Lalit Modi has reignited the debate around the structure of the Indian Premier League, claiming that the current format is costing both the Board of Control for Cricket in India and franchises significant revenue. With the tournament currently capped at 74 matches despite having 10 teams, Modi believes the league is falling short of its full commercial potential.
Under a complete home-and-away format, where each team plays the others twice, the IPL would feature 94 matches. However, scheduling constraints have prevented this model from being implemented. Modi argues that this shift has diluted the value originally promised to franchises.
“Every game, the BCCI gets 50 per cent, and the remaining 50 per cent is distributed to teams. So, teams are now losing out on 20 games. It is by contractual obligation for the fees that they’re paying to provide them home and away.”
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He further emphasized that the home-and-away format is central to the league’s financial success.
“The home and away is where the value is.” “If you don’t have time in your calendar, don’t increase the number of teams. Simple as that.” According to Modi, the financial impact is massive, with nearly ₹2,400 crore in potential revenue lost each season due to fewer matches.
Each IPL franchise could be missing out on Rs 120 crore in revenue every season, says Lalit Modihttps://t.co/zRRjYF1yIc
— News18 CricketNext (@cricketnext) April 7, 2026
“If there were 94 matches today on a home and away basis – ₹118 crore a game – it’s ₹2,400 crore. That’s ₹2,400 crores extra that’s coming to the BCCI.”
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He added that franchises are also missing out significantly. “Out of this, ₹1,200 crores would have gone to the 10 teams.” “Each team would have got ₹120 crore, and the team value should have automatically been higher.” Modi also dismissed concerns about competition from other leagues while sharing his views on cricket’s future. “Test cricket should always stay; we should dump the ODIs and keep the T20s. I see absolutely no threat to the IPL from any other leagues.”
