The Indian Premier League (IPL), also known as TATA IPL, is a popular men’s Twenty20 (T20) cricket league held annually in India. Established in 2007 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the IPL features ten city-based franchise teams. The league takes place between March and May each year and has gained immense popularity worldwide.
The IPL is considered the most-watched cricket league globally. In 2014, it ranked sixth in average attendance among all sports leagues. Notably, the 2010 season marked the first live broadcast of a sporting event on YouTube. The IPL’s brand value reached ₹90,038 crore (US$11 billion) in 2022, making it a significant contributor to India’s economy.
In 2023, the IPL achieved a valuation of US$10.9 billion, a remarkable 75% growth since 2020. The league’s media rights for 2023–2027 were sold for a staggering US$6.4 billion to Viacom18 and Star Sports. The IPL final in 2023 became the most-streamed live event on the internet, attracting 32 million viewers.
History
The IPL has a rich history, starting with the founding of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in 2007, which faced opposition from the BCCI. To counter the ICL, the BCCI introduced the IPL, a franchise-based T20 competition.
Over the years, the IPL has seen expansions, terminations, and even suspensions of teams. The most recent champions are the Chennai Super Kings, who secured their fifth title by defeating the Gujarat Titans in the 2023 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
The IPL’s organizational structure includes a Governing Council, with members overseeing various aspects of the league. Player acquisition involves auctions, trading, and replacements, with rules such as a salary cap of ₹85 crore for the squad. Teams must follow guidelines for squad composition, including a maximum of four overseas players.
The league has introduced unique rules, including television timeouts, the Decision Review System (DRS), and penalties for not completing overs in time. Each season offers substantial prize money, with the winning team receiving a significant share.
As of the 2023 season, the IPL comprises ten teams based in different cities across India. Teams like the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have been successful, winning multiple titles. The IPL continues to captivate cricket fans globally, showcasing exciting matches and top-tier talent.
Number Of Titles
Chennai Super Kings (CSK): They’ve clinched the IPL title five times (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) and were runners-up five times. In 14 seasons, they’ve been a force to reckon with.
Mumbai Indians (MI): Mumbai Indians have won five titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020), MI has consistently won hearts in 16 seasons.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Celebrating victories in 2012 and 2014, KKR has been a formidable contender in 16 seasons.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): Champions in 2008, they made a mark in the league’s 14 seasons.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Crowned champions in 2016, they continue to shine after 11 seasons.
Gujarat Titans: The newest entrants, securing victories in 2022 and 2023 in just two seasons.
Deccan Chargers: Champions in 2009, they contributed to five seasons.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Despite not securing a title, RCB has been in three finals and played all 16 seasons.
Punjab Kings: 2014 champions in their 16 seasons.
Delhi Capitals: Securing the title in 2020, they’ve been in the league for 16 seasons.
Rising Pune Supergiant: Their moment came in 2017, and they played for two seasons.
Finals Recap
Noteworthy Matches
2008: Rajasthan Royals edged out Chennai Super Kings.
2019: Mumbai Indians clinched victory against CSK by just one run.
2023: CSK’s thrilling win against Gujarat Titans in a rain-affected match.
Teams’ Performances Over the Years
Chennai Super Kings: Consistently strong, they’ve reached finals and playoffs in various seasons, facing a suspension in one.
Delhi Capitals: A mix of ups and downs but secured the title in 2020.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Showed prowess in several seasons, securing titles and playoff berths.
Mumbai Indians: A powerhouse in the league, consistently reaching playoffs and securing titles.
Punjab Kings: Varied performances, with a title in 2014.
Rajasthan Royals: Initial success but faced suspension, returning with notable performances.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Multiple playoff appearances but elusive title.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: A title and playoff appearances in their 10 seasons.
Gujarat Titans: Making a strong debut with back-to-back titles.
Lucknow Super Giants: New entrants making their presence felt with playoff appearances.
Records and Statistics
Batting Records
Most Runs: Virat Kohli tops the list with 7,263 runs.
Highest Score: Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 175 in 2013 stands as the record.
Bowling Records
Most Wickets: Yuzvendra Chahal leads with 187 wickets.
Best Bowling Figures: Alzarri Joseph’s remarkable 6/12 in 2019.
Fielding
Most Dismissals (Wicket-Keeper): MS Dhoni with 180 dismissals.
Most Catches (Fielder): Suresh Raina with 109 catches.
Other Records
Most Matches: MS Dhoni played 250 matches.
Most Matches as Captain: MS Dhoni captained in 227 matches.
Awards
Orange Cap: Awarded to the season’s highest run-scorer, with Shubman Gill bagging it in 2023.
Purple Cap: Purple Cap Award given to the leading wicket-taker, an honor claimed twice by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dwayne Bravo.
