Speaking to PTI, Dhumal spoke about his long-term plans for the IPL, why there can’t be more than 10 teams and the BCCI on its long-standing stand of not allowing Indian players to participate in foreign leagues. shall prevail.
IPL has become the second most valuable sports league globally in terms of value per match after media rights worth Rs 48,390 crore for the 2023-2027 cycle.
Although it has a much shorter window than football leagues such as the EPL or the NFL in the United States, the IPL is likely to have a special window of two and a half months that includes a maximum of 94 games with 10 teams.
Dhumal said that continuous innovation is the need of the hour and there is no reason why IPL cannot become the biggest sports league across the world.
Asked how BCCI plans to raise the level of pride in Indian cricket, Dhumal told PTI: “The IPL will be much bigger than what it is and will be the number one sports league in the world.”
Fans have contributed the most to what the IPL has become and Dhumal said there are plans to significantly improve their viewing experience.
“We are definitely looking at various innovations that can be brought in to make it more fan friendly. For those who are watching it on TV and who are experiencing it in the stadium, we want their Have a better experience.
“If we can plan the IPL in advance, then people all over the world can plan their travel accordingly. It should be a money-making experience for the fans,” he added.
‘Team will be on 10’
The boss of the IPL said that the BCCI made over Rs 12000 crore by adding two new teams to the competition, but there is little chance that the number will exceed 10.
A total of 74 games were played this season and the number of matches with the existing teams in the new cycle could go up to 94.
“Teams will only be on 10. If you increase it, it becomes difficult to do the tournament in one go. We are looking to start 74 games for the first two seasons, then 84 more if things allow So there could be 94. The fifth year of the media rights cycle, that this itself would make it a long enough event,” Dhumal said.
“We can’t compare ourselves with football and other sports leagues around the world because the requirement is completely different in cricket. You can’t play on the same pitch for six months.”
‘BCCI will keep away from other leagues keeping in mind the welfare of the players’
The growing T20 leagues across the world have put pressure on the BCCI to release their sought-after players for overseas tournaments. The IPL owners have bought all six teams in the all-new South Africa league and certainly want some Indian presence in the competition.
Referring to India’s both contracted and non-contracted players, Dhumal said there is no plan to change the current BCCI policy amid a busy calendar.
“In principle it is the BCCI’s decision that our contracted players cannot go for other leagues. Since a lot of cricket is happening. This decision has been taken keeping in mind their overall well being. Now we stand by that decision. .
“Even non-contracted players are keen to play for India,” he added.
However, BCCI has been very open to taking the tournament overseas by organizing some exhibition games to meet the long-standing request of IPL teams.
“With the diaspora across the world, we want to further expand the reach of this tournament, but it has to be at the right time. It is very important. We will evaluate and when the time is right we will take it overseas.
“The international FTP is so tight that player availability needs to be looked at before making a call on it,” he said, before wishing the two new leagues in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates all the best.
‘Women’s IPL will be a world class property’
The inaugural WIPL will be held in March next year with five teams but the sale of teams has not been held yet. There is a lot of interest to buy teams and likely to operate from smaller centers in India.
“The way we are planning this women’s IPL is that we will have a whole new set of fans joining the game. There are a lot of female fans who have added to the IPL fan base and this tournament will only add to that. And many more would like to take up the sport as a profession that was the idea behind the announcement of equal pay (for women India cricketers).
“Fans should come to the stadium in large numbers, whether we have WIPL in rural areas or main city centres. We will evaluate it and take a call soon,” he added.
On the revenue estimation for the tournament, Dhumal said: “We are building a new asset and it has to be world class. We are not really bothered about the numbers.
“We are working on making it one of the best women’s cricket tournament in the world. What we did in IPL, we want to do something similar with WIPL.”
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