The (Indian Premier League) IPL franchises have been expanding to new territories with England being the latest target in this power struggle. The IPL teams are looking at conquering the British market.
Historically, England and Australia were the epicentres of cricketing power, dictating the terms and shaping the game’s future. However, India has now emerged as the powerhouse of global cricket. India’s financial influence within the International Cricket Council (ICC) is well-known. Notably, Indian cricket controls a staggering 38.5% of the ICC’s annual revenue.
Now in a fresh development, it has been revealed that the Indian franchises want their control over the commercial functioning and the overall team operation as reported by Crickit. The IPL franchises, once confined to a two-month window in India, have become one of the biggest franchises. This journey began in 2015 when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) acquired a team in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Other IPL teams also followed a similar path, including Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, who also invested in the CPL.
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IPL franchises expanded their teams in South Africa, Dubai and USA
Besides, the IPL franchises also entered in new markets such as South Africa, Dubai, and the United States. Today, IPL teams own a significant share of these leagues, with all six teams in South Africa’s T20 league being IPL-owned, three out of six in Dubai’s ILT20, and four out of six in Major League Cricket (MLC) in the US.
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The latest development for IPL franchises is England’s The Hundred with the acquisition of Hampshire Cricket by GMR Sports. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) prepares to roll out the ownership sale process for The Hundred. The competition is currently facing financial issues and to boost that, the inclusion of IPL-based franchises will be of great help.