When the inaugural season of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Premier League</a> kick-started in April 2008, T20 cricket was struggling for identity and there was a cloud of uncertainty surrounding how the tournament will pan out. However, it surpassed the expectations of many and went on to become one of the most popular and lucrative cricket leagues in the world.&nbsp;

There have been 15 editions of the IPL played thus far and the marquee tournament has transformed the lives of many players around the globe and has undoubtedly revolutionized T20 cricket. The competition has witnessed the best players from around the globe take the stage and battle it out for the crown. It has also become a breeding ground for future stars.

Over the years, the cash-rich league has garnered fans from around the world, who are ardent followers of the game. However, there are a few stupefying facts about the tournament that can leave even the most die-hard fans wide-eyed.

Here are the five mind-boggling facts you should know about the Indian Premier League:

5. Glenn McGrath bowled the first-ever maiden of the IPL

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/glenn-mcgrath-impressed-with-umran-maliks-pace-advises-youngster-not-to-lose-accuracy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenn McGrath</a> was a superstar of the game in the international arena. Test cricket was McGrath’s stronger suit as he dismantled batting line-ups for fun and bagged an insane tally of 563 wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64. He was phenomenal in the ODIs as well and picked up 381 wickets in 250 matches at an economy of 3.88.

McGrath also showed his bowling might in the lucrative T20 tournament. The former Australian pacer represented Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the first season of the lucrative T20 tournament and took 12 scalps in 14 games at an amazing economy of 6.61.

Though McGrath was renowned for his impeccable accuracy, not many would know that the former Australian cricketer was the first player to bowl a maiden in the history of the cash-rich league. He achieved the feat when Delhi Daredevils locked horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 3rd match of IPL 2008.&nbsp;

In the third over of the DD vs RCB game, the 52-year-old contained Virat Kohli with his consistency in his first two balls and got rid of Kohli in his third delivery. Then Shane Watson arrived at the crease, but the Queensland-born was not able to open his account in the next three balls, and thus, McGrath registered the first maiden of the IPL.

4. Zaheer Khan is the only player to feature in the 1st and the 500th game of the IPL&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/zaheer-khan-and-ravi-shastri-back-umran-malik-believe-new-zealand-tour-exposure-will-help-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zaheer Khan</a> is certainly one of the best left-arm pacer India has produced. He featured in 92 Tests and bagged 311 wickets at an average of 32.94. The 44-year-old was sensational in the ODIs too and picked up 282 scalps in 200 matches at an economy of 4.93.

The Shrirampur-born was a proven performer in the cash-rich league too and bagged 102 wickets in 100 games at an economy of 7.59. In his illustrious IPL career, Zaheer represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

However, very few would be aware that Zaheer is the only player to have played 1st and the 500th match of the cash-rich league. The former Indian pacer represented RCB when they faced Kolkata Knight Riders in the first game of the IPL and it were KKR who stood tall, thrashing Bangalore by 140 runs.

Then in the 500th match of the lucrative T20 tournament, which took place in the 2015 season,&nbsp; Zaheer represented the JP Duminy-led Delhi Daredevils against Rajasthan Royals. RR ended up winning the game by 14 runs. Therefore, while Zaheer made a unique record, though his team lost on both occasions.

3. The BCCI will earn INR 49 lakh for every ball bowled in the IPL

In June 2022, history was made when IPL media rights for the 2023-27 cycle were sold for a staggering figure of INR 48,390 crore. With the deal, the Indian Premier League leapfrogged marquee tournaments such as English Premier League (EPL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) and became the world’s second-most lucrative league in the world, only behind National Football League (NFL).

Star India bagged the television rights (Package A) for a whopping sum of INR 23,575 crore while Package B and C went to Reliance-backed Viacom-18 for INR 23,758 crore for digital rights. When it comes to Package D (for overseas broadcast), it went to Times Internet.

In the five-year cycle, a total of 410 matches are expected to be played. The next two editions will have 74 matches each whereas, in the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the tournament will include 84 games. Lastly, the 2027 season will have 94 matches.

