IPL is going to be the biggest domestic sporting tournament in the world, bar none: Andrew Strauss

By the year 2040, the Indian Premier League, according to former England captain Andrew Strauss, might surpass American football's NFL and outperform all other domestic sporting events worldwide. The recent launch of the tournament for women- the Women's Premier League (WPL), according to Strauss, will massively enhance the development of women's cricket.

Similar tournaments, like Australia's Big Bash and the Caribbean Premier League, have been inspired by the IPL, a very lucrative franchise T20 event backed by wealthy businesspeople and entertainment celebrities. Players on the international T20 circuit, therefore, earn a decent living without having to represent their nations.

“As the Indian economy grows, it is expected that by the time it reaches parity with the size of the USA in 2040, the value of the IPL is likely to be six times what it is today - this is going to be the biggest domestic sporting tournament in the world, bar none,” Strauss said while giving the Cowdrey lecture at Lord's.

“If you allow yourself to keep bound up in the thesis that the purpose of the game is to bring diverse people together, whether playing or watching and to allow cricket to educate and connect, then surely the rise of franchise cricket is one of the great steps forward. More players are playing in different parts of the world, experiencing new places, and meeting new people, more and more people around the globe are engaged with the great game that we all love so much,” he added.

Women's cricket is truly standing on its own two feet: Strauss

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made the official announcement of the Women’s Premier League last month, which was followed by 17 entities participating in the bidding process. Five entities managed to win the bid for the five teams based out of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Lucknow, and Mumbai. Speaking of the upcoming inaugural WPL, Strauss added:

“The first IPL franchises have just been sold for an earth-shattering sum of £465 million ($572.5 million). Women's cricket is truly standing on its own two feet and is likely to be in the top three sports for earning potential for any young girl with talent and an ambition to play sport professionally.”