BCCI Plans to Expand IPL with Two New Franchises by 2028

Potential Expansion of IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) may see the addition of two new franchises starting in 2028, according to various media reports. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is contemplating expanding the league, which would increase the total number of teams from 10 to 12.

Leading Candidates for New Teams

Pune and Vadodara are currently the frontrunners for the new franchises. However, discussions are still in the early stages, and the final decision regarding the cities may change.

Recent Franchise Additions

In the previous season of IPL, two new franchises were introduced before the 2022 season. The Lucknow Super Giants were acquired by the RPSG Group for $940 million, while the Gujarat Titans were purchased by CVC Capital Partners for $750 million.

Projected Value of New Franchises

Reports suggest that the starting price for the new IPL franchises could exceed $1 billion, which is approximately ₹8,900 crores.

Recently, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was sold for $1.78 billion, and the Rajasthan Royals were valued at around $1.65 billion.

Interest from Investors

Private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds from West Asia, American family offices, and Indian business groups are showing interest in investing in the new teams. Notably, the private equity firm Permira is also mentioned among potential investors.

Media Rights and Future Planning

The discussions about adding two new teams are also linked to the upcoming media rights cycle for IPL, which will run from 2028 to 2032. The current media rights for 2023-2027 were sold for $6.2 billion.

Before increasing the number of teams, the BCCI must consider several critical factors, including player availability, the international cricket calendar, and broadcaster interest.

Pune's Previous IPL Experience

Pune has previously hosted two IPL teams. The Pune Warriors India participated in the league from 2011 to 2013.

Later, the Rising Pune Supergiant played in 2016 and 2017, reaching the finals in 2017, where they narrowly lost to the Mumbai Indians by just one run.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni captained the team in 2016, while Steve Smith took over the captaincy in 2017.

If Pune secures a new franchise in 2028, it could mark the return of IPL cricket to the city.