Therefore, for each match, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/board-of-cricket-control-in-india/?tab=videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Board of Control of Cricket in India</a> (BCCI) will be earning INR 118 crore. On diving deep into the numbers, one comes to know that each over will fetch BCCI INR 2.95 crore and every ball bowled in the competition will roughly generate Rs 49 lakhs, which is quite stunning.

2. The IPL committee broadcasted matches live on YouTube in 2010

From the 2008 to the 2017 IPL season, fans watched the lucrative T20 tournament on Sony. Then as Star India bagged the broadcasting rights for the next five years and OTT subscriptions boomed in India, one could also view IPL matches on the streaming platform Hotstar, apart from Star Sports TV channels.

However, many would be surprised to know that the cash-rich league was also broadcasted on YouTube in 2010. IPL struck a deal with Google, under which all 60 games of the third season were shown with a short delay on YouTube around the world (except the United States of America).

The move made the lucrative T20 tournament a truly global event as anyone sitting anywhere in the world, with a computer and internet connection could watch the competition for free. It also enabled IPL to tap into markets where it did not have arrangements for live telecast.&nbsp;The third edition of the Indian Premier League ran from March 12 to April 25. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/csk-chennai-super-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennai Super Kings</a> were the winners of the season.

1. IPL’s most valuable franchise, the $1.3 billion Mumbai Indians, is now worth more than six MLB teams, 27 NHL teams, and every MLS team

<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/mi-mumbai-indians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mumbai Indians</a> are the most successful franchise in the history of the IPL. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, they have won the Indian T20 extravaganza on five occasions with the most recent triumph being in 2020. Also, Mumbai have ended up in the runners-up position once.&nbsp;

MI, by their exploits on the field, have garnered an insane fanbase, and the brand value of the franchise has just risen exponentially over the years. Thus, the five-time IPL champions have become the most valuable franchise of the marquee tournament. As per a Forbes report, the Mumbai franchise is valued at $1.3 billion (as of April 2022).

With such an insane brand value, the Mumbai franchise has surpassed six Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, 27 National Hockey League (NHL) teams, and every Major League Soccer (MLS) team, in terms of valuation. The Mumbai franchise has been expanding of late as they have bought MI Cape Town in SA20 and MI Emirates in the ILT20 league. Therefore, MI’s worth in the market is expected to surge even more.

