New Delhi: The next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which will happen in 2025, is reportedly said to not be extended in terms of the matches scheduled in a season even though the IPL media rights mentioned the increase of matches.
During the media rights sale of new IPL cycle (2023-2027) in June 2022, the tender document stated that a total of 74 matches (including playoffs) will be held in the first two seasons (2023 and 2024). The scheduled matches would increase up to 84 from IPL 2025 onwards and would repeat in IPL 2026. In the final season (IPL 2027) of this media rights cycle, the matches would surge to 94.
However, the IPL organisers aren’t keen to increase the matches as they want to focus on the workload of Indian international players.
According to a recent report by ESPNcricinfo, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) won’t climb the ladder in respect to number of scheduled matches in a season with India likely to appear for a third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final, which is scheduled to kick off at Lord’s from June 11. The Indian cricket board wants to ensure the players have enough time to rest if India make it to the summit clash.
Although the schedule of IPL 2025 hasn’t been revealed, it is expected that the tournament will happen in the regular window between March and May.
“While it’s (84 matches) part of the contract, it’s up to the BCCI to decide whether to organise 74 or 84 matches,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah was quoted as saying by Economic Times.
“We have not taken a call on organising 84 matches in IPL 2025 since we also have to factor the load on the players due to the increase in matches,” Shah added.
What is the current IPL media rights contract?
The BCCI sold the IPL media rights for the five-year cycle (2023-2027) for a whopping amount of INR 48,390 crore in four categories. Disney Star retained the TV rights for INR 23,575 crore while the digital rights for Package B and Package C was sold to Viacom18 for INR 23,775.16 crore. The Package D was purchased by Times Internet for INR 1,058 crores for overseas TV and digital rights. It should be noted that Disney Star and Viacom18 was announced on February 28, 2024.
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