Mumbai, Sept. 19 (UDN): The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to complete two decades in 2027, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) planning a series of special programmes to mark the milestone.
Representational Image
The decision was taken during the BCCI’s 95th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at its headquarters in Mumbai on Friday.
The General Body unanimously approved plans for celebrations commemorating 20 seasons of the IPL, which began in 2008 and has since grown into one of the most prominent franchise cricket competitions in the world.
Dhumal, Majumdar Retain IPL Governing Council Seats
The AGM also saw the re-election of Arun Singh Dhumal and M Khairul Jamal Majumdar to the IPL Governing Council.
Dhumal, who previously served as treasurer of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, has headed the IPL Governing Council since 2022. Majumdar represents the Cricket Association of Mizoram and has been associated with the council as a representative of state associations.
Both were elected unopposed and will continue to be involved in the administration and functioning of the league.
From an Eight-Team Tournament to a Global Cricket Brand
The IPL began on April 18, 2008, with the inaugural match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The opening game produced an instant IPL landmark as KKR batter Brendon McCullum smashed an unbeaten 158 off 73 deliveries, setting the tone for the tournament's explosive brand of cricket.
Over the years, the competition has expanded in scale, attracting global players while recording substantial growth in viewership, commercial value and international reach.
The league started with eight teams in 2008 and expanded to 10 teams in 2022 with the entry of Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. The current format comprises 74 matches in a season.
Mumbai Indians, CSK Among Most Successful Teams
Across its first 19 editions, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have each secured five IPL titles.
Former captains Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni have also guided their respective franchises to five championships each.
Kolkata Knight Riders have won the title three times, while Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans have also featured among the champions.
According to the report, Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the 2027 season as defending champions after securing consecutive titles in 2025 and 2026.
IPL's Commercial Value Has Grown Sharply
The league's financial footprint has expanded dramatically since its launch.
The IPL's original 10-year television rights agreement in 2008 was valued at approximately $1 billion. For the 2023-27 cycle, the BCCI sold the media rights in 2022 for Rs 48,390 crore, equivalent to around $6.2 billion at the time.
The deal significantly elevated the IPL's position among the world's major sporting properties in terms of media-rights value per match.
As the league approaches its 20th edition in 2027, the BCCI's proposed celebrations are set to mark a significant milestone in the tournament's nearly two-decade journey.