IPL History Explained — Indian Premier League
The history of the Indian Premier League from its founding in 2008, the teams, the records, and how it transformed world cricket.
How the IPL Was Created
The Indian Premier League was founded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2007 and launched in 2008. It was created in response to the Indian Cricket League (ICL), a rival franchise tournament that the BCCI considered unauthorized. Lalit Modi, the BCCI Vice-President, is credited with designing the tournament's structure: eight city-based franchises, an auction model for player acquisition, and an entertainment-first format combining T20 cricket with Bollywood and business celebrity.
IPL Champions
| Year | Champion | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rajasthan Royals | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2010 | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians |
| 2011 | Chennai Super Kings | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| 2013 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2015 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2017 | Mumbai Indians | Rising Pune Supergiant |
| 2019 | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2020 | Mumbai Indians | Delhi Capitals |
| 2021 | Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2022 | Gujarat Titans | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Gujarat Titans |
| 2024 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
Economic Impact on World Cricket
The IPL has become the world's most valuable sports league by franchise value. IPL auction prices set the global market rate for T20 cricket players of every nationality — an overseas player contracted at $2 million per season earns more than most international cricketers' annual salaries. The IPL has created a generation of cricketers who have built careers primarily in franchise T20 cricket rather than Test cricket.
Frequently asked questions
How many teams are in the IPL?
The IPL began with 8 teams in 2008 and expanded to 10 teams from 2022. The current 10 franchises are Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, and Gujarat Titans.
How are overseas players selected for the IPL?
Each franchise can retain up to three players from the previous season. New players are acquired through the annual mega-auction or mini-auction. Each team can include up to four overseas players in their playing XI of 11.