Indian Premier League (IPL) is a Twenty20 cricket tournament where different franchise teams participate for the title. The tournament started in 2008 and from then it usually takes place every year in the months of April - June. It is currently supervised by BCCI Vice-President Ranjib Biswal, who serves as the League's Chairman and Commissioner.[1] Sundar Raman has been the IPL Chief Operating Officer (COO) since its first season, after he was appointed by former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi in 2008.[2]

IPL is the most-watched Twenty20 cricket league in the world and also known for its commercial success. During the sixth IPL season (2013) its brand value was estimated to be around US$3.03 billion.[3][4] Live rights to the event are syndicated around the globe, and in 2010, the IPL became the first sporting event to be broadcast live on YouTube.[5] It is currently sponsored by Pepsi and thus officially known as the Pepsi Indian Premier League.[6]

Of the 11 clubs to have competed since the inception of the Premier League in 2008, five have won the title: Chennai Super Kings (2), Rajasthan Royals (1), Deccan Chargers (1), Kolkata Knight Riders (1) and Mumbai Indians (1). The current champions are Mumbai Indians, who won the title in the 2013 season. Currently there are eight teams.

History

IPL was inaugurated in 2008. During the same period Zee "Indian Cricket League" was operational. It was an enormous success. The annual tournament, played mostly in Indian summer has gone from strength to strength and is largely viewed as being the 'richest' tournament in world cricket.

There are the eight franchises in the IPL (in brackets original cost of franchise in $/million):

Chennai Super Kings , CSK (91) Delhi Daredevils , DD (84) Kings XI Punjab , KXIP (76) Kolkata Knight Riders , KKR (75.1) Mumbai Indians , MI (111.9) Rajasthan Royals , RR (67) Royal Challengers Bangalore , RCB (111.6) Sunrisers Hyderabad , SRH (159)

The following three teams have played in the IPL but due to financial constraints have ceased to exist:

Pune Warriors India , PWI (370) Kochi Tuskers Kerala , KTK (333) Deccan Chargers , DC (107)

DC is replaced by SRH but PWI and KTK dissolved completely.

Until 2012, the Indian Premier League was sponsored by DLF after they paid $50 million for the five year sponsorship. Pepsi took over the contract for the 2013 IPL after paying close to $72 million for the 5 year contract.[7] In 2008, Sony paid $1 billion for the broadcasting rights

over a ten year period. The IPL is watched across the world and in 2010 made history by becoming the first sporting event to be broadcast live on YouTube.

First season

This IPL was sponsored by DLF, not PepsiCo.

The inaugural season of the tournament took place from 18 April - 1 June 2008. The group stages featured eight teams playing against each other twice on home and once away basis, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals.

The final was played in DY Patil Stadium, Nerul, Navi Mumbai. The first winner of the tournament was Rajasthan Royals, who beat Chennai Super Kings in a match that went down to the last ball. Rajasthan's Shane Watson was named player of the tournament.

Second season

Main article: 2009 Indian Premier League

The 2009 Indian Premier League season, also known as IPL 2, was the second season held in South Africa because of the General elections in India and was played for 37 days from 18 April - 24 May 2009. Deccan Chargers beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final to take the title. (these two were placed 8th and 7th respectively in the standings of previous season).

Third season

Main article: 2010 Indian Premier League

The third season returned to India and it was the first IPL tournament that was broadcast live on YouTube. The final four matches of the tournament were screened in 3D across theatres in India. Chennai Super Kings defeated Mumbai Indians in the finals to win their first title.

Fourth season: Debut of the Pune and Kochi teams

Main articles: 2011 Indian Premier League and List of 2011 Indian Premier League personnel changes

In 2011, two new teams, Pune Warriors India (PWI) from Pune and Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) from Kochi made their debut in IPL 4. However, the bid around the Kochi franchise turned controversial resulting in the resignation of minister, Shashi Tharoor from the Central Government. Later Lalit Modi was also removed from IPL chairmanship by BCCI. On 5 December 2010, it was confirmed that Kochi will take part in the fourth season of IPL.[8]

The addition of teams representing Sahara's Pune Warriors India and the Kochi Tuskers Kerala have increased the number of franchises from 8 to 10. The format was changed where each team would play 5 other teams in a home-away format. Of the remaining, a team would play one at home and 2 away matches. Thus each team played 14 matches.

Chennai Super Kings won their second consecutive title after defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs in the final.[9]

Kochi Tuskers Kerala dissolved in this IPL season.

Fifth season

Main articles: 2012 Indian Premier League and List of 2012 Indian Premier League personnel changes

The fifth season featured nine teams after the termination of the Kochi franchise. The players auction was held on 4 February 2012. Maximum number of players in each squad was increased from 30 to 33. A total of 76 matches were played from 4 April to 27 May.[10] Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings qualified for the playoffs. The final was hosted by Chennai on 27 May, where the defending champions Chennai Super Kings took on Kolkata Knight Riders. Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 5 wickets.

