BCCI’s bank balance has surged to ₹20,686 crore, with ₹14,627 crore added in five years. Here’s how cricket’s richest board keeps cashing in.
If cricket were a game of runs on the pitch and rupees in the bank, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would be smashing sixes out of the stadium—every single ball.
Yes, while batters chase milestones and bowlers hunt wickets, the BCCI has been busy growing a bank balance that now stands at a jaw-dropping ₹20,686 crore. That’s not a typo. And no, it’s not the GDP of a small island nation—though it very well could be.
Punchy one-liner: The BCCI isn’t just running cricket. It’s running cricket like a Fortune 500 company.
From ₹6,059 Crore to ₹20,686 Crore: The Five-Year Rise
In 2019, the BCCI’s bank balance stood at ₹6,059 crore. By March 2024, it had soared to nearly ₹20,686 crore, adding a colossal ₹14,627 crore in just five years.
And this growth came despite heavy spending on infrastructure, cricket development, and welfare initiatives. Clearly, when the IPL is your side hustle, you’re never short on cash.
The General Fund Glow-Up
The general fund nearly doubled, jumping from ₹3,906 crore in 2019 to ₹7,988 crore in 2024. Officials attribute this surge to a cocktail of IPL revenues, ICC shares, investment returns, and prudent financial management.
Translation: When your investments make crores while your tournaments rake in billions, life is good.
Revenues, Surplus, and a Few Bouncers
Of course, even for the BCCI, it’s not all champagne showers.
- Surplus: FY 2023–24 brought in ₹1,623 crore, up from ₹1,167 crore the previous year.
- Media Rights: This one took a hit. Revenues from home matches fell from ₹2,524 crore in FY 2022–23 to just ₹813 crore in the last fiscal year. Why? Fewer series played in India.
- Investment Returns: A bright spot. Returns almost doubled from ₹533 crore to ₹986 crore in a single year.
Experts suggest that while broadcasting revenues fluctuate, IPL money and smart investments keep the BCCI comfortably cushioned.
Allocations: Where the Money Goes
It’s not all about hoarding. The BCCI has been making some high-profile allocations:
- ₹1,200 crore earmarked for infrastructure development.
- ₹350 crore for the Platinum Jubilee Benevolent Fund, supporting former players and officials.
- ₹500 crore for grassroots cricket development.
- Nearly ₹2,000 crore distributed to state associations last year, with similar figures projected for FY 2024–25.
Think of it as the BCCI’s version of corporate CSR—except with way more zeros.
Tax Obligations and Legal Overs
With great wealth comes great… tax bills. The AGM report clarified that ₹3,150 crore has already been provisioned for income tax liabilities for FY 2023–24.
While disputes over earlier assessments are still pending, the BCCI insists it is fully compliant with financial regulations.
Basically, they’re making advance payments to avoid penalties—because even the richest cricket board doesn’t like facing LBWs from the Income Tax Department.
IPL: The Billion-Dollar Engine
The IPL is the financial MVP here. With its valuation crossing $10 billion, the tournament is a money-printing machine. Broadcasting rights alone have fetched astronomical sums, and the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has also started adding serious value.
The IPL isn’t just a cricket league. It’s the goose that lays golden eggs every summer, and those eggs are bigger than ever.
The Global Clout Factor
The BCCI’s financial might doesn’t just secure Indian cricket’s future. It cements India’s dominant role in world cricket.
With India’s matches driving global broadcasting revenues and IPL money setting benchmarks, the BCCI is no longer just a cricket board. It’s an economic powerhouse central to the sport’s global affairs.
As one analyst joked: “If cricket were Wall Street, the BCCI would be Goldman Sachs.”
Why This Matters
Cricket is not just about bat and ball anymore. It’s about balance sheets, business models, and billion-dollar valuations. The BCCI’s ability to juggle investments, taxes, and player welfare while still growing its reserves highlights a system that’s both profitable and sustainable.
So, what do you think? Should the BCCI pump even more into grassroots cricket, or keep fattening its reserves? Share your thoughts below, pass this article to your cricket-crazy friends, and let’s keep this conversation going.
After all, when cricket’s richest board makes moves, the entire sport listens.
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