Ex-IPL COO Sundar Raman predicts 10-team IPL to return from 2022

Indian Premier League (IPL) is arguably biggest and most popular T20 franchise-based tournaments in world. Over years, IPL has gone through several changes in order to expand itself. IPL is in its 13th edition and it seems like re still lies room for its expansion. According to former IPL COO Sundar Raman, expansion could happen in terms of number of teams in next 2-3 years.

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A 10-team IPL is on cards in next 2-3 years: Former IPL COO Sundar Raman

In 2011, Indian Premier League, while only in its fourth edition, took a big step to introduce two more teams, Kochi and Pune to make league a 10-team affair. However, that didn’t last too long. Kochi franchise was terminated by BCCI ahead of following season in 2012 and league had nine franchises in next two seasons. In 2014, tournament went back to its eight-team format after Pune decided to pull out due to financial differences with board.

In an interview with Telegraph, Sundar Raman revealed that tournament could be played for 10 weeks considering increase in number of teams. He added that tournament has grown massively in past few years. According to what Sundar Raman has said, it seems BCCI would take opportunity to expand league in upcoming years as it seems to be a need w.

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Sundar Raman furr said that if tournament has more teams, it would mean more matches will be played. He added that this could result in a situation where league collides with international calendar, which BCCI has tried to avoid. Several countries have come toger and tried to keep a window for tournament as y want ir players to feature in league.

However, Sundar Raman pointed out that board needs to chalk out a structure where every international team benefits financially from tournament. He furr said that Pakistan players have been restricted from IPL since 2009 and added that it is also very rare that a player from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh or Zimbabwe gets an opportunity in league.

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Sundar Raman reveals consequences on  cricketing ecomy if IPL 2020 gets cancelled

While speaking to  Times of India, Sundar Raman said that cancellation of both  events (IPL 2020 & T20 World Cup) will have a serious impact on cricket ecomics for this year. However, in case of an ICC event, as contracts run through till 2023, deferring it to 2022 may be possible without loss of revenues. But t hosting an IPL or bilateral series of any country will lead to a loss in revenues, which is far from desirable.

Sundar Raman, who is presently CEO of sporting arm of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, which also owns Mumbai Indians, added that IPL remains single biggest event for global cricket ecomy. With a contribution of around 1/3rd of global cricket revenues annually, importance of IPL cricket's global ecomy cant be overstressed. Raman claimed that with cricket's ecomy estimated at $1.9 billion, IPL contributes to 40% of its revenues, which comes to approximately $760 million.

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IM COURTESY: INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE INSTAGRAM