The Indian government has moved IPL tickets into its highest goods and services tax (GST) bracket, lifting the levy from 28% to 40%. In practical terms, a seat with a base price of INR 1,000 will now land in a fan’s basket at roughly INR 1,400 instead of INR 1,280.
By contrast, international cricket has been nudged the other way. The 28% slab that also covered bilateral matches and ICC tournaments has been scrapped. The Press Information Bureau’s circular refers only to “sporting events like the IPL”, and finance writers are reading that as confirmation that Tests, ODIs and T20Is will now sit under the wider group of “recognised sporting events”. That category attracts 18% GST on tickets above INR 500, while anything priced at INR 500 or below remains tax-free.
So, if you part with the same INR 1,000 for a Test match seat, you are looking at a final tag of about INR 1,180. That’s a saving of INR 100 on today’s rates – not life-changing, but handy if you’re buying in bulk or travelling.
The change kicks in on 22 September, conveniently a week before the Women’s World Cup opens in India. Tickets are still not on sale; on 30 August the ICC simply asked supporters to “register your interest” so it can “ensure you are the first to receive the latest news and ticketing information straight to your inbox”.
Beyond the spreadsheets, there is a broader conversation. IPL franchises have long argued that a short, entertainment-heavy season should be treated more kindly than casinos or race clubs. State associations counter that domestic and international cricket fill stadiums for longer stretches and ought to be rewarded for that reach. Today’s decision settles nothing – it merely redraws the lines.
A Mumbai-based ticketing manager, preferring not to be named, said the new rate “will almost certainly push the entry-level IPL price higher next season, even if teams swallow part of the extra tax”. Another administrator expects most state boards to hold international prices steady, “so the headline figure actually drops – it’s a quick win with the public”.
Fans, of course, care less about the tax code than the final figure on the screen. For the moment at least, watching Virat Kohli in April has become a touch dearer; cheering Harmanpreet Kaur in October should cost a fraction less.