Most Valuable Player: Shubman Gill emerged as the MVP in 2023.
Fair Play Award: The 2023 Fair Play Award went to Delhi Capitals.
Emerging Player Award: Yashasvi Jaiswal was named the Emerging Player of the Year in 2023.
Maximum Sixes Award: Presented to the player hitting the most sixes in a season.
Finances
Title Sponsorship: DLF, Pepsi, Vivo, Dream11, and Tata have been key sponsors, with changing sponsorship fees.
Payments to Foreign National Boards: BCCI pays 10% of a player’s auctioned value to their respective cricket boards.
Brand Value: In 2022, the IPL’s brand value soared to US$10.9 billion, a 75% growth since 2020.
Broadcasting Dynamics of IPL Over the Years
Between 2008 and 2017, the broadcasting rights of the IPL were under the stewardship of Sony Pictures Networks (SPN) and World Sport Group (WSG), a collaboration valued at a staggering US$1.03 billion.
This decade-long contract allocated twenty percent of the proceeds to the IPL, with eight percent designated as prize money and the remaining seventy-two percent distributed among franchisees. Interestingly, the plan was to take the IPL public and list its shares post-2012, but a change of heart in March 2010 steered away from this course of action.
Notably, Sony Max, Sony Six, and Sony ESPN took on the role of domestic broadcasters during the 2016 season, presenting the IPL in various languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, and Telugu.
Fast forward to 2018–2022, and Star India stepped into the scene by securing the IPL’s global media rights under a substantial five-year contract. Valued at ₹163.475 billion (US$2.55 billion), this deal marked a significant 158% increase from the previous agreement, making it the most expensive broadcasting rights deal in cricket history.
Star Sports handled television broadcasts, while Hotstar streamed matches, achieving record-breaking international streaming viewership during the 2019 season.
As we look ahead to 2023–2027, the IPL media rights underwent a transformative auction, dividing broadcasting rights into distinct packages. This auction, concluded in June 2022, witnessed a substantial increase in value, totaling at least ₹397.75 billion (almost US$5.1 billion).
Star Sports retained its television rights dominance, and a Viacom18 consortium secured exclusive streaming rights, propelling the IPL to become the second-highest-valued sports media property globally.
Viacom18, known for its innovative approach, announced the free streaming of the 2023 IPL on JioCinema in 12 languages and 4K resolution. However, this move had repercussions for The Walt Disney Company, contributing to a net loss of 2.4 million Disney+ subscribers worldwide, mainly in India.
Star Sports, in preparation for the 2023 IPL, expanded its reach with HD feeds in regional languages and included matches on Star Utsav Movies. Despite concerns about the potential impact, JioCinema reported a staggering 1.4 billion views over the opening weekend, surpassing the entire 2022 season on Disney+ Hotstar. The 2023 final set a new record for the most concurrent viewers in a live-streamed event, peaking at over 32 million viewers.
The global landscape of IPL broadcasting extended beyond India. In the June 2022 media-rights auction, Sky Sports and Viacom18 acquired rights for the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Times Internet gained rights for the Middle East, North Africa, and the US.
The IPL, a cricketing spectacle, has not been without its share of controversies. The 2012 IPL spot-fixing case led to a lifetime ban for Deccan Chargers player TP Sudhindra and suspensions for four others. In 2013, a spot-fixing and betting scandal resulted in lifetime bans for players and team officials, along with two-year bans for Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.
Strategic timeouts, introduced in 2010, faced criticism for contributing to the extended duration of matches. Despite attempts to address this concern, strategic timeouts remain a contentious issue, impacting the flow of play and facing public scrutiny.
Incidents involving players, ownership disputes, and controversies around ownership stakes further characterize the IPL’s journey. From Harbhajan Singh’s on-field altercation in 2008 to ownership disputes involving Shashi Tharoor and Sunanda Pushkar in 2010, the IPL has navigated through various challenges.
The league has also faced scrutiny for its impact on international cricket, with concerns raised by cricketing legends like Kapil Dev, who highlighted players’ preference for IPL over international commitments, leading to increased injuries among Indian players.
List of Broadcasters (2023–2027)
India: Star Sports, Jio Cinema
Bangladesh: T Sports, GTV
Afghanistan: Ariana Television Network
Australia: Foxtel, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports, Kayo Freebies (Internet)
Indonesia: Vidio (Internet)
Ireland: Sky Sports, DAZN
United Kingdom: Sky Sports, DAZN
Middle East and North Africa: Times Internet
New Zealand: Sky Sport
South Africa: SuperSport
Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
United States: Willow TV
Conclusion
In conclusion, the IPL’s broadcasting journey has evolved significantly, marked by transformative deals, technological advancements, and occasional controversies. As it continues to captivate audiences worldwide, the league remains a dynamic and influential force in the realm of cricket.
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