What Happened to Indian Premier League (IPL)?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) was conceptualized and launched by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2007, following India's victory in the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup, with its first season commencing in April 2008. The league was designed to capitalize on the burgeoning popularity of the Twenty20 format, offering a fast-paced, entertainment-driven cricket product. Lalit Modi, then BCCI vice-president, was instrumental in its creation, establishing a franchise-based model with teams representing major Indian cities.

Early years saw rapid growth but also significant controversies. The 'Slapgate' incident in the inaugural 2008 season involving Harbhajan Singh and S. Sreesanth highlighted the intense pressure within the league. In 2010, Lalit Modi himself was suspended and later banned for life from cricket administration due to allegations of financial irregularities and bid rigging, a major blow to the league's nascent credibility. The most damaging period came with the 2013 spot-fixing and betting scandal, which led to the arrest of several players, including S. Sreesanth, and implicated team officials. The fallout resulted in the suspension of two prominent franchises, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), for two seasons (2016-2017) following recommendations by the Lodha Committee.

Despite these challenges, the IPL's commercial value and global appeal continued to soar. Key turning points include the massive media rights deals. In 2023, the league sold its media rights for the 2023-2027 cycle for an unprecedented US$6.4 billion (₹48,390 crore), making it the second-richest sports league globally by per-match value, trailing only the NFL. The league expanded to 10 teams in 2011, though some initial franchises like Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors India were later terminated. A more stable expansion to 10 teams occurred in 2022 with the addition of Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. The Women's Premier League (WPL) was also established in 2022, holding its first season in 2023, further expanding the cricket ecosystem.

As of July 2026, the IPL remains a dominant force in global sports. The 2024 season saw Kolkata Knight Riders win their third title. In 2025, the season faced a mid-tournament suspension due to the India-Pakistan crisis but resumed to see Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win their maiden title. The 2026 season, the 19th edition, concluded on May 31, 2026, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defending their title against Gujarat Titans, marking their second consecutive championship. The IPL 2026 season recorded its best-ever viewership, reaching over 1.2 billion across platforms, with the final becoming the most-watched IPL match ever. While digital viewership continues to surge, traditional television ratings for IPL 2026 saw an 18.8% year-on-year drop, indicating a significant shift in consumption patterns. The league's valuation has reached over $15 billion as of June 2026, driven by strong brand pull and commercial deals. Discussions are underway for a major expansion from 2028 to a 94-match format, aiming for a complete home-and-away league system while retaining the current 10 teams.