The challenges of holding numerous seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in a single year have been laid bare by IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal. To accommodate the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Programme (FTP), the Indian Premier League often plays out throughout April and May. (ICC).
After the 2021 season was cut in half due to COVID-19 and a bio bubble breach, the tournament resumed in 2022 with two halves.
Dhumal told the Indian Express that he believes organising two full IPL seasons every year would be impossible.
“Given the format of IPL that we have, it is impossible to have an other edition in the same year. We saw the bilateral calendar for the upcoming four years, and the ICC events, and that may not be possible. But if any window of opportunity is available for another format or short tournament, we look at that.”
Arun Dhumal
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a staple of the cricketing season for countries beyond India. The league compensates the cricket boards so that their players can participate in the competition. Dhumal said the government might use the funds to better compete in domestic tournaments and train young cricket players.
“If cricket has to flourish in other nations across the globe & they have no other option but to go for the leagues & make money out of it & then put the money back into domestic cricket, so be it. And if India is helping that, then so be it.”
Arun Dhumal
There is little doubt that franchise cricket is ushering in a new era for cricket. International cricket needs help keeping up with schedule and relevance due to the proliferation of franchise-based Twenty20 tournaments.
Cricket’s future rests in the hands of the spectators: IPL Chairman
“The fans will decide this, and it is not up to the cricket boards or ICC. If the fans want only one particular format to be played, say T20, and there are no takers for ODI or Test cricket, it will eventually come to that.”
Arun Dhumal
With the rise of the shorter format, one-day internationals have suffered significant damage. Some worry that international cricket will eventually follow the franchise model, consisting only of actual events.