The Indian Premier League is expanding in 2022, with a couple of new teams (Ahmedabad and Lucknow) being added. Meanwhile, the season would possess 74 matches in total.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is already the biggest and the wealthiest domestic Twenty20 cricketing tournament globally. While eight teams have been playing the competition to date, it is expanding from 2022, with a couple of new units (Ahmedabad and Lucknow) being added. As a result, the event would have more matches hereon.
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had issued the Invitation to Tender (ITT) earlier, while the bids were conducted and opened on Monday in Dubai. After a few rounds of intense analysis and bidding sessions, RPSG Ventures Ltd (₹7,090 crore) and Irelia Company Pte Ltd. of CVC Capital Partners (₹5,625 crore) won the bids for Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchise, respectively.
"The new franchises will participate in IPL from 2022 season onwards subject to the bidders completing the post-bid formalities as specified in the ITT document. The IPL 2022 season will comprise ten teams and will have 74 matches, wherein each team will play seven home and seven away matches," the BCCI said in a statement.
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As far as the matches for IPL 2022 are concerned, it is likely to be similar to 2011, in which two new sides (Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors India) took part. The teams would be divided into two groups of five. While a side plays the four teams in its group twice, it faces four teams from the other group once, besides taking on the remaining team twice, as a random draw will be used to determine the latter.
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Although the details regarding the IPL 2022 format is yet to be officially announced by the BCCI, it is expected to be the same as 2011, since the BCCI cannot extend the window to more than 74 matches, which could affect India's international calendar, besides causing severe player burnout. Also, details on the retention policy ahead of the mega auction before next season is expected to be announced soon.
"The BCCI is happy to welcome two new teams from the next season of the Indian Premier League. I would like to congratulate RPSG Ventures Ltd. & Irelia Company Pte Ltd for being the successful bidders. The IPL will now go to two new cities in India, viz in Lucknow and Ahmedabad. It is heartening to see the inclusion of two new teams at such a high valuation, and it reiterates the cricketing and financial strength of our cricket ecosystem," said BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.