This edition of the IPL was the most competitive with 14 matches producing results in the very last over, and a couple in the last ball.[11][12] Towards the end of the league, it encountered many hurdles including a spot fixing case, which allegedly included five players caught on a sting operation carried by a news channel.[13][14]

Sixth season: Pepsi replacing DLF as title sponsor and PWI dissolving

Main articles: 2013 Indian Premier League and List of 2013 Indian Premier League personnel changes

Pepsi replaced DLF as the title sponsor. Nine teams have participated in the sixth season. The sixth season took place from 3 April - 26 May 2013. Deccan Chargers franchise was terminated by the IPL governing council which was later replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad owned by Sun Group.

Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad were the four teams in the league stage to qualify for the playoffs. Rajasthan Royals defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 4 wickets in the eliminator played at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.[15] Mumbai Indians defeated Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier and faced Chennai Super Kings in the Final. Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs for their first title win. Shane Watson was named man of the tournament.

PWI dissolved on the same day.

Seventh season (Currently in progress)

Main articles: 2014 Indian Premier League and List of 2014 Indian Premier League personnel changes

The league started from 16 April - 1 June 2014 and was hosted by both UAE & India. There are eight teams participating in 2014 Indian Premier League as Pune Warriors India was terminated. The auction of players for the seventh season of IPL took place on 13 and 15

February 2014 in Bangalore. For the second time after 2011 IPL teams were allowed to retain up to 5 players. 7 teams retained at least 2 players from the previous squad. After hosting the first part in the United Arab Emirates, the seventh edition of Indian Premier League returned to India on May 2. Based on security demands for the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections the venues for some matches were shifted outside India.

League organisation

Franchises

The winning bidders for the eight franchises (or clubs) were announced on 24 January 2008.[16] While the total base price for auction was US$400 million, the auction fetched US$723.59 million.[17] Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers were the founding clubs of the new professional league.

On 21 March 2010, teams from Pune (Pune Warriors India) and Kochi (Kochi Tuskers Kerala) were unveiled as the two new clubs for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League. The base price was $225 million. While Pune was bought by Sahara Adventure Sports Group for $370 million, the Kochi franchise was bought by Rendezvous Sports World Limited for $333.3 million.[18] The second franchise auction fetched total $703 million.

The rights to the new Hyderabad franchise were awarded to the Sun TV Network in October 2012.

History

IPL was inaugurated in 2008. During the same period Zee "Indian Cricket League" was operational. It was an enormous success. The annual tournament, played mostly in Indian summer has gone from strength to strength and is largely viewed as being the 'richest' tournament in world cricket.

There are the eight franchises in the IPL (in brackets original cost of franchise in $/million):

Chennai Super Kings , CSK (91) Delhi Daredevils , DD (84) Kings XI Punjab , KXIP (76) Kolkata Knight Riders , KKR (75.1) Mumbai Indians , MI (111.9) Rajasthan Royals , RR (67) Royal Challengers Bangalore , RCB (111.6) Sunrisers Hyderabad , SRH (159)

The following three teams have played in the IPL but due to financial constraints have ceased to exist:

Pune Warriors India , PWI (370) Kochi Tuskers Kerala , KTK (333) Deccan Chargers , DC (107)

DC is replaced by SRH but PWI and KTK dissolved completely.

Until 2012, the Indian Premier League was sponsored by DLF after they paid $50 million for the five year sponsorship. Pepsi took over the contract for the 2013 IPL after paying close to $72 million for the 5 year contract.[7] In 2008, Sony paid $1 billion for the broadcasting rights over a ten year period. The IPL is watched across the world and in 2010 made history by becoming the first sporting event to be broadcast live on YouTube.

First season

This IPL was sponsored by DLF, not PepsiCo.

The inaugural season of the tournament took place from 18 April - 1 June 2008. The group stages featured eight teams playing against each other twice on home and once away basis, with the top four progressing to the semi-finals.

The final was played in DY Patil Stadium, Nerul, Navi Mumbai. The first winner of the tournament was Rajasthan Royals, who beat Chennai Super Kings in a match that went down to the last ball. Rajasthan's Shane Watson was named player of the tournament.

Second season

Main article: 2009 Indian Premier League

The 2009 Indian Premier League season, also known as IPL 2, was the second season held in South Africa because of the General elections in India and was played for 37 days from 18 April - 24 May 2009. Deccan Chargers beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final to take the title. (these two were placed 8th and 7th respectively in the standings of previous season).

Third season

Main article: 2010 Indian Premier League

The third season returned to India and it was the first IPL tournament that was broadcast live on YouTube. The final four matches of the tournament were screened in 3D across theatres in India. Chennai Super Kings defeated Mumbai Indians in the finals to win their first title.