When the inaugural season of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Premier League</a> kick-started in April 2008, T20 cricket was struggling for identity and there was a cloud of uncertainty surrounding how the tournament will pan out. However, it surpassed the expectations of many and went on to become one of the most popular and lucrative cricket leagues in the world.&nbsp;
There have been 15 editions of the IPL played thus far and the marquee tournament has transformed the lives of many players around the globe and has undoubtedly revolutionized T20 cricket. The competition has witnessed the best players from around the globe take the stage and battle it out for the crown. It has also become a breeding ground for future stars.
Over the years, the cash-rich league has garnered fans from around the world, who are ardent followers of the game. However, there are a few stupefying facts about the tournament that can leave even the most die-hard fans wide-eyed.
<h3>Here are the five mind-boggling facts you should know about the Indian Premier League:</h3>
<h3>5. Glenn McGrath bowled the first-ever maiden of the IPL</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/2018/07/Glenn-McGrath-1.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/glenn-mcgrath-impressed-with-umran-maliks-pace-advises-youngster-not-to-lose-accuracy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenn McGrath</a> was a superstar of the game in the international arena. Test cricket was McGrath’s stronger suit as he dismantled batting line-ups for fun and bagged an insane tally of 563 wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64. He was phenomenal in the ODIs as well and picked up 381 wickets in 250 matches at an economy of 3.88.
McGrath also showed his bowling might in the lucrative T20 tournament. The former Australian pacer represented Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the first season of the lucrative T20 tournament and took 12 scalps in 14 games at an amazing economy of 6.61.
Though McGrath was renowned for his impeccable accuracy, not many would know that the former Australian cricketer was the first player to bowl a maiden in the history of the cash-rich league. He achieved the feat when Delhi Daredevils locked horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 3rd match of IPL 2008.&nbsp;
In the third over of the DD vs RCB game, the 52-year-old contained Virat Kohli with his consistency in his first two balls and got rid of Kohli in his third delivery. Then Shane Watson arrived at the crease, but the Queensland-born was not able to open his account in the next three balls, and thus, McGrath registered the first maiden of the IPL.
<h3>4. Zaheer Khan is the only player to feature in the 1st and the 500th game of the IPL&nbsp;</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Zaheer-Khan-Shahbaz-Nadeem.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/zaheer-khan-and-ravi-shastri-back-umran-malik-believe-new-zealand-tour-exposure-will-help-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zaheer Khan</a> is certainly one of the best left-arm pacer India has produced. He featured in 92 Tests and bagged 311 wickets at an average of 32.94. The 44-year-old was sensational in the ODIs too and picked up 282 scalps in 200 matches at an economy of 4.93.
The Shrirampur-born was a proven performer in the cash-rich league too and bagged 102 wickets in 100 games at an economy of 7.59. In his illustrious IPL career, Zaheer represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). 
However, very few would be aware that Zaheer is the only player to have played 1st and the 500th match of the cash-rich league. The former Indian pacer represented RCB when they faced Kolkata Knight Riders in the first game of the IPL and it were KKR who stood tall, thrashing Bangalore by 140 runs.
Then in the 500th match of the lucrative T20 tournament, which took place in the 2015 season,&nbsp; Zaheer represented the JP Duminy-led Delhi Daredevils against Rajasthan Royals. RR ended up winning the game by 14 runs. Therefore, while Zaheer made a unique record, though his team lost on both occasions.
<h3>3. The BCCI will earn INR 49 lakh for every ball bowled in the IPL</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/2019/09/CT_363342.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
In June 2022, history was made when IPL media rights for the 2023-27 cycle were sold for a staggering figure of INR 48,390 crore. With the deal, the Indian Premier League leapfrogged marquee tournaments such as English Premier League (EPL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) and became the world’s second-most lucrative league in the world, only behind National Football League (NFL).
Star India bagged the television rights (Package A) for a whopping sum of INR 23,575 crore while Package B and C went to Reliance-backed Viacom-18 for INR 23,758 crore for digital rights. When it comes to Package D (for overseas broadcast), it went to Times Internet.
In the five-year cycle, a total of 410 matches are expected to be played. The next two editions will have 74 matches each whereas, in the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the tournament will include 84 games. Lastly, the 2027 season will have 94 matches.
Therefore, for each match, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/board-of-cricket-control-in-india/?tab=videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Board of Control of Cricket in India</a> (BCCI) will be earning INR 118 crore. On diving deep into the numbers, one comes to know that each over will fetch BCCI INR 2.95 crore and every ball bowled in the competition will roughly generate Rs 49 lakhs, which is quite stunning.
<h3>2. The IPL committee broadcasted matches live on YouTube in 2010</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/2022/03/ipl-trophy.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
From the 2008 to the 2017 IPL season, fans watched the lucrative T20 tournament on Sony. Then as Star India bagged the broadcasting rights for the next five years and OTT subscriptions boomed in India, one could also view IPL matches on the streaming platform Hotstar, apart from Star Sports TV channels.
However, many would be surprised to know that the cash-rich league was also broadcasted on YouTube in 2010. IPL struck a deal with Google, under which all 60 games of the third season were shown with a short delay on YouTube around the world (except the United States of America).
The move made the lucrative T20 tournament a truly global event as anyone sitting anywhere in the world, with a computer and internet connection could watch the competition for free. It also enabled IPL to tap into markets where it did not have arrangements for live telecast.&nbsp;The third edition of the Indian Premier League ran from March 12 to April 25. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/csk-chennai-super-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennai Super Kings</a> were the winners of the season.
<h3>1. IPL’s most valuable franchise, the $1.3 billion Mumbai Indians, is now worth more than six MLB teams, 27 NHL teams, and every MLS team</h3>
<amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Mumbai-Indians-6.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/mi-mumbai-indians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mumbai Indians</a> are the most successful franchise in the history of the IPL. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, they have won the Indian T20 extravaganza on five occasions with the most recent triumph being in 2020. Also, Mumbai have ended up in the runners-up position once.&nbsp;
MI, by their exploits on the field, have garnered an insane fanbase, and the brand value of the franchise has just risen exponentially over the years. Thus, the five-time IPL champions have become the most valuable franchise of the marquee tournament. As per a Forbes report, the Mumbai franchise is valued at $1.3 billion (as of April 2022).
With such an insane brand value, the Mumbai franchise has surpassed six Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, 27 National Hockey League (NHL) teams, and every Major League Soccer (MLS) team, in terms of valuation. The Mumbai franchise has been expanding of late as they have bought MI Cape Town in SA20 and MI Emirates in the ILT20 league. Therefore, MI’s worth in the market is expected to surge even more.

