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The mega auction for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25, as announced by the BCCI. Player registration closed on Monday, with a total of 1,574 cricketers (1,165 Indian and 409 overseas) registering for the event. The auction coincides with days three and four of the first Test match between India and Australia in Perth, which starts on November 22.

Each franchise will be able to form a squad of up to 25 players (including retained players), with a total of 204 slots available. This player pool comprises 320 capped players, 1,224 uncapped players, and 30 players from Associate Nations.

Among the capped players, 48 are from India, while 965 Indian uncapped players will also be available in the auction. High-profile Indian stars like Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Arshdeep Singh are expected to be part of this year’s event.

The 10 franchises collectively have around ₹641.5 crore available for the 204 slots, of which 70 are reserved for overseas players. Currently, 46 players have been retained by the 10 franchises at a total expense of ₹558.5 crore.

Each franchise was initially allocated ₹120 crore for building their squads. Following the retention process announced on October 31, the Punjab Kings have the largest remaining budget at ₹110.5 crore, having retained only two uncapped players, Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh, for ₹9.5 crore.

The Rajasthan Royals, led by Sanju Samson, have the smallest purse at ₹41 crore after retaining six players. The Kolkata Knight Riders have also retained six players, leaving them with a budget of ₹51 crore.

Mega IPL auction to take place in Saudi Arabia on Nov 24 and 25

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) published the 48-page detailed order approving the mega media merger of Reliance Industries and Walt Disney, entailing various conditions, including divestment of seven TV channels. Reliance expects to complete merger with Disney's India business in Q3. 

As part of seeking the regulator's approval, the parties have voluntarily agreed that they will not bundle TV ad slots for IPL, ICC and BCCI cricketing rights till the end of existing rights. Also, the parties will sell seven TV channels, including Hungama and Super Hungama.

Among other conditions, the companies have voluntarily agreed that they will not bundle together the TV ad slot sales for all three cricketing rights available with them — IPL, ICC and BCCI — for the remaining tenure of the existing rights.

"The parties will not bundle together OTT ad slot sales for all three cricketing rights available with the parties i.e. IPL, ICC and BCCI for the balance tenure of the existing rights," the 48-page order said.

The parties have given an undertaking that they will not increase the advertisement rates to an unreasonable level on their TV and streaming platforms for the ICC and IPL events till the current rights are held by them.

On August 28, CCI said it had approved the merger of media assets of Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Co to create the country's largest media empire worth over ₹70,000 crore.

The deal, announced earlier this year, had faced scrutiny by the anti-trust regulator, and the approval has come after the parties proposed certain modifications to the original transaction structure.

Reliance is all set to control over 60 per cent of the new combined unit — 16 per cent directly and 47 per cent via the Viacom18 Media business it largely owns — while 37 per cent goes to Disney. The combined entity will hold two streaming services and 120 television channels. Reliance owns Viacom18 Media and Digital18, and Disney controls Star India and Star Television.


Reliance-Disney merger: CCI releases 48 page order, parties agree to not bundle cricket ad slots

The Union Health Ministry has reached out to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to implement measures that prevent surrogate advertising of tobacco and alcohol products by athletes.

In a letter to BCCI President Roger Binny and SAI Director General Sandip Pradhan on Thursday, Dr. Atul Goel, Director of Health Services, requested both organizations to sign an anti-tobacco Declaration of Interest form. He also urged them to avoid promoting surrogate advertising of tobacco or alcohol products at events hosted by BCCI and SAI.

"BCCI is responsible for setting policies, guidelines, and a roadmap for the promotion and governance of cricket, keeping in mind the players and fans in India. Athletes, especially cricketers, are role models in society, particularly for young people, promoting a healthy, active, and productive lifestyle. It is disheartening to see some of the most well-known cricketers and famous actors involved in surrogate advertisements for tobacco and alcohol products during events like the IPL," Dr. Goel wrote to Binny.

He suggested that the Board issue directives to cricketers under its jurisdiction to refrain from surrogate promotion, partnership, or advertisement of tobacco-related products. The letter further stated, "It is hereby requested not to allow such surrogate advertisements during other BCCI sporting events, such as the IPL." Similar request have been made to the SAI Director General.

The government's position aligns with existing regulations under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). The letter comes amid growing public health concerns linked to tobacco use, with the Global Adult Tobacco Survey attributing nearly 1.35 million deaths annually to tobacco-related causes.

