IPL 2023: “The Final Stamp On The IPL Came When We Went To South Africa” - Ravi Shastri On League Completing 15 Years

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri spoke about the the success of Indian Premier League (IPL) on the 15th anniversary of the marquee tournament. He said that the final stamp on the toughest T20 league came when it was played in South Africa in 2009.

IPL has completed 15 years and it’s fair to say that all 15 editions of the league have been enthralling to watch. The tournament has revolutionized Indian cricket and given huge monetary success to BCCI with its stratospheric growth, developing into one of the world’s most lucrative annual sporting properties, pulling in millions of viewers each season.

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The brand value of IPL over the years has increased rapidly and has put it on the same list as other sporting leagues such as NBA, NFL, and NHL. Recently it was revealed that the league generates more revenue than the English Premier League (EPL), which in itself is a huge achievement.

IPL 2023 | India National Cricket Team | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Delhi Capitals (DC) | Gujarat Titans (GT) | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) | Mumbai Indians (MI) | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) 

Ravi Shastri spoke about how the league has evolved over the years and highlighted how it gained the same model as EPL in its second season itself. Speaking to Star Sports, he said:

“If you look at all the players who played a part in this, the quality of cricket was so good that it took off. But the final stamp on the IPL came when we went to South Africa. To go there and to see that South Africa saw the IPL with the same interest as India, that shocked the world. Because by that time, people around the world had started picking teams. 

“What you see in football now, that had happened in the IPL from the second season itself. The EPL has been going on for years, teams like Arsenal and Manchester United, but here in two years fans in IPL had their teams – Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings or Royal Challengers Bangalore.”

Also Read: DC vs KKR: Delhi Capitals Head Coach Ricky Ponting To Resign After IPL 2023 – Reports

IPL 2023: “I remember that day very well,” Ravi Shastri on Brendon McCullum’s knock on Day 1 of IPL 

IPL kick-started with a rollicking note as KKR batter Brendon McCullum smashed a staggering 73-ball 158 runs in the opening match against RCB. Since then the league hasn’t looked back as there have been many staggering performances.

Ravi Shastri recalled McCullum’s knock and also spoke about how the league grew in leaps and bounds. He elaborated further:

“I remember that day very well, I was backstage, I was with the governing council, I knew what is happening behind the scenes. How are players being signed, how much interest was there. India won the World Cup in 2007, so because of that, the amount of interest that was created was unbelievable. 

“And the one thing that I saw that never happened in other formats of the game, the kind of people that came to support it, it looked like the entire nation was united to come there and watch the match. Advertising industry, cricket fans, Bollywood, Kollywood, Tollywood, you name it, everyone was there. And the quality of cricket that was seen from the first game itself, there was no substitute for that.”

Currently, the 16th edition of the IPL is going on. The 25th game of the league will take place today (18th April) between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians.

Also Read: IPL 2023 Live Telecast: SRH vs MI Live Telecast Channel- Where To Watch IPL Live On TV? Match 25

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