Professor Mayank Shrivastava, a faculty member at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has stirred up a viral discussion on social media by comparing the Indian Premier League (IPL) to global trends in countries like the US and China.
“Every year, the Indian Premier League (IPL) dazzles the world. Stadiums packed, ads pouring in billions — a financial ecosystem buzzing with unmatched energy. But sometimes I wonder: what if even a part of this juggernaut was taxed and redirected towards research and innovation? What if IPL earnings helped build India’s future, not just entertainment?” said Shrivastava.
Consider the numbers: In IPL 2023, the BCCI recorded a massive ₹5,120 crore surplus, with total income touching ₹11,770 crore—thanks largely to soaring media rights. Looking ahead, projections for IPL 2024 and 2025 estimate annual revenues in the range of ₹12,000 to ₹13,500 crore. And this represents just a fraction of the broader IPL earnings ecosystem.
“Yet, BCCI enjoys income tax exemptions under charitable status. IPL franchises — many owned by billionaires — also benefit from favorable tax treatments on capital gains. Players’ salaries are taxed individually, but franchise profits and BCCI revenues largely escape corporate taxation. If a simple 40% tax applied just on BCCI’s IPL profits, nearly ₹15,000 crores could have been raised over three years — enough to fund 10 new IITs or a national deep-tech innovation corpus.
Add franchise profits (₹800–₹1,200 crore/year), and another ₹320–₹480 crores could be collected annually. In total, nearly ₹6,000 crores per year could be redirected into research, just from the IPL ecosystem,” added Shrivastava.
“India doesn’t lack money. Indians don’t lack money. What we lack is the vision to invest in the future. Businessmen wired for quick returns dominate. True entrepreneurs — those willing to build ecosystems patiently — are rare. Research, innovation, fundamental tech development are seen as “high-risk, low-return” exercises, not nation-building investments. Countries like the U.S., China, Germany built wealth by first funding science. We are trying the opposite — seeking wealth without building foundations,” said Shrivastava.
“I’m not against sports or entertainment. They are vital. But priorities matter. Vision matters. A nation’s destiny is shaped by what it chooses to reward — and what it chooses to neglect. Entertainment keeps the present alive. Research builds the future. It’s time India starts rewarding not just quick fame, but future builders,” said Shrivastava in a post on LinkedIn.