

This is where things get really fascinating, and it’s a point that flies under the radar for most fans. What if I told you that the body controlling the biggest sport in India isn’t technically a government entity?

It’s true. The BCCI is a private society, registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act. It has consistently resisted efforts to be classified as a National Sports Federation (NSF) under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. I initially thought this was just a legal technicality, but then I realized it’s the very foundation of their power.

So what does this autonomy actually mean?

No RTI: The BCCI does not come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which makes its internal workings, like selection meeting minutes or detailed expense reports, largely opaque to the public.
Freedom from Government Rules: It isn’t bound by government regulations on things like the tenure of its officials or election processes, which has led to long-standing power structures. (Though the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee tried to change this with significant reforms).
Financial Independence: It doesn’t take any money from the Indian government. This is a point the board often highlights to justify its independence.

This “private body” status gives the Indian cricket board incredible flexibility and protects it from the kind of political interference other sports federations in India often face. It’s a double-edged sword, of course. This lack of public accountability has been the source of countless controversies, but from a purely operational standpoint, it allows the board to function like a nimble, private corporation rather than a slow-moving government department.

The IPL Effect | How a T20 League Became a Global Power Play

If the BCCI is a kingdom, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is its crown jewel, its army, and its foreign policy all rolled into one. It’s impossible to overstate the impact of the IPL on the BCCI’s global standing. It’s so much more than a cricket tournament.

Before the IPL, international cricket was the only game in town. Now, for two months every year, the cricket world revolves around India. This has fundamentally shifted the balance of power.

Think about it. The world’s best players from Australia, England, South Africa all want a slice of the IPL pie. The contracts are life-changing. This gives the BCCI immense leverage. If another cricket board wants to schedule a series during the IPL window, they simply can’t. The best players in the world are unavailable. The IPL has created an unofficial, but universally respected, window in the international calendar. It’s a testament to the league’s gravity. It’s no longer a domestic tournament; it’s a global cricketing festival hosted by India.

This is soft power at its most effective. The BCCI doesn’t need to strong-arm other boards into submission; the allure of the IPL does the work for them. It’s the ultimate bargaining chip, solidifying India’s position at the center of the cricketing universe.

What This Power Means for You, the Indian Cricket Fan

Okay, so the BCCI is powerful and rich. But how does that affect us, the people cheering from the stands or glued to our TV screens?

Let’s be honest, it’s a mixed bag.

The Good: The money pouring into cricket in India means we have some of the best stadiums in the world. It funds a robust domestic structure, like the Ranji Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Player salaries, from the international stars to domestic workhorses, are better than ever, making cricket a viable and attractive career. The Indian team gets the best coaching staff, sports scientists, and facilities imaginable. This financial muscle is a key reason for our team’s consistent success over the last two decades. For a great example of team performance, you can see how teams like LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders are doing.

The Not-So-Good: With great power comes great… well, a tendency to do whatever you want. The board’s decisions, steered by powerful figures like the BCCI President and BCCI Secretary , can sometimes feel opaque and disconnected from the fans. Player workload is a massive concern, with a relentless schedule of international cricket packed around the IPL. Sometimes, it feels like the reverence for Test cricket gets sidelined in the commercial blitz of T20s. The fan experience at stadiums, despite the money, can often be a frustrating ordeal of ticketing issues and poor facilities. Check out how fans engage with teams like Universitario vs Palmeiras .

At the end of the day, the BCCI’s power is our power. It’s derived from our collective passion. The board is simply the custodian of the financial windfall that our love for the game generates.

Frequently Asked Questions About the BCCI

What is the full form of BCCI?

The full form of BCCI is the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Is the BCCI a government body?

No, this is a common misconception. The BCCI is a private, autonomous society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. It is not a government body and does not receive government funding.

Who is the current BCCI President?

The current BCCI President is Roger Binny, a former Indian cricketer who was part of the 1983 World Cup-winning squad. The key positions often change after elections.

How does the BCCI make so much money?

The BCCI’s primary sources of income are from selling media and broadcasting rights for the Indian cricket team’s matches (both home and away) and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Other major sources include team sponsorships (like the jersey sponsor), series sponsorships, and its share of ICC revenue.

Why is the IPL so important to the BCCI?

The IPL is the BCCI’s single largest source of revenue. Beyond the money, it gives the board immense global influence by attracting the world’s best players, creating a dedicated window in the international calendar, and making India the undisputed commercial hub of world cricket.

So, the next time you watch a match, remember the complex machinery working behind the scenes. The BCCI isn’t just an administrative body; it’s a financial behemoth, a political powerhouse, and the engine room of modern cricket. Its story is a fascinating tale of how a sport became an industry, and how one nation came to dominate it completely. For better or for worse, when the BCCI makes a move, the entire world of cricket has no choice but to watch.