Health Ministry urges BCCI, SAI to avoid promoting surrogate advertising of alcohol & tobacco

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on July 30 informed the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that it is in initial settlement talks with Byju Raveendran to settle its dispute with Think and Learn Private Limited. As per reports, the company has transferred Rs 500 million to the cricket board. 

Byju's transferred Rs 500 million to the BCCI on Tuesday, reported Bloomberg, quoting people in the know. This is the first payment towards resolving the disagreement. 

Byju's has “almost resolved” the dispute over the unpaid fees with the BCCI, and will pay “a certain tranche of the money” by this evening, said Arun Kathpalia, the lawyer who was representing the ed-tech company in the court hearing, as per the news report. A BCCI lawyer also told the court that both the parties were in settlement talks.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for BCCI said "The matter may be heard tomorrow, they are in talks." The NCLAT accordingly adjourned the case to July 31.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the US-based lenders of the company, told the NCLAT that their plea was disposed of after the insolvency order and he is seeking to appeal the order.

The tribunal agreed to hear all the applications on July 31.

On July 29, justice Sharad Kumar Sharma of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) recused himself from hearing Byju's founder Byju Raveendran's plea challenging the order admitting the edtech startup’s parent Think and Learn to bankruptcy on a plea by BCCI.

The NCLT started bankruptcy proceedings against Think and Learn on July 16 on a Board of Control for Cricket in India's plea over the non-payment of Rs 158 crore.

Byju's to settle dues with BCCI, transfers Rs 500 million as first installment

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on July 30 informed the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that it is in initial settlement talks with Byju Raveendran to settle its dispute with Think and Learn Private Limited.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for BCCI said "The matter may be heard tomorrow, they are in talks." The NCLAT accordingly adjourned the case to July 31.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the US-based lenders of the company, told the NCLAT that their plea was disposed of after the insolvency order and he is seeking to appeal the order.

The tribunal agreed to hear all the applications on July 31.

On July 29, justice Sharad Kumar Sharma of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)  recused himself from hearing Byju's founder  Byju Raveendran's plea challenging the order admitting the edtech startup’s parent Think and Learn to bankruptcy on a plea by BCCI.

The NCLT started bankruptcy proceedings against Think and Learn on July 16 on a Board of Control for Cricket in India's plea over the non-payment of Rs 158 crore.


BCCI and Byju’s in settlement talks, NCLAT adjourns case till July 31


The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set a  cumulative base price of Rs 2,700 crore for the six associate and three special partner slots in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to reports, as outlined in the request for quotation (RFQ) document, each of the six associate partner slots carries a base price of Rs 65 crore per year for 74 matches, totalling Rs 325 crore over five years. The cumulative base price for all six associate partner slots amounts to Rs 1,950 crore for five years.


Additionally, the base prices for partnerships related to the orange and purple cap, umpire, and strategic timeout are set at Rs 60 crore, Rs 50 crore, and Rs 40 crore per year, respectively, for 74 matches. The combined base price for the three special partnership slots is established at Rs 750 crore for five years.

Interested parties can purchase the RFQ document until February 19, with bids required to be submitted by February 21.







BCCI sets Rs 2,700 crore base price for IPL associate and special partner slots



The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approached Supreme Court seeking its opinion on whether the sale of media rights falls under the purview of taxable ‘franchise services’ making it subject to service tax.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has requested responses from the Finance Ministry and the Commissioner of Service Tax, Mumbai, concerning the BCCI's appeals challenging a demand for payment of service tax totalling approximately Rs 250 crore, which includes penalties.

BCCI is of the opinion that their sale of media rights do not fall under ‘franchise services’ and hence they are not liable to pay service tax.  

Last year, the Bombay High Court directed the BCCI to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court regarding the imposition of service tax for the services provided by them under agreements with MSM Satellite (Singapore) Pte Ltd and World Sport Group (India) Pvt Ltd in 2008 and 2009. This pertains to the telecast of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches played on Indian soil.






BCCI approaches Supreme Court for opinion on taxability of media rights

Indian home appliances company Atomberg has signed up as a central sponsor with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a long-term deal. In order to take its association with cricket deeper, Atomberg has inked a deal with BCCI to make it an official partner for all India home cricket till June 2026. 

"Broadcast cricket has been a key media pillar of building brand Atomberg for the last two years and we have seen the power of cricket in catapulting both brand and business metrics," said Arindam Paul, Founding Member & Chief Business Officer of Atomberg Technologies Private Limited

Paul added that it is "Only apt that the association started with the women’s team’s dominant performance against the mighty Aussies in a year when we have the women’s T20 world cup." The deal covers 48 fixtures. 

