T20 Leagues Compared: IPL, BBL, The Hundred, SA20, ILT20 and CPL Explained
How the world's major T20 franchise leagues compare — IPL (₹100+ billion valuation, 10 teams, BCCI-run), Big Bash League (BBL, Australia, 8 teams, Cricket Australia), The Hundred (England, 8 city teams, 100-ball format), SA20 (South Africa, 6 teams, launched 2023), ILT20 (UAE, 6 teams, 2023), and CPL (Caribbean Premier League). Includes player availability rules and their conflict with international cricket.
T20 franchise cricket has expanded from the IPL's 2008 launch to a global calendar covering 10+ major leagues. Each league operates on a franchise model — teams owned by private investors, players sold or assigned through auction/draft systems. The leagues compete for: (1) quality players (most elite cricketers can only play 2-3 leagues per year due to scheduling); (2) broadcast rights income; (3) gate revenue; (4) global audience. The IPL remains by a significant margin the world's dominant cricket league by all metrics — broadcast deal value, player salaries, attendance, and global viewership.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
The IPL (Indian Premier League), launched in 2008 by BCCI, is the world's second-most valuable sports league by team valuation (behind NFL, ahead of NBA in some analyses). 10 teams; 74 matches per season (April-June); player salaries from ₹20 lakh (minimum) to ₹24 crore+ for top-tier players. The 2022 media rights deal (Star India + JioCinema: ₹48,390 crore for 5 years = approximately $6 billion) is the highest cricket broadcast rights deal in history. IPL players include elite international players across nationalities — each team is allowed 4 overseas (non-Indian) players in their playing XI of 11. Indian players are the highest-paid; international players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Sam Curran, and Mitchell Santner have been bought for ₹15-20 crore ($1.8-2.4M) at auction.
Big Bash League (BBL) and The Hundred
The Big Bash League (Australia, Cricket Australia): 8 teams, launched in rebrand in 2011. The BBL operates during Australia's summer (December-February) — making it attractive for international players from the Northern Hemisphere whose international seasons are complete. Broadcast deal: Foxtel + Seven Network. Star players from overseas participate but at significantly lower salaries than IPL (typically $50,000-$200,000 per season vs IPL's $1-2M+). The Hundred (England, ECB): 8 city-based teams, launched 2021. Unique format — 100 balls per innings (each bowler bowls 10 or 5 consecutive balls, called 'a set'), with overs being 5 or 10 balls. Controversial in England — Ashes-era fans see it as unnecessary; younger audiences are the ECB's target demographic. Broadcast deal: Sky Sports.
SA20, ILT20 and CPL: The Newer Leagues
SA20 (South Africa, launched January 2023): 6 teams, all franchise-owned by IPL team owners (Mumbai Indians, CSK, DC, RCB, Sunrisers, and Rajasthan Royals own the 6 SA20 teams — creating a direct financial link between the IPL and SA20). Broadcast deal: SuperSport + global streaming. SA20 was an immediate commercial success — high international player quality and South Africa's cricket fan base supported strong attendance. ILT20 (UAE International League T20, launched January 2023): 6 teams in the UAE. Designed to capitalise on the large South Asian expatriate population in Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Sharjah. CPL (Caribbean Premier League, since 2013): 6 teams, 34 matches, August-September schedule. The CPL is the Caribbean's primary cricket revenue source in the post-West Indies-dominance era — it funds cricket boards for Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica, Antigua, and St Kitts.
Frequently asked questions
Which T20 league pays players the most?
The IPL (Indian Premier League) pays the highest player salaries in cricket. The most expensive IPL buys at auction (2023-2024): Sam Curran ₹18.5 crore, Pat Cummins ₹20.5 crore, Mitchell Starc ₹24.75 crore. By comparison, the Big Bash League (Australia) pays $50,000-$200,000 per season and The Hundred pays £100,000-£150,000 for overseas players. The IPL's broadcast deal of $6 billion for 2023-2027 funds the salary pool that makes IPL salaries approximately 5-10× higher than any other T20 league.
What is The Hundred format and how does it differ from T20?
The Hundred is an English cricket competition where each innings lasts 100 balls (not 120 balls as in T20/20 overs). Bowlers bowl in sets of 5 or 10 consecutive balls (rather than 6-ball overs). The match is therefore slightly shorter than a T20 — approximately 2.5 hours of playing time. Launched in 2021 by the ECB, it is targeted at a new younger audience. Critics — including many traditional fans — argue it is unnecessary when T20 exists; supporters argue the simpler format (just counting to 100) is more accessible for non-cricket audiences.
Are Pakistan players allowed to play in the IPL?
No — Pakistan players have not participated in the IPL since 2008 (when Shoaib Akhtar and Younis Khan played briefly). The exclusion is not explicitly written into the IPL rules but results from the BCCI not issuing 'No Objection Certificates' to Pakistani players — effectively blocking them from participation. The political relationship between India and Pakistan (border tensions, occasional diplomatic crises) has made BCCI-PCB relations contentious. Pakistani players are instead eligible for — and frequently participate in — the SA20, BBL, The Hundred, and CPL.