THE IPL MODEL

The biggest cricket carnival across the globe has grown significantly in the past 15 years. Who would have thought that the players will miss the opportunity to play international matches for their respective countries and will choose IPL over it? Whether it be the money factor, the stars packed teams or the pro- active franchises with another level of crazy fans, this grand league has firmed its roots and will only further grow upwards and onwards from the present position. The way IPL has ambushed other major leagues in the world is simply commendable.

Throwing the light on the financial model, the growth numbers are just astonishing. Take an example of KKR team whose owner is Shahrukh Khan. SRK’S team brand value in the year 2009 was $22 million and it shot up to around $36 million in 2021. The IPL brand, as a whole, saw a growth of a staggering 134 percent since its first season 14 years ago in 2009. Seeing these statistics when the BCCI announced in 2019 about the introduction of two new teams in the IPL, it intrigued almost all the major business groups across the globe. One could estimate the hype by the fact that even the GLAZERS FAMILY put a bid for a team in 2021(but eventually failed to get one). The main reason of this interest was the success of all the teams financially in the league. This indirectly advantaged BCCI as well as the two new teams (Lucknow super giants and Gujarat titans) were sold for a whooping price of $1.7 billion. The procedure of the payment is like the new owners instead of making one time payment has to pay an equally divided sum of money in the course of 10 years so it did not put the pressure on the business groups to pay full amount in one go. Further revenue of the teams is generated from the sponsors whose logo one can see on a player’s jersey from head to toe and additionally broadcasters (Presently star sports) also pay their fees to the respective teams as grant for permission to broadcast the matches of their teams. Not only this, all the revenue generated from sale of tickets and merchandise also is distributed among the teams. So, in that case if suppose a team has to pay 400cr for 10 years to BCCI then approximately 300cr is being generated automatically by the franchise every year and an increase in the brand value of the team every year acts as an icing on the cake. 

That’s the beauty of IPL. 

Now focusing on the sport to put it in easy terms IPL for young players is similar to what internships in reputed companies is for freshers in corporate field. All the players crave for the opportunity to play in the league because of the exposure and experience they avail is unreal. A 19-year-old who might be having a poster of Brendon McCullum in his room is getting a chance to get coached by him. Playing among the greats of the game like MSD, Kohli, Rohit not only helps to further build and shape serious talent but to also overcome their Achilles heel to pave their way towards the Indian Cricket Team. Jaspreet Bumrah (current vice-captain of ICT) was picked up by MI for a base price of only 20 lakhs and that man with orthodox action and caliber knocked off Virat Kohli who was in his prime in those years. Players like Deepak Chahar, Risha bh Pant, KL Rahul, R Ashwin and many more who represented India are the finished products of IPL. 

Lastly the memories and moments all the fans get to witness every year in these two months can’t be described in words. They are just intangible in their own way. Whether it is Dhoni- Kohli meetups pre- and post-match or the Pant – Ponting partnerships for the Delhi Capitals or the Yuzi Chahal fun on Instagram all have their own new versions every year. 

This year’s IPL is also special and unique as after so many years IPL is being sponsored by an Indian Company and it’s none other than one of the favorite companies of every Indian citizen. TATAS are the official title sponsors of this year edition replacing VIVO and Dream 11 after the tensions rose between India and China it was long pending demand of the people to get an Indian company as the title sponsor and finally, they managed to do so. Magnanimity with which TATA work is known by all and this year is no different. From the very first match they made a provision at if a player hits a six and the ball touches the car (advertised by TATA) in the stands then TATA will donate a sum of rupees 5 lakhs per hit to Kaziranga Wildlife Foundation. Further the two new teams have added more excitement, competition and fans can expect to see more neck to neck matches this year.

So as the Cricket Pandits say “it’s the only festival celebrated collectively by people of all religions and far from marking the end of nationalism, the IPL is the ultimate triumph of that principle: a global tournament in which the same nation always wins.”