Cricket is like a religion in India. The madness around any big cricket tournament is palpable weeks before the event begins. People are all ears when the experts speak. Newspapers, TV channels and social media – everywhere, you can feel the cricket fever. Everyone, from housewives to office-goers, is an expert. One can hear them extolling their heroes, and venting out their anger at their favourite team’s loss, at any gathering.
What if the event is organised in India?
The long queues in front of the ticket counters and the massive crowds streaming in and out of stadiums speaks volumes about India’s love for the Gentleman’s Game. The best thing about the IPL is that it includes both established stars and budding cricket players.
Though several cricket tournaments, small and big, take place throughout the year, some of them on Indian soil, the IPL has changed the game for cricket lovers across the globe. IPL is an abbreviation of Indian Premier League, and the jewel in the BCCI’s crown when it comes to organising big events successfully.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) conceptualized the IPL in 2007, with the first match played on April 18, 2008. Each match is played in the T20 format. The annual event became immensely popular with Indian cricket fans.
Let us now take a closer look at the history of the Indian Premier League. It is as interesting as the game.
Introduction to IPL
Lalit Modi, the former vice president of BCCI, should be credited with the conceptualization of IPL. He conceived the idea to attract people of all ages, especially the youth. He was confident that the T20 format would deliver rousing matches and bring in fans, especially the younger ones, who weren’t so enthusiastic about five-day Test Matches.
The IPL was developed on a round-robin concept. It includes both group-stage matches, and playoffs involving the top four sides. The format has each team playing the others at least once. The top four in the league table proceed to the playoff stage. Each team comprises both Indian and foreign players.
Eight teams participated in the first IPL tournament, with the competition subsequently expanding to include ten franchises. As T20 matches are fast-paced, the tournament became a huge hit with cricket fans across the world. Furthermore, the tournament was hosted across different cities in India.
IPL Teams
It has been previously stated that IPL started with eight teams representing different states of India. Some teams have written their names in gold for their consistent excellence. The IPL first included ten teams in 2011, and there was a period of churn before the present ten franchises came together for the 2022 edition.
MI or Mumbai Indians is one such name. The cricket team, owned by Reliance Industries, represents Maharashtra. MI is a favourite of many Indian cricket fans as they have been consistent in their performance and won the IPL five times. They missed their chance in 2010 by a whisker.
Chennai Super Kings is another big name and fans’ favourite in the IPL. They have a stellar record in the IPL, with four wins and another five final appearances. MS Dhoni, Captain Cool, has successfully led his team to huge success so far and is the darling of the CSK supporters.
Other IPL teams that have delivered some good cricket on the field are Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals. Some teams are yet to win the IPL trophy.
Wrapping Up
The IPL structure is modern, refreshing and exciting. People love to watch their favourite Indian and international stars sharing the same platform. The timing for the IPL matches is also viewer-friendly, and the teams often deliver riveting and nail-biting finishes. IPL has become a great platform for cricket aspirants to showcase their talent, and get a call-up to the national team.
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