In other BCCI updates, on January 3, BCCI officially announced the commencement of the Request for Quotation (RFQ) process for the acquisition of partnership rights for the Women’s Premier League.

The board also set a base price of Rs 1750 crore per year for Indian Premier League (IPL) title sponsorship rights spanning 74 matches over five years.

On 12 December 2023, the Governing Council of IPL invited bids for acquiring the title sponsor rights for seasons 2024-2028.

Home appliances company Atomberg inks a long-term sponsorship deal with BCCI

Briefly slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic, BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). revenue has made a strong comeback. BCCI has declared a substantial boost in its income for the current fiscal year, amounting to Rs 2,198.23 crore. This announcement was made during the BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM) convened in Goa on Monday, September 25.

Addressing the AGM, Treasurer Ashish Shelar said that BCCI's revenue for the fiscal year 2022-23 touched Rs 6,558.80 crore, marking a momentous upswing in the organization's earnings. The preceding fiscal year had witnessed a dip in revenue, primarily due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The cricketing calendar for 2021-22 was severely curtailed, with only three tournaments. 

In stark contrast, the domestic season of 2020-21 had operated at full capacity, except for a few junior tournaments such as the Under-16 category. 
The BCCI's robust financial recovery stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of cricket, now emerging from the shadows of the pandemic-induced slowdown.

During the AGM, the BCCI made some other significant decisions. They decided to end the practice where state associations paid extra money to guest players. Instead, professional players representing other member units will now receive only their match fees, like any other domestic cricketer. It's unclear if this rule will be implemented this season.

The cricket board also increased the annual grant to Rs 100 crore per year, with north-eastern state associations receiving Rs 12.5 crores annually and Pondicherry receiving RS 17.5 crores for cricket development in their regions.

Additionally, the tenure of their ombudsman and ethics officer, Justice Vineet Saran was also extended.  



BCCI rebounds with Rs 6,558.80 crore revenue for 2022-23 after Covid slowdown

The Indian Premier League (IPL) ecosystem has witnessed impressive growth, surging from Rs 87,000 crore in 2022 to Rs 92,500 crore in 2023, marking a 6.3 percent increase, as per a report by D&P India Advisory Services LLP. IPL has always been a blend of cricket, business, and entertainment and the 2023 edition was no different. 

This year marked also a significant change in the IPL's broadcasting landscape. The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) took a strategic step of splitting media rights between TV and digital platforms. This led to intense competition between Disney Star, the official TV broadcaster, and JioCinema, the OTT streaming partner. According to the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, Star Sports Network's IPL telecast garnered 505 million viewers, with a 427.1 billion minutes of watch time. On the digital front, JioCinema reported 449 million viewers, with over 126 million opting for connected TV.

Measuring the valuation

As per the report, IPL's valuation encompasses both franchise team owners and the BCCI. Revenue streams are split into central pool (media rights, sponsorships) and franchise-specific (team sponsorships, gate receipts, merchandise). The central pool, primarily from media rights, contributes 80-85 percent of total revenue. BCCI gets 50 percent of the central pool, with a 20 percent profit share from franchises. This leads to BCCI receiving 60 percent of the central pool and a fifth of franchise-specific revenues. However, in terms of margins, older franchises enjoy a 50 percent operating margin, while the BCCI boasts a 90 percent margin on their net revenue share.

Team valuation analysis

The IPL ecosystem, as per the report, is valued at USD 11.2 billion, with the BCCI accounting for 60-65 percent of it, while all IPL teams make up the remaining 35-40 percent. This means all franchises collectively are worth around USD 3.9-4.5 billion, averaging USD 390-450 million per team. Notably, the central pool constitutes 70-75 percent of each franchise's revenue, ensuring a relatively similar intrinsic value. The Mumbai Indians hold a value within the USD 410-450 million range, making them the most valuable IPL franchise in 2023.

Women’s Premier League (WPL) on a growth trajectory

The inaugural WPL edition is valued at Rs 1,250 crore (approximately USD 150 million), primarily due to lucrative media and title rights deals. Viacom 18 secured media rights for Rs 951 crore (Rs 7.09 crore per match), making it the second most valuable broadcast agreement for a women's sports league globally. The Tatas invested Rs 165 crore for the title sponsorship. Franchises' cumulative sale proceeds reached a remarkable Rs 4,670 crore, showcasing strong confidence in the league's future success.