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Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been...

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been reduced to an annual ritual of tree-planting drives and clicking selfies for social media, though 90 pc of the saplings don’t survive even a day. “Only the government knows where those trees really are,” said Raj sternly. He recalled a "Blueprint of Maharashtra’s Development" he had proposed in 2015, in which he advocated how development without environmental sensitivity is hollow. Justifying, he said that the consequences are visible where roads, bridges and infrastructure projects are hailed as achievements, but even a short spell of rainfall can paralyze entire cities. Referring to recent reports on farmers returning from the fields after 10 am due to the scorching heat, Raj said that the worsening climate crisis has become an everyday reality. Citing official statistics, Raj claimed that extreme heat has caused productivity losses of nearly USD 159 billion and slashing of 160 billion work-hours annually in recent years. He mentioned the World Bank estimates that India’s GDP could plummet by 2.5-4.5 pc while 57 pc of the country’s districts sheltering 76 pc of the population stare at serious climate-related crises. Taking a swipe, he said while the governments boast about growth figures and economical rankings, they are silent on the staggering costs of environmental destruction. He questioned the development model “whether flooded cities, washed-away crops and unbearable summers” genuinely indicate progress. Claiming that Maharashtra was increasingly becoming unliveable for upto 8 months in a year, he said excessive monsoon rains disrupt rural life and urban floods cripple cities, while extreme heat make normal life a torture in summers in both urban-rural areas. Targeting the Centre, Raj alleged that nearly 173,984 hectares of forest lands were diverted in the past 11 years for mining and infrastructure projects to benefit the PM’s single favourite Adani Group. He said that these lands amount to 1,730 sqkm, or equivalent to the area of 16 Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) that is spread over barely 104 sqkm. Dissolve state wildlife board: Aaditya Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray has accused the Maharashtra government for issuing a permit to carry out mining activity in the sensitive tiger corridor between the Tadoba-Andhari and Indravati sanctuaries housing the big striped cats. In a strongly-worded letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Member-Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Thackeray sought his immediate personal intervention, sacking the Maharashtra State Board for Wild-Life (SBWL), revoking the permit, and probe against the Chief Wildlife Warden & Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) M. Srinivasa Reddy for the alleged lacunae. Aditya’s two-pager says the permit has been granted for “scientific exploration and excavation/systematic recovery of low-grade iron ore in existing mines in villages Hedri, Bande, Parsalgondi and Round Parsalgondi, in the Etapalli taluka of Gadchiroli district”. Last January, Aditya – MLA from Worli – had first raised the issue saying that the proposed mine would create only 120 jobs, including 32 permanent, and the estimated output is pegged at 1.1 million tons in a year. Referring to two letters of Reddy – on April 28 and May 21 – the SS (UBT) leader claimed that in communications to the state government, the PCCF had changed his stance on the issue. Aditya said that in the first letter, Reddy had effectively opposed the government plans for mining activity but in the second letter, he took a somersault, ostensibly due to government pressures or some commercial interests, “the U-turn is disgraceful and detrimental to India’s national interest” – and this abrupt shift in stance must be investigated thoroughly. In view of the contrary stance of the PCCF Reddy, entrusted with protecting the wildlife but failing to defend the NTCA and NBWL, point to serious malfunctioning of the SBWL, and hence it must be dissolved, besides reviewing all its decisions in the past three years, particularly those pertaining to hazardous activities in sensitive areas, demanded Aditya. 444 tigers roam in 11,000 sq.km As per the Status of Tiger Report (2002), and the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-2026, the state boasts of 444 tigers prowling in the wild along with other menacing creatures. The state’s total protected wildlife network of 88 Notified Areas of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves - including 6 dedicated to the striped big cats – is spread over 11,092 sq. kms as per current data.

Inside Cricket’s Billion-Dollar Carnival

The IPL has turned a summer sport into a global cash machine by reshaping talent and testing the limits of cricket’s soul.

Each summer, India stages one of the world’s most dazzling sporting spectacles, the Indian Premier League (IPL). Once, the country’s tropical heat discouraged outdoor tournaments, but the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) transformed this perception by hosting evening T20 matches under floodlights, turning scorching temperatures into an electrifying advantage. For decades, cricket was limited to contests between nations or domestic leagues, but the IPL revolutionized the sport with its private franchise model, blending elite cricket with glamour, spectacle and a carnival-like atmosphere that enthrals audiences worldwide.


First introduced by Zee Group through the Indian Cricket League, the IPL was initially seen as a challenge to the BCCI’s authority and declared illegal, prompting the board to launch its own franchise system. Harnessing the rising popularity of Twenty20 cricket and fusing it with city loyalties and celebrity glamour, the BCCI reshaped how the sport was consumed. The inaugural 2008 auction raised US$723.59 million for eight franchises, nearly 80 percent above reserve prices, revealing immense demand for cricket entertainment. Designed as an ‘annual gala’ inspired by the English Premier League and the Super Bowl, the IPL marked the most dramatic transformation in world cricket since the Packer Circus of the 1980s.


Asset-Light Model

IPL franchise model operates as an asset-light, revenue-guaranteed structure, shielding teams from the high operating costs typical of global leagues. Each franchise functions as an independent business owned by corporates, individuals, or private equity firms, paying the BCCI 20 percent of annual revenue for team rights and access to the central pool. Unlike traditional accounting, where human resources are treated as expenses, franchise owners classify players as intangible assets. Acquired through auctions, player costs are amortized over contract terms, reinforcing financial efficiency. IPL cricketers are not employees of the BCCI or franchises but independent professionals, a distinction with major tax implications under the Indian Income Tax Act. For Indian players, earnings are taxed as “Income from Business or Profession,” allowing deductions for expenses like agent commissions, fitness gear, and nutrition support.


