The IPL effect: How BCCI's golden goose will usher in cricket's new world order

The Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman, Arun Singh Dhumal, has revealed the BCCI’s (Board of Control for Cricket in India) plans of expanding the tournament’s window in the coming years, which is set to mark a global shift in world cricket. The IPL currently hosts 74 matches after the addition of the two new teams in 2022.

The tournament runs in a two-month window, but the BCCI plans to extend the number of matches to 94 soon. With the global cricketing calendar packed till 2027, there isn’t much scope to extend the tournament till next season. However, once the ICC (International Cricket Council) formulates the FTP (Future Tour Programme) for the coming years, the number of bilateral affairs is expected to decrease, giving bigger windows to organise domestic leagues.

"If you look at the transition over the last few years, there is definitely less interest in some bilateral games. That is why countries are coming up with their own leagues: the England and Wales Cricket Board's The Hundred, Australia's Big Bash League, the UAE's International League T20, South Africa's SA20 and the Caribbean Premier League,” Dhumal said in an interview with The Financial Times.

Dhumal mentioned that going forward, national cricket boards will only engage in profitable bilateral series, which in turn will help the domestic leagues expand their schedules.

"If this is the trend, then every country will want fewer bilaterals, or bilaterals that make more financial sense for them, and then there is scope to enlarge the IPL window. We are hoping for more discussions with all the countries and colleagues. If that works out, it should work out for everyone,” he added.

The pattern is quite evident in ICC’s current scheduling as well, with international fixtures featuring the top ten-ranked Test teams, gradually seeing a decline over the past four years.

Here’s a table showing international matches featuring the top ten Test teams every year since 2022:

A new world order beckons for cricket

The numbers tell a clear picture of all major cricketing nations' diminishing international appearances. The upcoming years could well see the top three teams, namely India, Australia and England, dominating the cricketing calendar every year and playing the majority of the matches, with the rest of the countries focusing more on the domestic leagues. 

Dhumal also foresaw a new world order in the cricketing fraternity, with the sport following in the footsteps of football, with more league cricket and fewer bilaterals.

"There is a lot of investor interest [in the IPL], because the kind of return on investment the IPL has given is exceptional. But it would not happen unless we have a bigger window. The larger picture has to be how many bilaterals, how many International Cricket Council events and what windows are available for these leagues,” Dhumal said.

"It is not only about the IPL, but also The Hundred, the Big Bash and other leagues. In case these leagues are to be held regularly, that is the new world order for cricket: fewer bilaterals, more league cricket, and in between you have ICC events, a bit like football,” he added.

What does the future hold?

The world order for cricket is set to focus more on revenue and audience engagement for all cricketing boards, as the fans also gradually transition towards seeing more of the franchise-based cricket. The new, commercially driven ecosystem presents both opportunity and imbalance.

While big nations are likely to dominate the bilateral calendars, which will fill their coffers and also keep them prepared for the mega ICC events, the lack of bilateral engagements for smaller nations could well impact the overall competitiveness in world cricket.

Hence, it will be a challenge for the ICC to strike a balance between keeping international cricket relevant amid the rise of domestic leagues. If everything goes as planned, world cricket will shift towards a hybrid model where select high-profile bilateral series, marquee ICC events and franchise leagues co-exist.

The move could well help expand the financial stability of the game, but it also comes with a risk of widening the gap between the top and the rest.