Exciting Developments Ahead for IPL's 21st Season in 2028
Future Plans for IPL
Arun Dhumal, the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has unveiled ambitious plans for the league's upcoming 21st season, scheduled for 2028. This season is poised to be particularly noteworthy as it will follow a major auction and initiate a new cycle for media rights. Currently, the media rights deal is set to run from 2022 until 2027, with broadcasting and streaming rights expected to be auctioned again before the 2028 season. This new sale will also pave the way for potential changes in league regulations, particularly concerning scheduling.
Another crucial aspect is that the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Future Tours Programme is in effect until March 2027. Addressing the ongoing discussion about increasing the number of IPL matches, Dhumal stated that such an expansion is not feasible until after the 2027 season. However, he mentioned that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to extend the IPL's window in the FTP starting in 2028, which could allow for an additional 94 matches. Despite this, he confirmed that the number of teams will remain at 10. "With the current teams, we can only increase the number of matches. Expanding the teams doesn't make sense right now. To maintain an equal number of home and away games, we can increase from 74 to 94 matches, which would be ideal. However, since bilateral series are locked in until 2027, we need a larger window to facilitate this increase. If we can secure that, we will certainly aim for 94 games," Dhumal explained during a conversation with a news agency.
This adjustment would mean that each team would face every other team twice during the league stage, following a home-and-away format, resulting in 18 games per season. Currently, teams play five opponents twice in the round-robin phase, while facing four teams only once (two at home and two away). The ten teams are divided into five groups of two, with each team playing all five teams from the opposing group twice and the four franchises in their own group once.
IPL Chairman Comments on Recent Sales
In addition, Dhumal shared his thoughts on the recent billion-dollar sales of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), emphasizing that the IPL stands as the premier homegrown product in India since independence. "This clearly demonstrates the league's strength, which continues to grow with each season. In just 18 years, we have witnessed the impact it has had on all our partners. We are thrilled for each of them. No other league compares to the IPL, which is why it is recognized as the top 'Make in India' brand since independence. We will thoroughly review the documents and ensure that all necessary due diligence is conducted to maintain a fair and transparent process," Dhumal stated.