The Indian Premier League (IPL) completes its 18 years on April 18, 2025 — a journey that gave opportunities to talents, gave birth to legends, and redefined the game. What started as a bold experiment in 2008 has today become a festival that returns every year, without which people can’t even imagine their summer.
When Brendon McCullum lit up the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru with his breathtaking 158* off 73 balls for Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL wasn’t just born — a revolution was unleashed.
The IPL became a role model for leagues like Australia’s Big Bash and England’s Hundred — though none match its glamour or influence. The launch of the Women’s Premier League in 2023 was also influenced by the IPL, marking a turning point in women’s cricket by injecting the same energy and glamour that had long been missing.
Economically, it not only gave Indian domestic players the freedom to take cricket as a serious career but also helped the BCCI become the richest cricket board in the world.
Players like Jasprit Bumrah went from being unknown bowlers to modern-day greats. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav showcased their talent in this league and used it as a launchpad for their international careers. Rinku Singh — then an uncapped player — did the unthinkable by hitting five sixes off five balls to secure victory for his team and become an overnight sensation.
The IPL’s influence on Indian cricket is immense. It has given us moments that will live forever, rivalries that burn eternal. Eighteen years ago, the IPL promised entertainment. Today, it delivers history. And the best part? The story is just getting started.
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Other than creating business records, the IPL has also gone through a host of controversies. To its credit, it has managed to douse those and make course corrections on its way to becoming one of the biggest global sports brands.@atreyom writes.https://t.co/86o2xrBfE9
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) April 18, 2025