For two IPL seasons in a year, BCCI keeps ‘options open’
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is exploring the possibility of hosting two Indian Premier League seasons within a calendar year. This comes as the 17th edition of the world’s most popular cricket tournament gets underway on March 22nd.
This concept was previously floated by former Indian captain and coach Ravi Shastri, who envisioned a shorter IPL season potentially held in the latter half of the year, coinciding with a potential reduction in bilateral cricket. “Demand is big for that type of format,” Shastri remarked.
The key hurdle for a second IPL season is securing a suitable window within the existing cricket calendar, which is already packed with bilateral series and ICC events.
BCCI chairman Arun Dhumal acknowledged this challenge but expressed openness to exploring creative solutions as he said, “We need to find a window for 84 games and subsequently for 94.” He emphasized that any additional season would prioritize value creation and benefit the sport.
While the possibility of a second season is being explored, the format—T20 or a shorter T10 version—remains undecided. Arun Dhumal confirmed that no discussions have taken place regarding a T10 format, and any future decisions will be made in the best interests of the game.