IPL Season 15: How Indian Premier League grew over the years
India Today
Have the growing riches boosted the confidence of players, helping them win many more matches now than what was the case earlier? The data certainly makes one wonder.
Last ball finish, fortunes of teams changing every five overs, spinners proving to be more economical than others, and classical batsmen matching pinch hitters when it comes to hitting sixes and fours — these are some of the many highlights of the previous fourteen editions of the Indian Premier League.
Records of the last 14 editions show that while stars have excelled, there have been many surprise packages. West Indian spinner Sunil Narine doing well with the ball was expected. What came as a surprise was that he was among those who scored one the fastest fifties. Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga being among the highest wicket-takers was expected. But spinners dominating the list of most economical bowlers was a surprise.
Thrill, glamour, unpredictability, and the never-say-die approach of players have made IPL matches one of the most-watched events. That is also the reason why its brand value has also soared all these years.
The combined cost of acquiring eight Indian Premier League teams in 2008 was Rs. 3,000 crores. It worked out to an average of Rs. 375 crore a team back then.
In the 2021 auction, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that owns the IPL made Rs. 12,715 crores by selling just two teams. The average price tag of a team jumped to Rs. 6,357 crores — a whopping 17-fold jump since 2008.
During this period, the IPL’s valuation has soared three times and earnings from broadcasting rights have grown in equal measure. The BCCI’s revenues from broadcasting rights have grown from an annual average of Rs. 1,160 crores in 2009 to Rs. 3,269 crores now. And it is expected to go up to Rs. 6,000 crores in 2023 when media rights are due for renegotiation.
Not just a money-making machine, the IPL has helped Team India become a powerhouse of cricket, with many more wins than losses in all formats of the game.
