The IPL: How Franchise T20 Cricket Changed the Global Game
The Indian Premier League, launched in 2008, revolutionised cricket globally — transforming player earnings, tournament structures and the balance of power between boards and players.
The Indian Premier League, first played in April-June 2008, is the most commercially successful cricket competition in history and has had a transformative impact on every dimension of the sport globally. Created by the BCCI under commissioner Lalit Modi, the IPL combined the franchise ownership model used in American sports, the T20 format pioneered by English county cricket and Twenty20 competitions, and the enormous Indian cricket market. The result was a competition that drew every major international cricketer in the world, generated broadcast rights revenue that dwarfed all other cricket competitions and fundamentally altered the sport's economic and power structures.
Origins and Launch
The IPL's creation was accelerated by the rival Indian Cricket League, launched in 2007 without BCCI sanction. The BCCI's response — creating the IPL as their own franchise T20 competition — rapidly overwhelmed the ICL, which folded in 2009. The IPL's inaugural auction saw eight franchises purchase rights for approximately $723 million across ten years. Individual player auctions, in which franchises bid for players in a live auction setting, created the highest player salaries cricket had ever seen — Andrew Flintoff sold for $1.55 million for the inaugural season.
The inaugural IPL season in 2008 drew extraordinary audiences — over 100 million TV viewers for final-day matches. Rajasthan Royals won the first tournament under Shane Warne's captaincy, the Mumbai Indians established their commercial dominance, and the model of mixing Indian stars with overseas internationals in city-based franchise teams proved immediately successful both on and off the field.
Global Impact on Cricket
The IPL's success triggered a wave of franchise T20 competitions globally — the Big Bash League in Australia (2011), Caribbean Premier League (2013), Pakistan Super League (2016), SA20 in South Africa (2023) and many more. These competitions together created an alternative cricket ecosystem that competes with international bilateral series for player availability, audience attention and sponsorship revenue. The competition for player availability created by these franchises was a direct challenge to national cricket boards' authority — for the first time, players could earn more from franchise cricket than from international cricket.
Frequently asked questions
How many franchises currently compete in the IPL?
Ten franchises compete in the modern IPL: Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. The two newest teams (Gujarat and Lucknow) joined in the 2022 season when the competition expanded from eight to ten franchises.
Which team has won the IPL most times?
Mumbai Indians have won the IPL five times (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) — the most of any franchise. Chennai Super Kings have won it five times as well, equalling Mumbai Indians' tally by 2023. The two franchises are the most successful in the competition's history and have a rivalry that is one of T20 cricket's great contests.
Does participation in the IPL affect international selection?
IPL performance can influence international selection indirectly — a player who performs outstandingly in the IPL can gain national selectors' attention. However, national boards reserve the right to rest or not expose players to injury risk during the IPL, and central contracted players' IPL participation is regulated by their national boards. Some boards have occasionally withheld NOC (No Objection Certificates) for players wanting to participate.