After India's CT success, is BCCI's influence over ICC too big to ignore?
India were crowned 2025 ICC Champions Trophy winners in Dubai by defeating New Zealand. The victory reaffirmed India's dominance in white-ball cricket, following their T20 World Cup triumph last year.
However, beyond the on-field success, concerns about the power India wields in the sport—particularly through the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its financial influence—have again come into focus.
The Indian market contributes an estimated 80% of the ICC's global revenue, making it the financial backbone of international cricket as per Forbes.
This commercial dominance translates into significant influence over ICC decision-making, with critics arguing that the sport's governance increasingly caters to India's interests. The ICC Champions Trophy has only reinforced those concerns.
Despite the tournament being officially hosted by Pakistan, India played all their matches in Dubai, never leaving their team hotel while other sides crisscrossed thousands of kilometres. The decision stemmed from political tensions between India and Pakistan, with the Indian government refusing to allow its players to travel to the host nation.
It was a decision that many, including Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta, admitted was an advantage.
While the ICC and its chairman Jay Shah, the former Secretary of the BCCI, were left with few alternatives, critics argue that accommodating India's demands gave them an unfair advantage.
A tournament built around one team?
New Zealand, India's opponents in the final, logged over 7,000km in travel throughout the tournament. In contrast, the closest India came to boarding a flight was Kuldeep Yadav's celebration after dismissing Rachin Ravindra.
Even within India's camp, opinions were divided—while Mohammed Shami admitted the fixed location "definitely" helped, head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed such claims.
The debate over India's influence in global cricket is not new. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, a last-minute switched pitch for India's semi-final against New Zealand favoured India's spinners, while their T20 World Cup semi-final in Guyana last year was scheduled at 10:30 am local time to accommodate Indian TV audiences.
Even in this tournament, South Africa had to fly to Dubai for a group match on a Sunday—when Indian viewership is at its peak—only to return to Pakistan within 24 hours.
West Indies legend Sir Andy Roberts did not hold back in his criticism, stating, 'India can't get everything. How can a team not travel during a tournament? It's not fair, it's not cricket.'
He further accused the ICC of prioritising India's interests, remarking, 'If India says no no-balls and wides, the ICC will find a way to satisfy them.'
A growing divide in the Cricketing World
Beyond concerns of fairness, there is also unease over the sport's wider competitive landscape. The ICC has increased the frequency of global white-ball tournaments, ensuring an ICC event every year until 2031.
While this was meant to counterbalance the financial might of franchise leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), these tournaments are beginning to follow a predictable pattern.
The absence of written journalists from semi-finalist nations Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand at the Champions Trophy points to waning interest and apathy outside of India. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also came under scrutiny, as no representatives attended the final to present the trophy—a move that Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar called "beyond understanding."
The future of cricket's global balance
India's depth in talent ensures they would be strong contenders regardless of where tournaments are held. But when a team enjoys home-like advantages in an event hosted by their biggest rival, the perception of fairness in international cricket is inevitably questioned.
Such is the opinion of veteran sports writer Sharda Ugra. "In Cricket, they (BCCI) calls the shot on everything becuase they can," said Ugra. She talked about India's overall influence on the cricketing world, due to its huge financial contribution in ICC's overall yearly revenue.
"The BCCI is like the USA of cricket," says Ugra in her criticism of its influence over ICC.
While India's financial influence is undeniable, the concern remains: is the ICC prioritising the integrity of the sport, or is it simply safeguarding its biggest revenue source?
Cricket remains a global game, but if one nation's commercial power dictates its future, the risk of apathy among fans and players alike may be a bigger threat than any rival team.
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