Ravi Shastri Pulls No Punches on ICC Revenue Share: “India Deserves Every Pound of Flesh – Just Look at the Numbers”
Sayuri YukiRavi Shastri asserts that India’s massive contribution to ICC television revenue justifies their claim to the largest share of earnings.
Ravi Shastri Defends India’s Major Share in ICC Revenue Distribution
Amid growing calls for a more equitable revenue-sharing model in international cricket, former India coach Ravi Shastri has strongly defended India’s dominant stake in ICC earnings. While critics have raised concerns over the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) receiving 38.5% of ICC revenues—far more than any other board—Shastri sees it as a fair reflection of India’s central role in sustaining the global cricket economy.
The current distribution model, adopted in 2023, heavily favors India over other Full Member nations, including traditional powerhouses like England, Australia, and Pakistan. However, Shastri believes that this disparity is justified by India’s overwhelming contribution in terms of audience size, media rights, and commercial value, notably driven by the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“Absolutely, I would want more,” said Ravi Shastri in an interview with Wisden. “Because most of the money that’s generated comes from India. So it’s only fair that they get their share of pound of flesh.”
He emphasized that the revenue dynamics are dictated by economic realities, pointing out that dominance can shift based on changing financial landscapes. “It’s relative, it’s economies. If tomorrow there might be another economy that’s stronger, money might come from there like it did in the 70s-80s, and the chunk of the money went somewhere else,” he added.
Ravi Shastri comments come at a time when several cricketing nations and analysts argue that such a skewed model could widen the financial gap and hinder the global growth of the sport. However, his perspective reinforces the view that India’s significant financial input entitles it to a proportionately higher return, even if it sparks ongoing debates about fairness and sustainability in international cricket’s economic structure.
*🗣️“When India travels, look at the television rights.” 📈
Ravi Shastri believes India deserve an even greater share of the ICC revenue 💰 [pic.twitter.com/aoPnYfPkZz*](https://t.co/aoPnYfPkZz)
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 26, 2025
Ravi Shastri argues overseas television income dependent on India
India’s dominant position in the ICC revenue distribution model continues to attract criticism, with many pointing to it as a sign of the BCCI’s growing political influence within the global cricketing body. While the financial power of Indian cricket—driven by an unmatched media market and a vast audience of over 1.4 billion—cannot be denied, detractors argue that this dominance has enabled India to shape ICC decisions disproportionately in its favor.
This includes the BCCI’s reported control over scheduling for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, and its persistent push to carve out a longer international window for the Indian Premier League (IPL), often at the expense of bilateral and global fixtures. Such influence, critics suggest, distorts the balance of power and sidelines smaller cricketing nations.
However, former India coach Ravi Shastri remains unapologetic in his support for India’s supremacy in both revenue and influence. Speaking to Wisden, Shastri emphasized the tangible financial uplift that Indian cricket brings wherever it goes, especially during overseas tours.
“When India travel, look at the television rights, look at the television income that comes for an India series,” he noted. “So it’s only fair that they get whatever they’re getting now, if not more.”
Shastri argued that India’s unmatched contribution to global cricket revenue justifies its share—and possibly even an increase—of the ICC’s financial pie. In his view, the sport thrives in proportion to India’s involvement, and as long as that remains true, the BCCI’s leverage is both natural and deserved.
His remarks highlight a continuing divide within world cricket—between those who call for more equal revenue sharing to grow the global game, and those who see India’s commercial dominance as an earned and essential cornerstone of the sport’s modern ecosystem.
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