From being a small franchise league finding its feet in initial few years to becoming a global phenomenon – the Indian Premier League (IPL) has grown multifold in the last 15 years. The broadcasting deals, the paychecks of players, global viewership, franchises’ purse – have seen insurmountable rise in the last decade and a half and all of this is set to increase further after the new media rights deal.
The BCCI earned a whopping sum of INR 48,390 crore as part of the five-year broadcasting deal for 2023-2027 period becoming the second most valued sports league in the world. And the new IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal said that the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council, post the colossal figures will ensure that the brand of IPL continues to grow further and becomes the number one sports league in the world. Dhumal said that the boad is working at improving overall experience of the viewers, both in the stadiums and those watching from their homes
Speaking to the news agency PTI, Dhumal said, “We are definitely looking at various innovations that can be brought to make it more fan friendly. For those who are watching it on TV and those who are experiencing at the stadium, we want them to have a better experience.
“If we can make the IPL schedule well in advance, people from all around the world can plan their travel accordingly. It should be a value for money experience for the fans,” he added.
Dhumal said that the number of teams will be restricted to 10 but the board is planning to increase the number of matches as the upcoming 5-year cycle goes. With two new teams introduced, the 2022 edition of the IPL had 74 matches (70 league games + 4 playoff matches) with each team playing a total of 14 group stage games. However, according to Dhumal, the number is set to increase by 10 matches in the third and fourth year and 20 more (94 matches) in the fifth year.
“Teams will stay at 10 only. If you increase that, it becomes difficult to have the tournament in one go. We are looking at 74 games to begin with for the first two seasons, then 84 and if things permit may be 94 in the fifth year of the media rights cycle, that it self would make it a long enough event.
“We can’t compare ourselves to football and other sporting leagues around the world as the requirement in cricket is totally different. You can’t play on the same pitches for six months,” Dhumal added.
While IPL has grown leaps and bounds, several other franchise leagues have germinated in different parts of the world whether in Australia, England, West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh and now South Africa and the UAE. However, the male Indian players are not allowed to feature in any of the overseas T20 Leagues to maintain exclusivity to the Indian T20 league and the BCCI is adamant on continuing the same despite calls from several former Indian and foreign players.
“This in principle is the decision of BCCI that our contracted players can’t go and play for other leagues. As it is there is so much of cricket happening. Keeping in mind their overall well-being that decision has been taken. As of now we stick to that decision,” Dhumal told PTI.
The preparations for the 16th edition of the IPL have already begun as the franchises will name their retention list on November 15 and gear up for the mini-auction next month.