IPL’s financial strength rests on a dual-pool revenue system, with the BCCI managing the central pool and franchises building local streams, ensuring stability even for lower-performing teams. Central revenue sharing underpins profitability, as media rights and title sponsorships are pooled and split, 45 percent equally among franchises and 5 percent based on rankings. By 2025, media rights contribute nearly 75 percent of team revenues, up from 48 percent in 2017. Local revenues include sponsorships from jersey and helmet placements, ticket sales, matchday income, merchandising, and diversification into academies, junior leagues, and overseas T20 ventures. Together, these streams create a resilient, scalable business model.


Chief Beneficiary

BCCI serves as both regulator and chief beneficiary of the IPL’s commercial success, retaining about 50 percent of the central revenue pool to fund domestic cricket, infrastructure, and national teams. It also levies a 20 percent franchise fee on each team’s revenue, creating a steady stream independent of matchday results. The board’s financials have risen dramatically from a surplus of just Rs. 14.86 crore in 2008 to Rs. 6,700 crore (US$761 million) in 2023–24, allowing it to remain autonomous without government grants while contributing substantially to government revenue. Media rights remain the engine of this growth. The inaugural ten-year cycle (2008–2017) was sold for Rs. 8,200 crore, while the 2023–2027 cycle fetched Rs. 48,390 crore (US$6.2 billion), translating to roughly US$13.4 million per match.


Hosting an IPL match delivers a concentrated economic boost to the host city, with the “IPL Multiplier” rippling across allied sectors. Tourism and hotels see the sharpest surge, with occupancy in the host cities often exceeding 90% and sometimes hitting full capacity, driving room rates up by 20 percent. An IIM Bangalore study found the IPL supports over 98,000 seasonal jobs across hospitality, logistics, event management, and ancillary services. Local businesses, from street vendors to taxi drivers benefit from the influx of fans, while food delivery platforms report 40–50 percent spikes in orders during matches. The league’s recurring nature has also spurred stadium upgrades, from floodlights to drainage and spectator facilities, enhancing both IPL and domestic cricket year-round.


The Indian government is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of the IPL’s financial activity through extensive taxation. Admission tickets are classified as “Luxury Premium Services” and are taxed at 40 percent GST, meaning every ₹500 ticket contributes about ₹142 to state and central coffers. In FY 2023–24 alone, the BCCI paid Rs. 2,038.55 crore in gross GST. Direct taxes add further weight, with approximately Rs. 100 crore collected in TDS from players. Corporate taxes of 25–30 percent levied on broadcasters, sponsors, and franchises further add to the kitty.  The BCCI’s tax-exempt status under Section 11 remains contested, as the IT department has increasingly disallowed exemptions for IPL-related income leading to recoveries. Together, these streams highlight how the IPL serves as a significant revenue engine for the Indian government.


IPL has democratized cricket in India, giving players from regions like Kashmir and the Northeast a platform for national recognition. Exposure to international stars and elite coaches has accelerated both technical and psychological growth, with young bowlers confidently executing Yorkers under pressure and batsmen pushing strike rates beyond 250. High-pressure moments such as Super Overs have further instilled the mental toughness needed for international competition. Financially, the league offers a transformative alternative to the domestic circuit, where an uncapped player can earn more in a single season than in a decade of Ranji Trophy cricket. This security enables athletes to focus fully on their craft, legitimizing cricket as a professional career path for thousands of young Indians.


Digital Reach

Though younger than the American ‘Big Four’ or European football leagues, the IPL competes strongly in monetization and digital reach. Its annual media rights revenue of US$1.5–2 billion trails the NFL’s US$19.1 billion and the NBA’s US$10.6 billion, yet the league is far more efficient, generating high value from just 74–84 matches. With per-match media rights averaging US$12–16.8 million, the IPL ranks second globally behind the NFL (US$36.8 million) and ahead of the EPL, NBA, and MLB. On the digital front, the NBA leads with 212 million followers, but the IPL’s footprint is expanding rapidly. The 2025 season achieved record-breaking reach of 19 billion viewers - 537 million on TV and 652 million on digital—alongside 840 billion minutes of watch time. The final alone drew 169 million TV viewers and a peak digital concurrency of 55 million, cementing the IPL as one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.


Global private equity giants like RedBird Capital, Blackstone, and CVC Capital Partners have propelled the IPL into an institutional era, drawn by its strong fundamentals and steady cash flows. Meanwhile, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has emerged as a growth frontier, with sponsorships tripling in three years, thus cementing the IPL’s status as a global sports business powerhouse.


Despite its commercial success, the IPL faces systemic risks to cricket’s long-term health. Integrity remains fragile, with scandals like the 2013 spot-fixing case and ongoing illegal betting testing the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit. Player burnout is rising as congested schedules strain bodies and minds; a 2025 study found nearly half of inter-university cricketers moderately burned out, with many specializing in T20 at the expense of Test skills. The focus on power-hitting has further eroded traditional techniques, favouring strike rates over defensive stability. Thus, while the IPL is praised for economic impact, it is equally criticized for commercialism, technical decline and integrity risks.


To protect the game’s essence, the BCCI and franchises must institutionalize player care, prioritizing mental health and skill preservation, so commercial ambitions do not erode cricket’s technical foundations or long-term vitality.


(The writer is a Chartered Accountant with a leading company in Mumbai. Views personal.)


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