Indian Premier League (IPL)
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| Official IPL Logo | |
| Sport | Cricket |
|---|---|
| Format | Twenty20 |
| Tournament format | Double round-robin format followed by playoffs |
| Administrator | Board of Control for Cricket in India |
| Host country | India |
| First edition | 2008 |
| Latest edition | 2025 |
| Next edition | 2026 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Current champion | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (1st title) |
| Most successful | Mumbai Indians Chennai Super Kings |
| TV / Broadcast | Star Sports, JioCinema |
| Website | https://www.iplt20.com |
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket league in India, organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Ten city-based teams make up the league, which was established in 2007. Every year between March and May, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most well-known and lucrative cricket leagues worldwide.
In India and around the world, a lot of people watch the IPL. It was the first sports league to be streamed live on YouTube in 2010. The league sold its media rights for $6.4 billion in 2023. The IPL has been around for eighteen seasons as of 2025, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is the current champion. The Women's Premier League (WPL), the league's female equivalent, was established in 2022 and had its first season in 2023.
History
Essel Group along with IL&FS launched the Indian Cricket League (ICL) in April 2007. The ICL was not recognized by either the BCCI or the ICC which made the BCCI up its prize money in its tournaments and eventually, banned the cricketers who decided to be a part of such an unrecognized league.
On September 13, 2007, the BCCI took advantage of the ICC World Twenty20 and announced the Indian Premier League (IPL). The IPL was presented as a franchise-based T20 league that will begin in April 2008. Lalit Modi was the one who explained the format, teams, and revenue sharing successfully.
In January 2008, the team franchises were auctioned with the amount of over $723 million being raised. The first IPL season kicked-off in April 2008 with eight teams, including the Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
The ICL did not last long and in 2009, many of its players got back their spots in BCCI by availing of the amnesty offered which ultimately led to the disbanding of the ICL.
Format
The IPL is played under a set of special rules that differ from those of normal cricket. The first innings of every team sees two short television timeouts. The teams can challenge the umpire’s decisions made on wides and no-balls through the use of the DRS (Decision Review System). A team that does not manage to bowl its full quota of overs within the allotted time may be subjected to restrictions on the number of fielders in the inner circle or be fined. One player can be replaced with an Impact Player, a substitute that has a huge role in the match, and the teams can either announce the playing eleven before or after the toss. It is the practice to impose five runs as a penalty for the unfair movements of a fielder or a wicketkeeper. The limit for overseas players in the playing eleven is four, the squad can comprise a maximum of 25 players, and starting from the year 2024, bowlers will be able to deliver two bouncers in one over.
Teams
Seasons
| Team | Won | Runners-up | Playoffs Played | Seasons Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 5 (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2023) | 5 (2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019) | 12 | 16 |
| Mumbai Indians | 5 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020) | 1 (2010) | 11 | 18 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 3 (2012, 2014, 2024) | 1 (2021) | 8 | 18 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 1 (2025) | 3 (2009, 2011, 2016) | 10 | 18 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 (2016) | 2 (2018, 2024) | 7 | 13 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1 (2008) | 1 (2022) | 6 | 16 |
| Gujarat Titans | 1 (2022) | 1 (2023) | 3 | 4 |
| Deccan Chargers † | 1 (2009) | — | 2 | 5 |
| Punjab Kings | — | 2 (2014, 2025) | 3 | 18 |
| Delhi Capitals | — | 1 (2020) | 6 | 18 |
| Rising Pune Supergiant † | — | 1 (2017) | 1 | 2 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | — | — | 2 | 4 |
| Team | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | RU | SF | C | C | RU | RU | 3rd | RU | Suspended | C | RU | 7th | C | 9th | C | 5th | 10th | |
| Delhi Capitals | SF | SF | 5th | 10th | 3rd | 9th | 8th | 7th | 6th | 6th | 8th | 3rd | RU | 3rd | 5th | 9th | 6th | 5th |
| Gujarat Titans | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | C | RU | 8th | 4th |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 6th | 8th | 6th | 4th | C | 7th | C | 5th | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 5th | 5th | RU | 7th | 7th | C | 8th |
| Lucknow Super Giants | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4th | 4th | 7th | 7th |
| Mumbai Indians | 5th | 7th | RU | 3rd | 4th | C | 4th | C | 5th | C | 5th | C | C | 5th | 10th | 3rd | 10th | 3rd |
| Punjab Kings | SF | 5th | 8th | 5th | 6th | 6th | RU | 8th | 8th | 5th | 7th | 6th | 6th | 6th | 6th | 8th | 9th | RU |
| Rajasthan Royals | C | 6th | 7th | 6th | 7th | 3rd | 5th | 4th | Suspended | 4th | 7th | 8th | 7th | RU | 5th | 3rd | 9th | |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 7th | RU | 3rd | RU | 5th | 5th | 7th | 3rd | RU | 8th | 6th | 8th | 4th | 4th | 3rd | 6th | 4th | C |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | – | – | – | – | – | 4th | 6th | 6th | C | 4th | RU | 4th | 3rd | 8th | 8th | 10th | RU | 6th |
Venues
Broadcasting
The IPL is the most-watched sports event in India. The tournament witness around 620 million viewers in 2024, with massive streaming numbers. The 2025 IPL final was seen by 169 million viewers on Star Sports, which made it the most-viewed cricket match on television.
Currently, the IPL media rights are held by JioStar, with matches being televised on Star Sports and available for streaming on JioHotstar. The existing media rights pact is approximately worth US$6.2 billion, making IPL the second-most valuable sports media property in the world after the NFL.
Before, IPL rights were owned by Sony (2008-2017), then Star India took over (2018-2022). In 2022, digital rights were acquired by the Reliance-Viacom18 consortium, which provided free streaming of IPL on JioCinema while Star retained TV rights.