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The Indian Premier League, which recently concluded its 16th edition, is inarguably the most popular T20I league across the globe. The league attracts top players and coaches from all over the world and generates revenue more than any other cricket league in the world. Meanwhile, the landscape is changing and several other T20 leagues have come up, which might hamper IPL’s popularity. However, the IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal doesn’t see any threat from the new coming T20 leagues.
The IPL owns a different kind of fandom across the subcontinent and is widely popular for providing opportunities to young talent. The estimated brand value of IPL is around $8.4 billion, and Dhumal is pretty sure that it is absolutely safe from other T20 leagues. Even though several leagues including Major League Cricket, are underway, Dhumal is confident that IPL would retain its primacy in franchise cricket. He told Reuters, "We don’t see anyone else as our competition, there is none even close to IPL."
He added, "Our best wishes to all the boards starting their own T20 leagues, but I don’t think any of them can be a threat to IPL." His conviction comes from the strong numbers in terms of viewership in IPL this year.
Speaking about the popularity of IPL 2023, he said, "It has been a phenomenal success, and largely because of the sheer competitiveness of this year’s tournament." He went on to say, "Most of the matches went down to the wire and there were plenty of last-over thrillers. We got a phenomenal response from the fans. Our viewership grew manifold and our broadcast and digital partners both are excited."
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Notably, the popularity of IPL never saw a dip since its inaugural season in 2008. Dhumal also said that the cash-rich league would remain a 10-team event, but the number of matches might go up to 94. However, it solely depends on the window the tournament gets in the calendar prepared by the International Cricket Council (ICC).