India clinched the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy title in Dubai by defeating New Zealand, further cementing its dominance in white-ball cricket. The victory, following their T20 World Cup win last year, has sparked renewed discussions about India’s growing influence in the sport.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) holds significant sway over international cricket due to its financial power. Forbes estimates that India contributes nearly 80% of the ICC’s global revenue, making it the sport’s economic backbone.
This financial influence has raised concerns that ICC decisions are increasingly shaped by India’s interests. Although Pakistan was the official host of the Champions Trophy, India played all its matches in Dubai.
Due to political tensions, the Indian government barred its team from traveling to Pakistan. This decision meant India avoided long travel, unlike other teams. New Zealand, for instance, covered over 7,000 kilometers during the tournament.
Some Indian players acknowledged the advantage. Pacer Mohammed Shami admitted that staying in one place was beneficial, though head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed such concerns. Critics argued that accommodating India’s demands gave them an unfair edge.
India has previously benefited from scheduling changes. In the 2023 ODI World Cup, a last-minute pitch switch for their semi-final against New Zealand favored their spinners.
Similarly, during the T20 World Cup, their semi-final in Guyana was scheduled at a time suited to Indian TV audiences. West Indies legend Sir Andy Roberts criticized the ICC for prioritizing India’s interests.
He questioned how a team could avoid travel in a global tournament and accused the ICC of bending to India’s preferences. Veteran sports writer Sharda Ugra compared BCCI’s influence over ICC to the dominance of the USA in global affairs.
She highlighted how India’s financial strength allows it to dictate key decisions in cricket. While India’s talent ensures its competitiveness, growing concerns over fairness persist. If ICC prioritizes revenue over impartiality, the sport’s credibility could be at risk.
The question remains: is international cricket becoming unbalanced?
