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IPL chairman Arun Dhumal dropped a hint to Sportstar that the Indian Premier League could soon split into two parts and shift to a September-October schedule. The idea isn\u2019t just about shaking up the calendar\u2014there\u2019s also talk about ramping up the total number of matches from 74 to 94, so every team gets to play each other twice. Right now, teams play a weird mix: twice against five teams, once against the other four, all thanks to those virtual groups introduced in 2022.<\/p>\n
The real expansion talk starts around 2028. That\u2019s when Dhumal says they want to move to a structure where every team faces the others home and away. But to get there, the IPL probably needs to break out of its single-window format.<\/p>\n
Dhumal mentioned they\u2019ve heard plenty of suggestions, including holding the league in two separate stretches, with one of those likely to land in September-October. \u201cAt the moment, each team only gets seven home and seven away games. Ideally, with ten teams, you want nine home and nine away,\u201d Dhumal told Sportstar. But there are headaches\u2014fitting everything in around the international calendar and finding space for those extra games. \u201cIf we ever get a bigger window\u2014maybe two more weeks\u2014we\u2019ll definitely look at going from 74 to 94 matches, so everyone gets a fair shot at home and away games.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why September-October, though? Dhumal says he isn\u2019t worried about fans losing interest over a longer tournament. Broadcasters love that time of year\u2014it\u2019s right before Diwali, when advertisers are ready to spend big. \u201cWe need to chat with broadcasters to see if they\u2019d go for a new window. One idea is September-October. Advertiser-wise, that\u2019s the golden hour. If the next round of scheduling gives us that option, we\u2019ll look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s also thinking about the weather. May is brutally hot in India, so they\u2019re exploring new dates\u2014maybe a February-April chunk, and then a later phase in the year. Whatever happens, Dhumal insists the IPL\u2019s decisions aren\u2019t just about BCCI. \u201cIPL affects cricket boards and players everywhere. We\u2019ll talk with our counterparts around the world and find a way that works for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
On reports that IPL viewership has dropped on satellite TV, Dhumal isn\u2019t having any of it. He says the broadcasters are thrilled with the league\u2019s performance, pointing to a rise in overall viewership and huge growth from regional broadcasts. \u201cI have no idea where that report came from. The broadcaster\u2019s own numbers show audience numbers up from last year. Regional channels have really helped us reach all corners of the country. They\u2019re happy, and so are we.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n