IPL 2022 Likely To See 74 Matches Being Played After Addition Of Two New Teams

The IPL 2022 is likely to go back to the 74 matches format which was first employed in IPL 2011 when two new teams were added to the mix to make it a 10-team tournament. The same thing is expected to be done when two new teams will be added to the Indian Premier League (IPL) from next year onwards.

Tenders inviting the two teams will be floated next month and the process completed by October. The 14 additional matches per year will fetch BCCI, at current media and sponsorship rights rates, more than Rs. 800 crore. Not only this, if the media rights deal sees an upswing, the BCCI’s returns will go up further from 2023 onwards.

Teams To Be Divided Into 2 Groups For A Total Of 74 Games

The BCCI has a tried and tested formula to ensure all teams play 14 games, despite being divided into two groups of 5 each and still have all the teams play against one another atleast once. Each Group A team would play four home-and-away games in the group, one home-and-away contest with a Group B team, and four matches with the other teams in that group—home or away based on a random draw.

If the current home and away formula is used, the BCCI would have to need more than 2 months to play the 94 games required. This is not possible in today’s world, with ICC also planning at least one world event each year.

“We are not ready for 94 matches yet. Our broadcasters are not ready. There are issues around overseas player availability and finding a suitable window. We will consider a bigger window in future years,” a BCCI official said.

Also, an official of Star India, the current IPL broadcaster, had recently warned of “fans dropping off as the tournament becomes longer and predictable”.

The BCCI has reportedly put in new rules for the player retentions, increment in salary purses, and fresh media rights tender.  Kolkata-based RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group based out of Kolkata; the Adani group headquartered in Ahmedabad; Aurobindo Pharma Ltd based out of Hyderabad and the Torrent Group that operates from Gujarat are learned to be showing interest in the two new franchises.

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