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
| Team | City | Home ground | Debut | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | 2008 | Ruturaj Gaikwad |
| Delhi Capitals | New Delhi, Delhi | Arun Jaitley Stadium | 2008 | Axar Patel |
| Gujarat Titans | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | Narendra Modi Stadium | 2022 | Shubman Gill |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Kolkata, West Bengal | Eden Gardens | 2008 | Ajinkya Rahane |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | Ekana Stadium | 2022 | Rishabh Pant |
| Mumbai Indians | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Wankhede Stadium | 2008 | Hardik Pandya |
| Punjab Kings | New Chandigarh, Punjab | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium | 2008 | Shreyas Iyer |
| Rajasthan Royals | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Sawai Mansingh Stadium | 2008 | TBD |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Bengaluru, Karnataka | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | 2008 | Rajat Patidar |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Hyderabad, Telangana | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium | 2013 | Pat Cummins |
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
| Venue | City | State | Capacity | First IPL Match | Home Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. A. Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 38,000 | 2008 | Chennai Super Kings |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | Maharashtra | 33,000 | 2008 | Mumbai Indians |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | West Bengal | 68,000 | 2008 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | New Delhi | Delhi | 41,000 | 2008 | Delhi Capitals |
| M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Bengaluru | Karnataka | 40,000 | 2008 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Sawai Mansingh Stadium | Jaipur | Rajasthan | 30,000 | 2008 | Rajasthan Royals |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | Hyderabad | Telangana | 39,000 | 2013 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 132,000 | 2014 | Gujarat Titans |
| Ekana Cricket Stadium | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 50,000 | 2022 | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium | New Chandigarh | Punjab | 38,000 | 2024 | Punjab Kings |
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.
Prize Money and Sponsorship
Records and Statistics
| Record | Player | Team | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most runs | Virat Kohli | RCB | 8,661 |
| Most fours | — | — | 771 |
| Most sixes | Chris Gayle | KKR / PBKS / RCB | 357 |
| Most centuries | Virat Kohli | RCB | 8 |
| Most half-centuries | — | — | 63 |
| Most runs in a season | Virat Kohli | RCB | 973 (2016) |
| Best strike rate | Phil Salt | DC / KKR / RCB | 175.71 |
| Highest score | Chris Gayle | RCB | 175* vs Pune Warriors India (23 April 2013) |
| Highest partnership | Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers | RCB | 229 vs Gujarat Lions (14 May 2016) |
| Record | Player | Team | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most dismissals as wicket-keeper | MS Dhoni | CSK / RPS | 201 |
| Most catches as fielder | Virat Kohli | RCB | 117 |
| Record | Player | Team | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most wickets | Yuzvendra Chahal | PBKS / MI / RCB / RR | 221 |
| Best bowling figures | Alzarri Joseph | MI | 6/12 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (6 April 2019) |
| Most wickets in a season | Harshal Patel | RCB | 32 (2021) |
| Most wickets in a season | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 32 (2013) |
| Record | Team | Score | Match Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest total | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 287/3 (20 overs) | vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (15 April 2024) |
| Lowest total | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 49 (9.4 overs) | vs Kolkata Knight Riders (23 April 2017) |
Awards
Prize Money: From the 2025 season, the IPL winner gets ₹20 crore, the runner-up gets ₹12 crore, the third-place team gets ₹7 crore, and the fourth-place team gets ₹6.5 crore.
Fair Play Award: The Fair Play Award goes to the squad that manages to display the best sportsmanship on the field throughout the entire season. Moreover, umpires assign them points after each match. Consequently, Chennai Super Kings won the award for the seventh time in 2025.
Orange Cap: The Orange Cap is meant for the player who has scored the highest number of runs in one season. Moreover, the top run-maker is the one who wears the cap during the games. Sai Sudharsan was the one who got the Orange Cap in 2025 with a total of 759 runs.
Purple Cap: The Purple Cap is reported to be the leading wicket-taker in general during the season. Besides, the best bowler is the one that wears it whilst fielding. Prasidh Krishna was the winner of the award in 2025 as he took 25 wickets.
Most Valuable Player: The Most Valuable Player award is given to the best overall performer of the season. Suryakumar Yadav won this award in 2025.
Emerging Player Award: This award is granted to the best young player of the season. It has been called the Emerging Player of the Year since 2014. And the 2025 winner was Sai Sudharsan.