BCCI Considering Making IPL A Nine-Team Event From 2021

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking to entertain the fans of Indian Premier League (IPL) by adding one more franchise to the lucrative league. The Indian Board is contemplating the idea to have one more team from 2021 edition of the tournament, thus, making it a nine-team event rather than the ongoing 8-team event.

Initially, the board desired to make it a 10-team event but now, they are looking to add only one team in 2021 edition of IPL. However, they are planning to add an extra franchise in 2023 or 2024 to make it a 10-team event but only after looking at the success rate after adding one more franchise.

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BCCI can introduce 10th Team in IPL by 2023:

Another franchise could be added to the calendar as early as next year and IPL could become a 9-team tournament till 2022, as per the reports in Times of India. A source quoted that the new structure will not affect the FTP of International Cricket Council and also IPL can accommodate 76 matches in a calendar year.

“Nine teams work well until a new FTP can fall in place (2023) and BCCI can introduce the 10th team,” sources were quoted as saying by the Times of India.

There are buyers for the new team

Earlier, in 2008, IPL began as an eight-team tournament, before the board tried adding two new teams in 2011. By IPL 2014, the tournament was back to eight teams owing to multiple controversies. It has stayed an eight-team affair since then. The problems, which arose because of adding two teams are still under the hammer of the supreme court.

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“There are buyers. That’s not the point. But are there enough buyers coming to the table where bidding can be a competitive process? For one franchise? Yes, For two? Let’s see,” the sources added.

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Further, it is learnt that the BCCI is endeavouring a base price of around INR 2000 crore, which might not pull multiple bidders in the current market. The renovating Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, with a record capacity of 1.1 lakh, is set to be available by March and could be one of the frontrunners to be the home for the new franchise.