India tour, biggest money spinner for New Zealand Cricket

The ongoing tour by India is set to trigger a financial windfall for New Zealand Cricket as it will earn the body more than $ 35 million in broadcast rights, making it the biggest money-spinner in any sport.

What's more, New Zealand is also set to get a visit by India in 2019 under the new agreements being worked out in the ICC.

NZC chief executive David White has confirmed to Fairfax Media "that broadcast rights for the present Indian tour were worth more than the then record $ 25m that NZC banked from the Indians' last visit here in 2009. He would not provide a figure but knowledgeable sources told Fairfax it is more than $ 35 million."

"That also surpasses the $ 25 million profit reaped by the New Zealand Rugby Union for all revenues including broadcasting, attendance and sponsorship from the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour and makes the NZC deal the biggest broadcast windfall ever achieved by a national sport organisation."

"Our current (tour) contract is (worth) more than that (2009). It's very lucrative," White said.

The tour in 2019 was scheduled under the ICC's Future Tours Programme, which the Indians had refused to sign in the past.

"But New Zealand's apparent support of the Indian-led ICC takeover now looks to have been a bargaining chip designed to secure a 2019 touring commitment along with bi-lateral agreements with Australia and England to visit here," the report stated.

New Zealand have not just done well financially but have also made a mark on the field against Indians, winning the ODI series 4-0 to dethrone the visitors from the top spot in ICC rankings.

Image: Ross Taylor (left) and Brendon McCullum of New Zealand
Photograph: Phil Walter/Getty Images