With 14 seasons and the 15th season recently concluded in India, the IPL – Indian Premier League, has come a long way. Introduced in 2008 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the IPL has gradually garnered worldwide attention. Today, the event is part of the top T20 leagues globally.
Many interesting facts revolve around the IPL, its players, and its history as a globally recognized event. While you may know that this league is of global relevance, that is not all there is to it. It didn’t start with the same level of relevance and acceptance that it enjoys today. It had to rise through the ranks featuring players who were not so popular and games with very few people in attendance.
Undoubtedly, several things exist about the IPL and its continuous growth, but it will be best to start with the top three things.
What are the Top Three Facts about the Indian Premier League?
Regardless of what you think you know about the IPL, there is always more. These things can be about the league itself, players, or coaches. Three important things you should know about the IPL include:
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The creation of the IPL
Most IPL fans know when the IPL was created and by what body but do not know why it was created. The IPL was championed by Lalit Modu, the first chairman of the IPL, six months after India won the first T20 world cup. According to Lalit, the purpose of the IPL is to create a platform where cricket sport is encouraged in India.
From its establishment to date, the BCCI has conducted 15 IPL seasons. With more to come over the years, the IPL has fulfilled its purpose and gone beyond it. Today, the IPL is a lucrative sector in the Indian economy and a platform where young Indian talents are harnessed and trained.
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The contribution of the IPL to the Indian economy
The IPL contributes a large percentage to the Indian economy. Although you might have guessed this, we bet you never knew the extent of that contribution. In 2015, the survey conducted by KPMG at the request of the BCCI revealed that the IPL contributed Rs 11.5 billion = $160 million to India’s GDP. According to Brand Finance 2022 reports, the IPL brand value is currently estimated to be $4.7billion.
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The IPL is home to several youngsters
The current youngest player to have made his IPL debut is Prayas Ray Barman, who debuted in the Royal Challengers Bangalore during the 2019 IPL season when he was 16 years old. Before he was Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who debuted when he was 17.
The Background Story of the IPL – How Did It All Start?
Cricket is the most loved sport in India, and every other one comes after it and that is why many users predict the outcome of cricket games on any betting exchange in India. The love for cricket by Indians goes as far back as many years ago. Then, it wasn’t played in the more defined structure like what is obtainable now. In backyards, schools, and private homes, people tried to imitate different forms of the cricket game.
Although now a big hit in the T20s League, the IPL was not India’s first step towards producing a cricket sport event watched by millions globally. Before the IPL was the Indian Cricket League – ICL introduced by Zee entertainment in 2007. As of the 1990s and 2000s, cricket was already a sport greatly loved in India. Recognizing it as a money-making prospect, broadcasting organizations, including Zee Entertainment, made money offers to the BCCI to buy its broadcasting rights. However, they all declined.
Later, Subash Chandra, the owner of the Zee group, decided to take the bull by the horn and start his cricket league, scouting both local and international players to play in the ICL. Hotshot players like Rohan Gavaskar, Ambati Rayudu, Azhar Mahmood, and Shane Bond were in the ICL.
But the ICL was never approved by the BCCI, and the cricket body threatened to ban all cricket players that played in the ICL. After its two seasons, 2007 and 2008, the ICL folded up due to pressure from various quarters and some other factors. In 2008 the BCCI launched its own cricket Premier League known as the IPL today.
Conclusion
In India, cricket is played virtually in all corners of the country. With a history going back to the 17th century when it was introduced by the British, cricket has grown to be the country’s most loved sport. The IPL, a local sports event held annually in India, started as a platform to train young Indian talents in cricket. Today, the IPL has risen to be a global sports event, becoming a favorite among lovers of cricket sport worldwide. If you want to enjoy the game and make money as a bettor, betting on a platform like Parimatch is the best. You have access to every IPL game, and you can enjoy the bonuses and promotional offers that are always provided.