Fourth season: Debut of the Pune and Kochi teams

Main articles: 2011 Indian Premier League and List of 2011 Indian Premier League personnel changes

In 2011, two new teams, Pune Warriors India (PWI) from Pune and Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) from Kochi made their debut in IPL 4. However, the bid around the Kochi franchise turned controversial resulting in the resignation of minister, Shashi Tharoor from the Central Government. Later Lalit Modi was also removed from IPL chairmanship by BCCI. On 5 December 2010, it was confirmed that Kochi will take part in the fourth season of IPL.[8]

The addition of teams representing Sahara's Pune Warriors India and the Kochi Tuskers Kerala have increased the number of franchises from 8 to 10. The format was changed where each team would play 5 other teams in a home-away format. Of the remaining, a team would play one at home and 2 away matches. Thus each team played 14 matches.

Chennai Super Kings won their second consecutive title after defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs in the final.[9]

Kochi Tuskers Kerala dissolved in this IPL season.

Fifth season

Main articles: 2012 Indian Premier League and List of 2012 Indian Premier League personnel changes

The fifth season featured nine teams after the termination of the Kochi franchise. The players auction was held on 4 February 2012. Maximum number of players in each squad was increased from 30 to 33. A total of 76 matches were played from 4 April to 27 May.[10] Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings qualified for the playoffs. The final was hosted by Chennai on 27 May, where the defending champions Chennai Super Kings took on Kolkata Knight Riders. Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 5 wickets.

This edition of the IPL was the most competitive with 14 matches producing results in the very last over, and a couple in the last ball.[11][12] Towards the end of the league, it encountered many hurdles including a spot fixing case, which allegedly included five players caught on a sting operation carried by a news channel.[13][14]

Sixth season: Pepsi replacing DLF as title sponsor and PWI dissolving

Main articles: 2013 Indian Premier League and List of 2013 Indian Premier League personnel changes

Pepsi replaced DLF as the title sponsor. Nine teams have participated in the sixth season. The sixth season took place from 3 April - 26 May 2013. Deccan Chargers franchise was terminated by the IPL governing council which was later replaced by Sunrisers Hyderabad owned by Sun Group.

Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad were the four teams in the league stage to qualify for the playoffs. Rajasthan Royals defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 4 wickets in the eliminator played at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi.[15] Mumbai Indians defeated Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier and faced Chennai Super Kings in the Final. Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs for their first title win. Shane Watson was named man of the tournament.

PWI dissolved on the same day.

Seventh season (Currently in progress)

Main articles: 2014 Indian Premier League and List of 2014 Indian Premier League personnel changes

The league started from 16 April - 1 June 2014 and was hosted by both UAE & India. There are eight teams participating in 2014 Indian Premier League as Pune Warriors India was terminated. The auction of players for the seventh season of IPL took place on 13 and 15 February 2014 in Bangalore. For the second time after 2011 IPL teams were allowed to retain up to 5 players. 7 teams retained at least 2 players from the previous squad. After hosting the first part in the United Arab Emirates, the seventh edition of Indian Premier League returned to India on May 2. Based on security demands for the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections the venues for some matches were shifted outside India.

League organisation

Franchises

The winning bidders for the eight franchises (or clubs) were announced on 24 January 2008.[16] While the total base price for auction was US$400 million, the auction fetched US$723.59 million.[17] Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers were the founding clubs of the new professional league.

On 21 March 2010, teams from Pune (Pune Warriors India) and Kochi (Kochi Tuskers Kerala) were unveiled as the two new clubs for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League. The base price was $225 million. While Pune was bought by Sahara Adventure Sports Group for $370 million, the Kochi franchise was bought by Rendezvous Sports World Limited for $333.3 million.[18] The second franchise auction fetched total $703 million.

The rights to the new Hyderabad franchise were awarded to the Sun TV Network in October 2012.

Tournament rules

There are five ways that a franchise can acquire a player: In the annual auction, signing domestic players, signing uncapped players, through trading, and signing replacements.[20][21] In the trading window, the player can only be traded with his consent. The franchise will have to pay the difference between the old contract price and the new contract price. If the new contract is worth more than the older one, then the difference will be shared between the player and the franchise selling the player.[22][23]

Some of the team composition rules are:

A minimum squad strength of 16 players plus one physiotherapist and a coach. No more than 11 foreign players in the squad and maximum of four foreign players

should be in the playing eleven. A minimum of 14 Indian players must be included in each squad. A minimum of six players from the BCCI under-22 pool in each squad.

IPL games utilise television timeouts, hence there is no time limit for teams to complete their innings. However, there may be a penalty if the umpires find teams misusing this privilege at their own choice. Additionally, each team is given a two-and-a-half-minute "strategic timeout" during each innings; one must be taken by the bowling team between the 6th to 10th overs, and the batting team between the 11th to 16th overs.[24]

The total spending cap for a franchise in the first player auction was US$5 million. Under-22 players are to be remunerated with a minimum annual salary of US$20,000 while for others it is US$50,000.