What if IPL had no overseas players? - Scenarios Explained

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 will kick off on Saturday, March 22, when reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Rajat Patidar's Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Cricket aficionados are waiting with bated breath for the start of the 18th edition of the league. One of the many reasons behind the palpable buzz in the cricket fraternity around IPL 2025 is that this is going to be the first season after a mega auction. The 10 franchises have recruited fresh faces while retaining some reliable performers to bolster their sides in the hope of winning the coveted title.

Overseas players have had a gala time financially in the IPL over the years, as franchise owners do not refrain from shelling out huge amounts of money to acquire their services. This season is no different as some overseas players have signed staggering deals.

The inaugural edition of the IPL was played in 2008. Ahead of IPL 2025, CricTracker takes a look at a hypothetical scenario where the BCCI did not allow overseas players to compete in the league from the first season itself.

Lack of relevance and interest for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is the T20 equivalent of the Ranji Trophy. It is a domestic competition where teams representing regional and state cricket associations participate. However, the top stars in Indian cricket cannot participate in the tournament due to international commitments. Considering that the IPL sans overseas players had the same luxury it has now where India does not have to play any international matches, the biggest names in Indian cricket would have been available. This would have substantially reduced the interest level among the fans for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where only a few of the big names would have been in action.

No surreal Global Viewership numbers

The IPL has become a brand, not just because of its craze in India but also around the world. Apart from Indian cricket fans, supporters of other cricketing nations look forward to the league to see their favourite stars rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names around the world.

For instance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru has a huge following in South Africa because of the long 10-year association between the franchise and former Proteas skipper AB de Villiers. KKR has a strong fanbase in Bangladesh. This is not just because the driving distance between Kolkata and Bangladesh is only a little more than 300 kilometres, but because the three-time champions had signed two of the biggest names in Bangladesh cricket like Masrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan. Shutting the door on overseas players would have prevented the IPL from garnering the staggering global viewership numbers which is a massive source of revenue for the BCCI.

Also Read: 4 rule changes that could make IPL 2025 more exciting

Platform for players from emerging cricketing nations

IPL turned out to be a massive platform for cricketers from Afghanistan. The Blue Tigers are a force to reckon with in world cricket at the moment. However, a few years ago, they were competing with the associate nations around the world to establish themselves. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan were among the first few players from Afghanistan to play in the IPL. Sharing dressing rooms with some of the best players around the world helped them hone their skills. They also paved the way for the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, and many others to join the league.

Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane also had sporadic opportunities to excel in the league but failed to deliver. Tim David also made his debut in the IPL when he was playing for Singapore in international cricket. USA's Ali Khan was also roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2020. Now, players from emerging nations have an added incentive to showcase their skills to the best of their abilities as they know that the IPL scouts might be watching them.

International cricket continuing alongside IPL

Had the IPL been an all-Indian affair, the league might have faced stiff competition from international cricket series. Most of the top international teams do not have assignments during the IPL. Even if they have a series to play, most countries decide to send second-string sides with the big names being permitted to represent their IPL teams. However, with all international players available, more bilateral contests could have been held during the IPL. The league would have had to compete for viewership with international matches.

Budding players would have been deprived of knowledge

IPL provides a platform for budding Indian players to showcase their skills in front of the world. They also get to learn a lot by picking the brains of some of the international stars who share their experiences and give valuable tips during the season. This helps them improve at a quicker rate than they would have had they not been allowed the chance to pick the brains of these global stalwarts.