The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the richest cricket board in the world. We reiterate this because with its revenue reportedly surging to a staggering Rs 20,686 crore in the 2024 financial year (a breezy Rs 4,200 crore jump from 2023), BCCI has the strongest financial spine among all the cricketing boards in the world. And, there are 108 of them.
A significant chunk of this wealth comes from media rights, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) playing a starring role. Back in 2022, BCCI struck gold when Disney Star and Viacom18 secured IPL media rights for a jaw-dropping Rs 48,390 crore. Bilateral series media rights also contribute heavily to this financial juggernaut.
However, despite raking in billions, BCCI doesn’t pay a single rupee in income tax! It reportedly enjoys an exemption under Section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, which is reserved for charitable organisations. Yes, the BCCI is officially classified as a charitable entity under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, because its primary objective is to promote and develop cricket.
In 2021, the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) reaffirmed this, ensuring BCCI remains in the tax-free zone. However, before you raise an eyebrow, the board does pay GST (Goods and Services Tax) on IPL earnings. Over Rs 2,038.55 crore was deposited as GST in 2022-23 and 2023-24, as disclosed in Parliament.
While the IPL may enjoy a tax-free status, that doesn’t mean the government is missing out on its share of the revenue. In fact, it earns a substantial amount through Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) on players’ salaries.
During the 2025 mega auction, the 10 IPL teams spent a whopping Rs 639.15 crore to acquire top cricketing talent, with 120 Indian and 62 foreign players being picked by franchises. While these teams shelled out massive amounts, the government secured its cut through tax deductions.
According to the rules, Indian players have 10% TDS deducted from their salaries, whereas foreign players face a 20% TDS cut. As a result, despite IPL’s tax-free status, the government managed to collect a hefty Rs 89.49 crore in tax from IPL 2025 alone. This proves that while cricket’s grandest spectacle enjoys financial privileges, player salaries still ensure the government gets a significant share.