When the inaugural season of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Premier League</a> kick-started in April 2008, T20 cricket was struggling for identity and there was a cloud of uncertainty surrounding how the tournament will pan out. However, it surpassed the expectations of many and went on to become one of the most popular and lucrative cricket leagues in the world.&nbsp;
There have been 15 editions of the IPL played thus far and the marquee tournament has transformed the lives of many players around the globe and has undoubtedly revolutionized T20 cricket. The competition has witnessed the best players from around the globe take the stage and battle it out for the crown. It has also become a breeding ground for future stars.
Over the years, the cash-rich league has garnered fans from around the world, who are ardent followers of the game. However, there are a few stupefying facts about the tournament that can leave even the most die-hard fans wide-eyed.
<h3>Here are the five mind-boggling facts you should know about the Indian Premier League:</h3>
<h3>5. Glenn McGrath bowled the first-ever maiden of the IPL</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/2018/07/Glenn-McGrath-1.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/glenn-mcgrath-impressed-with-umran-maliks-pace-advises-youngster-not-to-lose-accuracy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenn McGrath</a> was a superstar of the game in the international arena. Test cricket was McGrath’s stronger suit as he dismantled batting line-ups for fun and bagged an insane tally of 563 wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64. He was phenomenal in the ODIs as well and picked up 381 wickets in 250 matches at an economy of 3.88.
McGrath also showed his bowling might in the lucrative T20 tournament. The former Australian pacer represented Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the first season of the lucrative T20 tournament and took 12 scalps in 14 games at an amazing economy of 6.61.
Though McGrath was renowned for his impeccable accuracy, not many would know that the former Australian cricketer was the first player to bowl a maiden in the history of the cash-rich league. He achieved the feat when Delhi Daredevils locked horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 3rd match of IPL 2008.&nbsp;
In the third over of the DD vs RCB game, the 52-year-old contained Virat Kohli with his consistency in his first two balls and got rid of Kohli in his third delivery. Then Shane Watson arrived at the crease, but the Queensland-born was not able to open his account in the next three balls, and thus, McGrath registered the first maiden of the IPL.
<h3>4. Zaheer Khan is the only player to feature in the 1st and the 500th game of the IPL&nbsp;</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Zaheer-Khan-Shahbaz-Nadeem.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/zaheer-khan-and-ravi-shastri-back-umran-malik-believe-new-zealand-tour-exposure-will-help-his-career/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Zaheer Khan</a> is certainly one of the best left-arm pacer India has produced. He featured in 92 Tests and bagged 311 wickets at an average of 32.94. The 44-year-old was sensational in the ODIs too and picked up 282 scalps in 200 matches at an economy of 4.93.
The Shrirampur-born was a proven performer in the cash-rich league too and bagged 102 wickets in 100 games at an economy of 7.59. In his illustrious IPL career, Zaheer represented Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). 
However, very few would be aware that Zaheer is the only player to have played 1st and the 500th match of the cash-rich league. The former Indian pacer represented RCB when they faced Kolkata Knight Riders in the first game of the IPL and it were KKR who stood tall, thrashing Bangalore by 140 runs.
Then in the 500th match of the lucrative T20 tournament, which took place in the 2015 season,&nbsp; Zaheer represented the JP Duminy-led Delhi Daredevils against Rajasthan Royals. RR ended up winning the game by 14 runs. Therefore, while Zaheer made a unique record, though his team lost on both occasions.
<h3>3. The BCCI will earn INR 49 lakh for every ball bowled in the IPL</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/2019/09/CT_363342.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
