Each IPL match is now worth more than thirteen million dollars in TV rights
Born in 2007 partly to crush a rebel competition, the Indian Premier League became the richest cricket tournament on earth. Only America's NFL earns more per match. Its franchise auction in 2008 raised far above the reserve, and by 2023 broadcasters paid 6.4 billion dollars for four seasons of television rights.
The league was a counterstrike. In April 2007 the Essel Group launched the Indian Cricket League without official blessing, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India responded by banning for life any player who joined it. On 13 September 2007, as the first World Twenty20 began, the board announced its own franchise competition, led by vice-president Lalit Modi. Eight franchises were auctioned on 24 January 2008 for 723.59 million dollars against reserves of 400 million. The rival league, drained of players by an amnesty offer, shut down in 2009.
Ownership has churned. Kochi Tuskers Kerala lasted one season in 2011 before being expelled over an unpaid bank guarantee, and Deccan Chargers were terminated in 2012, replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad. In June 2015 Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were suspended for two seasons over a spot-fixing and betting scandal. COVID-19 moved the 2020 season to the United Arab Emirates, and two new teams joined for 2022, bringing the total to ten.
Money flows outward too. Franchise owners have bought teams in the Caribbean, South Africa, the UAE and the United States, and in 2025 took stakes in England's Hundred, with Sunrisers' owners paying 100 million pounds for what became Sunrisers Leeds. A women's edition began play in 2023. In 2010 the IPL became the first sporting event streamed live on YouTube.
It also tinkers with the game. Each innings includes a two-and-a-half-minute strategic time-out, teams may bring on one impact player as a substitute, and since 2024 bowlers can send down two bouncers an over. Teams are capped at four overseas players in the side. Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first title in 2025 and retained it in 2026.
Source: Indian Premier League
