Arun Singh Dhumal, the chairperson of the Indian Premier League, said that there could be a discussion on the bilateral calendar after 2027 to see if there is any scope for the Indian Premier League to have a longer window as well.
However, the IPL currently sees 74 matches, where, within the current arrangement – considering the addition of two new teams (Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans) – all teams are not getting to play each other twice in the league phase as well. Dhumal also stated that there isn’t enough space now in the calendar for the tournament to go from a 74-match to a 94-match as well. While he denied double-headers as an option, he stated that a bigger window can be decided, considering the lack of interest in ‘some bilateral games’.
“If you look at the transition over the last few years, there is definitely less interest in some bilateral games,” Dhumal said in an interview with The Financial Times. “That is why countries are coming up with their own leagues: the England and Wales Cricket Board’s The Hundred, Australia’s Big Bash League, the UAE’s International League T20, South Africa’s SA20 and the Caribbean Premier League.”
“If this is the trend, then every country will want fewer bilaterals, or bilaterals that make more financial sense for them, and then there is scope to enlarge the IPL window. We are hoping for more discussions with all the countries and colleagues. If that works out, it should work out for everyone,” he shared.
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“It [the bilateral calendar] makes sense, and it is already locked until 2027. But when they plan post-2027, we will have discussions. The IPL is not only adding value to India and Indian players; it is adding value to world cricket at large. So all these players would want more. Hopefully, when we decide on the next cycle, we will be able to carve out a bigger window so we can extend it beyond 74,” he stated.
He further added, “There are different possibilities. One is reducing some bilaterals. Another is carving out a window elsewhere. In case we get some windows during September or October, when you have the end of the English season and before the start of the Australian season, then if we have a few days available there, we can extend at that time. So all those possibilities can be worked out and whatever works best, we will do.”
While saying that the BCCI’s focus was not just on Indian cricket, but the global match, Dhumal named the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders as ‘unfortunate’ as well. Dhumal also claimed that the IPL’s central sponsorship portfolio is now worth about INR 850 crore a year, and with more teams added to the league, he also suggested that the new world order could add more franchise T20s and fewer bilaterals as well.
“There is a lot of investor interest [in the IPL], because the kind of return on investment the IPL has given is exceptional. But it would not happen unless we have a bigger window. The larger picture has to be how many bilaterals, how many International Cricket Council events and what windows are available for these leagues. It is not only about the IPL, but also The Hundred, the Big Bash and other leagues. In case these leagues are to be held regularly, that is the new world order for cricket: fewer bilaterals, more league cricket, and in between you have ICC events, a bit like football,” he again shared.
Arun Singh Dhumal also claimed that there was no immediate decision to expand the number of teams in the Women’s Premier League, but added that discussions have taken place to move IPL outside India.
“We have discussed it many times, but the calendar is tight with bilaterals, leagues and ICC events, so there is not much scope. But whatever works in the interest of world cricket at large, we will take a decision keeping that in mind. If it helps cricket grow and reach more countries, and have a wider footprint, we can look at it. Cricket is becoming part of the Olympics at Los Angeles in 2028, and we hope that will be a big boost,” he again shared.
“Cricket has to grow across the globe. If it is not going through bilaterals and it is going through leagues, then I am happy that franchise owners who are making money in the cycle are taking responsibility to help those leagues too. If the BCCI is seen as a leader in cricket, then it is good that franchise owners are participating, adding value and helping create talent in those countries,” Arun Singh Dhumal concluded.