In June 2022, history was made when IPL media rights for the 2023-27 cycle were sold for a staggering figure of INR 48,390 crore. With the deal, the Indian Premier League leapfrogged marquee tournaments such as English Premier League (EPL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) and became the world’s second-most lucrative league in the world, only behind National Football League (NFL).
Star India bagged the television rights (Package A) for a whopping sum of INR 23,575 crore while Package B and C went to Reliance-backed Viacom-18 for INR 23,758 crore for digital rights. When it comes to Package D (for overseas broadcast), it went to Times Internet.
In the five-year cycle, a total of 410 matches are expected to be played. The next two editions will have 74 matches each whereas, in the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the tournament will include 84 games. Lastly, the 2027 season will have 94 matches.
Therefore, for each match, the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/board-of-cricket-control-in-india/?tab=videos" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Board of Control of Cricket in India</a> (BCCI) will be earning INR 118 crore. On diving deep into the numbers, one comes to know that each over will fetch BCCI INR 2.95 crore and every ball bowled in the competition will roughly generate Rs 49 lakhs, which is quite stunning.
<h3>2. The IPL committee broadcasted matches live on YouTube in 2010</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/2022/03/ipl-trophy.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
From the 2008 to the 2017 IPL season, fans watched the lucrative T20 tournament on Sony. Then as Star India bagged the broadcasting rights for the next five years and OTT subscriptions boomed in India, one could also view IPL matches on the streaming platform Hotstar, apart from Star Sports TV channels.
However, many would be surprised to know that the cash-rich league was also broadcasted on YouTube in 2010. IPL struck a deal with Google, under which all 60 games of the third season were shown with a short delay on YouTube around the world (except the United States of America).
The move made the lucrative T20 tournament a truly global event as anyone sitting anywhere in the world, with a computer and internet connection could watch the competition for free. It also enabled IPL to tap into markets where it did not have arrangements for live telecast.&nbsp;The third edition of the Indian Premier League ran from March 12 to April 25. <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/csk-chennai-super-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chennai Super Kings</a> were the winners of the season.
<h3>1. IPL’s most valuable franchise, the $1.3 billion Mumbai Indians, is now worth more than six MLB teams, 27 NHL teams, and every MLS team</h3>
<img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/featureimage/Mumbai-Indians-6.jpg" width="640" height="400" alt="">
<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/mi-mumbai-indians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mumbai Indians</a> are the most successful franchise in the history of the IPL. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, they have won the Indian T20 extravaganza on five occasions with the most recent triumph being in 2020. Also, Mumbai have ended up in the runners-up position once.&nbsp;
MI, by their exploits on the field, have garnered an insane fanbase, and the brand value of the franchise has just risen exponentially over the years. Thus, the five-time IPL champions have become the most valuable franchise of the marquee tournament. As per a Forbes report, the Mumbai franchise is valued at $1.3 billion (as of April 2022).
With such an insane brand value, the Mumbai franchise has surpassed six Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, 27 National Hockey League (NHL) teams, and every Major League Soccer (MLS) team, in terms of valuation. The Mumbai franchise has been expanding of late as they have bought MI Cape Town in SA20 and MI Emirates in the ILT20 league. Therefore, MI’s worth in the market is expected to surge even more.

When the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League kick-started in April 2008, T20 cricket was struggling for identity and there was a cloud of uncertainty surrounding how the tournament will pan

5 mind-boggling facts you should know about IPL

There are a few stupefying facts about the tournament that can leave even the most die-hard fans wide-eyed.

IPL: 5 mind-boggling facts you should know

Here we look at the five mind-boggling facts you should know about the Indian Premier League