The Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman, Arun Dhumal, has addressed the possibility of the league taking part in the latter half of the year in the future, instead of taking place between March and May. Traditionally, the tournament has taken place between the two aforementioned months since its inception. However, with the IPL governing council planning to increase the number of games from 2028 onwards, a question has been posed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as to whether it would be better if the tournament is held in a different window.
IPL to be moved to different window?
In an interview with The Sportstar, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal pointed out that while there was no need to shift the tournament, the decision regarding holding the tournament in another window will have to be taken after a discussion with the broadcaster. He said that one of the best suggestions was to hold the tournament during September-October, and that it was the best time from an advertiser’s point of view as it would take place just before Diwali.
“We need to sit across and speak to the broadcaster for their opinion on whether the tournament can be moved to another window. One suggestion was a window in September-October. That is the best time from an advertiser’s point of view because it is just before Diwali. We will look at that when the next bilateral tender comes into play, in case we can find a window there,” Dhumal told the publication.
At present, the IPL has 74 matches that take place between 10 teams in the span of a couple of months. The cash-rich league sees participation of players from the majority of other boards across the globe, barring a few who are discards, and take part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which overlaps the tournament. However, hosting the IPL – especially in May in India – has its own challenges, especially in terms of the weather. The month of May sees the majority of the venues that host IPL games in India witness intense heat, making it tough for players. The stars not only face injuries, but also get cramps and are forced to limp off the field.
Apart from that, fatigue is also another reason why the BCCI might consider shifting the IPL window. Players are busy as part of international duties until late February or March. As a result, they are forced to play in the IPL with very little break after international cricket. This affects both Indian and overseas players.
“Weather is another challenge that we are facing now with May getting very hot. We are also looking if we can find a window from February to April and then later in the year. We have to do what is best for the game because IPL does not impact only the BCCI, it impacts all other cricket boards and players who play across the globe. We will sit across with all our friends from other countries and find what works best for this tournament and cricket globally,” the IPL chairman added.
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