BCCI’s projected surplus hits record levels
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is poised for its most profitable financial year yet. With strong earnings from international hosting, media rights, and ICC events, the board has forecast a record net surplus for the 2025–26 fiscal. Much of this boost is attributed to the successful hosting of the Asia Cup, which delivered a sizable addition to the board’s earnings despite being played in the UAE.
According to BCCI’s annual budget for 2025–26 — a copy of which is in possession of the Times of India — the board expects to record a net surplus of around ₹6,700 crore (approx. US$761.4 million).
Hosting the 2025 Asia Cup has proven especially lucrative for the board, adding over ₹100 crore (approx. US$11.4 million) to its coffers despite the tournament’s relocation to the UAE due to political tensions with Pakistan.
“(There is an expected) increase in surplus from international tours by Rs 109.04 crore (approx. US$12.4m) due to Asia Cup hosting fees, rights fees income and ICC T20 World Cup participation fees. (There is expected) increase in surplus of media rights by Rs 138.64 crore (approx. US$15.8m) due to higher number of international home matches, increase in per match media rights fees & Asia Cup hosting income,” the BCCI 2025–26 budget document, as reviewed by TOI, stated.
Tenfold growth in eight years
The projected ₹6,700 crore (approx. US$761.4 million) surplus represents a tenfold increase from 2017–18, when BCCI posted ₹666 crore (approx. US$75.7 million) before the 2018 mega IPL media rights deal. Since then, the board’s financial position has strengthened significantly, even as it faces challenges with declining IPL valuations.
A report from D&P Advisory noted that the IPL’s valuation has dropped by about ₹16,000 crore (approx. US$1.8 billion) over the last two years following the merger of broadcasters Jio and Star. The ban on real-money gaming apps, a key source of sponsorship, has further strained the tournament’s commercial growth.
IPL’s share remains dominant
Despite the concerns, the IPL remains BCCI’s biggest revenue engine. Of the total ₹6,700 crore (approx. US$761.4 million) projected surplus, nearly ₹5,000 crore (approx. US$568.2 million) is expected to come from the IPL. However, the board has reduced its reliance on the league compared to earlier years by expanding media rights deals and securing a larger ICC revenue share.
The budget document noted: “For 2025-26, the allocation ratio is 20% to BCCI, 76% to IPL and 4% to WPL, whereas in the budget for 2024-25, this ratio was 24% to BCCI, 72% to IPL and 4% to WPL based on budgets.”
This diversification marks a significant improvement since 2018–19, when the IPL contributed 95% of BCCI’s ₹2,100 crore (approx. US$238.6 million) surplus.
Spending highlights: Women’s cricket and development programs
On the expenditure front, BCCI has allocated ₹96 crore (approx. US$10.9 million) for women’s domestic cricket in 2025–26 — only 26% of the surplus generated by the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which continues to deliver profits exceeding ₹350 crore (approx. US$39.8 million) annually. The men’s domestic cricket budget stands at ₹344 crore (approx. US$39.1 million), including ₹111 crore (approx. US$12.6 million) for the Ranji Trophy.
The board has also significantly boosted developmental spending, tripling its investment in India A and junior cricket programs to ₹42 crore (approx. US$4.8 million), up from ₹12.9 crore (approx. US$1.5 million) last year. This move aims to revive the robust pipeline of young talent that had slowed after 2021, when Rahul Dravid moved from the National Cricket Academy to coach the senior team.
Revenue share and incentives
The BCCI has reduced its Gross Revenue Share (GRS) distribution to ₹171 crore (approx. US$19.4 million) for 2025–26, down from ₹412 crore (approx. US$46.8 million) the previous year. The board has earmarked ₹45 crore (approx. US$5.1 million) for Test match incentives — a slight decline from ₹48 crore (approx. US$5.5 million) last year. Traditionally, 26% of GRS is allocated to players, split evenly between international and domestic cricketers.
A strong financial outlook amid evolving challenges
While the record ₹6,700 crore (approx. US$761.4 million) surplus underlines BCCI’s financial strength, concerns remain over the long-term impact of IPL’s shrinking valuation and limited reinvestment in women’s cricket. Nevertheless, strategic diversification, higher ICC revenues, and growing media rights income suggest that India’s cricket board is well-positioned to maintain its dominance in global cricket economics.
