How India Killed British Monopoly to become the godfather of Cricket? : Business case study
Executive Summary
A Think School business case study, recorded in March 2025, on how the BCCI went from a poor body that the presenter says sent players abroad on cargo ships with a tiny allowance to the most powerful body in world cricket. He covers the 1952 England tour allowance, the 1987 Reliance World Cup, the 1990s television rights shift after the Doordarshan arrangement, the 2008 launch of the IPL and its growth, and ends with three lessons about power, innovation and disrespect, plus ideas for growing cricket in new markets. Sponsor: the video description names Odoo, and also promotes Think School's own Communication Masterclass course. PARTIAL COVERAGE: this note is based on the opening, the 1952 tour section, the rights and IPL sections and the closing lessons, and may not cover every point in the roughly 25 minute video. Historical claims and money figures are the presenter's own and not independently checked.
Key Takeaways
The 1952 allowance story
The presenter says India's players in England got half a pound a week for food, travel and laundry, and that a captain preferred cash to a lunch invitation.
Cargo ship travel
He says the team went on to the West Indies on an empty cargo vessel that was cheaper.
The 1987 World Cup
He says Dhirubhai Ambani stepped in to sponsor, so it became known as the Reliance World Cup.
The rights turnaround
He says the BCCI once paid Doordarshan to show matches, then sold rights abroad after Jagmohan Dalmiya understood their worth.
Money figures he cites
He says BCCI moved from an 81 lakh loss in 1993 to an 8.3 crore profit in 1998 and about 300 crore a year by 2007.
The IPL effect
He says IPL was valued near 2 billion dollars in 2009 and 10.7 billion in 2023, and that other boards now plan around it.
Ideas he offers for the future
He suggests taking the IPL to new markets and growing cricket in places like the US and China.
The Conversation Breakdown
The 1952 allowance story
⏱ Untimed topicThe presenter says India's players in England got half a pound a week for food, travel and laundry, and that a captain preferred cash to a lunch invitation.
Cargo ship travel
⏱ Untimed topicHe says the team went on to the West Indies on an empty cargo vessel that was cheaper.
The 1987 World Cup
⏱ Untimed topicHe says Dhirubhai Ambani stepped in to sponsor, so it became known as the Reliance World Cup.
The rights turnaround
⏱ Untimed topicHe says the BCCI once paid Doordarshan to show matches, then sold rights abroad after Jagmohan Dalmiya understood their worth.
Money figures he cites
⏱ Untimed topicHe says BCCI moved from an 81 lakh loss in 1993 to an 8.3 crore profit in 1998 and about 300 crore a year by 2007.
The IPL effect
⏱ Untimed topicHe says IPL was valued near 2 billion dollars in 2009 and 10.7 billion in 2023, and that other boards now plan around it.
Ideas he offers for the future
⏱ Untimed topicHe suggests taking the IPL to new markets and growing cricket in places like the US and China.
Core Frameworks & Ideas
Influence is not control - the presenter's lesson one
Being rich in the 1990s was not enough while England and Australia still controlled the game.
Innovation as currency - the presenter's lesson two
The IPL changed the economics of cricket and created the future.
Disrespect as fuel - the presenter's lesson three
The presenter says humiliation was turned into a mission for reinvention.
Actionable Next Steps
- ✓Check the allowance, revenue and valuation figures against independent cricket and business sources.
- ✓Read a history of the 1952 tour and the Doordarshan broadcast arrangement.
- ✓Look at how the IPL's growth is described by sources other than this presenter.
- ✓Treat his predictions about new markets as his opinion.
Notable Quotes
“disrespect is the fuel for reinvention”
“Innovation is actually the currency of domination”
“this isn't charity this is smart business strategy”
The One Thing to Remember
The presenter says the BCCI rose from humiliation in the 1950s to dominate world cricket by gaining control of broadcast rights and launching the IPL.