Though it has a much shorter window than football leagues such as the English Premier League (EPL) or the National Football League (NFL) in the United States, the IPL is expected to have a two and a half month exclusive window consisting of a maximum of 94 games with ten teams. Dhumal stated that constant innovation is required and that there is no reason why the IPL cannot become the largest sporting league in the world.
The IPL will be much bigger than it is now and will be the number one sports league in the world, Dhumal said when asked how the BCCI plans to raise the bar for Indian cricket’s crown jewel. Fans have made the most contribution to what the IPL has become, and Dhumal stated that plans are in place to significantly improve their viewing experience.
We are definitely looking into different innovations that can be implemented to make it more fan friendly. We want those who are watching it on TV and those who are in the stadium to have a better experience.
‘With the well-being of the players in mind, the BCCI will keep them away from other leagues.’
The proliferation of T20 leagues around the world has put pressure on the BCCI to release its prized players for international tournaments. The IPL owners have purchased all six teams in the brand new South African league, and it is understandable that they want an Indian presence in the competition.
Dhumal stated that the BCCI has no plans to change its current policy of retaining players despite a busy schedule, referring to both contract and non-contracted India players.
In general, it is the BCCI’s decision that our contracted players are not permitted to play in other leagues. Already, there is a lot of cricket going on.That decision was made with their overall well-being in mind. We are sticking to that decision for the time being.
