"We Will Redo A Few Stadiums A Bit And Bring Back IPL With Completely Different Extravaganza And Fandom Next Year" - Sourav Ganguly

Following the recent success in the media rights auction, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly expects the Indian Premier League (IPL) to reach new heights. The tournament cemented its dominance in the athletic world by earning a total of Rs. 48,390 crore in television and internet media sales over the following five years. 

In terms of broadcasting, the exorbitant number indicates that the cash-rich league has overtaken numerous significant athletic leagues throughout the world. 

Will Develop Overall Infrastructure For A Better Fan Experience: Sourav Ganguly

Predicting the league to only become bigger from this point onwards, Ganguly said in an interview with Sportstar: 

“We will work on it for sure and develop overall infrastructure for a better fan experience. A lot of new stadiums have come up, and the infrastructure of cricket in this country is huge. We will redo a few stadiums a bit and bring back IPL with completely different extravaganza and fandom next year.” 

Despite the COVID epidemic, the IPL reached new heights in terms of viewership in the 2020 season. However, due to safety concerns, the league’s last three seasons have been restricted to a small number of sites. 

Sourav Ganguly Lauds IPL’s Success

Lauding the IPL 2022’s grand finish after the last two editions saw the playoffs being held in the UAE, Ganguly said: 

“The last two years have been affected by COVID and the biggest thing is that despite COVID, we managed to host the tournament and this time, we finished it with great hype in Kolkata and Ahmedabad,” 

The league stage of the recently finished season was held in Maharashtra at four different locations. Following the conclusion of the tournament, the action went to Kolkata and Ahmedabad, where the knockout matches were held. 

The final was a sight to behold, with the Gujarat Titans (GT) being declared victors in front of a sold-out Narendra Modi Stadium. 

The usage of restricted sites has resulted in tiring pitches and a boring style of cricket, which has been a source of worry. The home and away system was last adopted in the 2019 season, which bodes well for the franchises. 

Over the years, venues like the Wankhede and Chepauk have been crucial for their respective clubs. The system’s reintroduction will also allow die-hard supporters to see their club play in their own backyard. 

IPL Will Go Back To Home And Away Format From Next Year: Sourav Ganguly

Noting the importance of bringing back the original format, Ganguly said: 

“It’s a great tournament and it will continue to thrive. But most importantly, the IPL has to go back to a home-and-away format from next year,” 

In the coming years, the IPL is expected to grow dramatically. In the upcoming FTP cycle, the league will have a two-and-a-half-month window to begin with. The broadcasters have also been told to prepare for a season with a total of 74 matches. 

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