That’s even before you consider the complex issue of geography, demographics, population and TV. Even though the women’s World Cup has just started, there will be sufficient interest around the two-match Test series in India. It’s all part of a very lucrative deal with JioHotstar.
It doesn’t work like that for West Indies. “All West Indies home games are broadcast on ESPN Caribbean, however, for this India series there has not been a broadcast deal confirmed, I would expect one to be announced very last minute,” CCP said. “Each Test will begin at midnight in the Caribbean, so only a minority of fans would be staying up to watch it across the night, so I would not expect a bidding war for the rights in the Caribbean.”
With no regular broadcasting deals, not enough money, scheduling conflicts thanks to the mushrooming of T20 leagues and an inequitable distribution of ICC resources, West Indies are staring at an uncertain red-ball future. Will they have a future? For a team that has won Tests in Pakistan and Australia since the beginning of 2024, it seems to be an incongruous question.
But peel back the layers and it all makes perfect sense.
By the time you are done reading this five minute piece, the BCCI will have earned upwards of $2000 thanks to ICC’s current income redistribution. West Indies? Roughly $170. That’s even before you start legislating for the Indian Premier League, TV contracts and other sponsorship deals.