Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Will there be two IPLs a year in the future? | Ravi Shastri and Aakash Chopra give their views on having two IPLs per year in the future

It is no secret that the Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to grow at a rapid rate. Ahead of the recently-concluded 2022 season, the BCCI sold new franchises Lucknow Super Giants and eventual champions Gujarat Titans for a combined Rs 12,715 crore (approx. US$1.7 billion) in October 2021.

Also, according to Forbes, the IPL is growing at a whopping 24% year-on-year. During IPL 2022, seven of the 10 franchises were valued at over US$1 billion, including new franchise Lucknow Super Giants who ended up reaching the playoffs in their debut season.

There is an opportunity for two IPLs every year – Aakash Chopra and Ravi Shastri

Such numbers cannot be ignored. That is the view of former India cricketers Aakash Chopra and Ravi Shastri, who both believe that two IPLs is more of an inevitability rather than possibility.

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo’s Runorder program, Chopra said that he sees two IPLs in the calendar in the future. “I actually foresee there might be two editions of the IPL in a calendar year,” said the former batsman.

Chopra is one of the most engaged analysts when it comes to the IPL. Following the conclusion of the 2022 edition, Chopra tweeted, “Curated a lot of content throughout the #IPL2022. A special thanks to our sponsors for believing in us…one more season. Lots of different content is in the pipeline for the months to come…Upwards and onwards.”

Former India coach Ravi Shastri echoed similar views. He says there is no fear of IPL overdose despite some lower TV ratings, but rather it is the future given its quality and financial might.

“That [two IPLs in a calendar year] is the future. It could be tomorrow – 140 games, split 70-70. In two seasons. You never know. That is the way it is going to go,” he said. “That’s the way it has developed into a beast of a property, and you cannot hide away from that.

“You might think that’s overdose, but nothing is overdose in India. I have been sitting outside the bubble, I have been watching people, how they have seen, how they have reviewed these last few months, especially [after coming] out of Covid. And they are loving every bit of it, and they are almost having withdrawal symptoms,” he continued.

T20Is should be limited to just World Cups – Ravi Shastri

Shastri also said that there are too many meaningless T20 matches. He said international T20 matches should be just limited to World Cups.

“Yes, absolutely, there’s too much of bilateral stuff going on in T20 cricket,” Shastri said. “I’ve said that [before], even when I was the coach of India, I could see it happening in front of my eyes. It should go the football way, where, in T20 cricket, you just play the World Cup. Bilateral tournaments – no one remembers.

“I don’t remember a single game in the last six-seven years as coach of India, barring the World Cup. A team wins the World Cup, they will remember it. Unfortunately, we didn’t, so I don’t remember that either. Where I am coming from is: you play franchise cricket around the globe; each country is allowed to have their franchise cricket, which is their domestic cricket, and then, every two years, you come and play a World Cup.”