Arun Dhumal hints at 94-match IPL from 2028

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become the world's biggest and richest cricket-based franchise tournament. The league has undergone a plethora of changes over the years, with newer rules and even new franchises added and substracted. Having started in 2008, the tournament has also expanded to a 10-team event from 2022 following the additon of Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants.

There are some significant changes on the cards regarding the length of the tournament, with the IPL Chairman Arun Dhuman hinting that the current 74-match event could likely be expanded to 94 games per season by 2028. 

Dhumal mentioned that the league was planned to have 84 matches in 2025 but scheduling issues and the broadcaster's disinclination towards too many double headers meant that the BCCI had to stick with the existing 74-match plan instead. Dhumal has also brought up how there have been changes regarding the fans interests changing dynamics towards bilaterals and ICC events.

“Definitely, that might be an opportunity, We've been discussing in ICC, we've been discussing in-house in BCCI. Given how the interest of the fan is changing with regard to bilateral and ICC events, in regard to franchise cricket and T20 cricket, we'll have to talk more seriously about it and see how we can create maximum value for the stakeholders of the game Ideally, we'd want a larger window, or to maybe go on from 74 to 84 or 94 at some point… So that every team gets to play against every team home and away, for that, you need 94 games,” the IPL chairman was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“Given the window and the kind of commitments that we have with regards to bilateral cricket and ICC events, that may not be possible in the short term. But given the landscape, how it is changing and evolving over the years, maybe at some point in time we would look and take that option.

"There's been so much cricket: we came back from Australia from a Test series, we had this Champions Trophy, and on top of that we have this IPL. That is why it was decided that it doesn't make sense from going from 74 to 84 [in 2025], but whenever we think that the time is opportune, we'll take that call,” Dhumal added.

'Ten is a good number for now' - Arun Dhumal on addition of new franchises

There have also been claims that there might be new franchises in the tournament, however, Dhumal clarified that there are no such plans of increasing the number of teams in the short term.

“Ten is a good number for now, Paramount is the interest in the tournament, and the quality of cricket that we play… I don't see any scope in the short term. Going forward, with how this whole landscape evolves, we'll take a call accordingly,” Dhumal concluded.