What Is IPL?
Since the Indian Premier League was established in 2008, cricket has become even more popular in India. As an annual event, the IPL gives fans and bettors alike a yearly tournament to look forward to. They get to see both homegrown and international stars competing across 10 teams at the highest level
While the IPL has become a global tournament, many still don’t know how it works. That’s why we’ve created this blog post. We explain how the IPL works, its impact on cricket and why it's the biggest T20 tournament today.
IPL Meaning and Full Form
Although the T20 cricket format dates back to 2003, the establishment of the Indian Premier League by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was a turning point for the cricket format. Lalit Modi, the first chairman and commissioner of the IPL, used the opportunity of India’s triumph at the inaugural ICC T20 World Cup in 2007 to secure the league's approval in 2008.
So, what is IPL? This is the right question to ask if you’re new to cricket. It’s also possible you may want to ask, “Who is IPL?” if you assume the IPL is a person. However, that’s not the case. Whether you’re playing online cricket betting or just want to watch your favourite cricket players, the IPL means the Indian Premier League. It's a professional Twenty20 (T20) cricket league that runs annually from March through May.
Founded by the BCCI, the league provides a platform for top international players and local Indian talent to compete together in one exciting competition. The IPL began in 2008, marking the beginning of a new era in franchise cricket. Instead of international teams representing countries, IPL teams represent cities and are owned by private companies or investors.
The IPL started with 8 teams in 2008 and has expanded to 10 as of March 2026. Some of the top teams include the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings, the league's most successful franchises, each having won the title 5 times.
Players are signed through contracts and auctions, which is why legendary players such as MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have been closely associated with the competition. These two particularly, are widely considered iconic figures in the league’s history due to their longevity and record-breaking careers.
IPL Format - How the Tournament Works
The IPL follows a simple and clear tournament structure, which is why the competition is exciting from start to finish. It usually begins in March with a group stage and runs through to May or June, with the playoffs and grand final. While previous editions featured 74 matches, the 2026 season is expanded to an 84-match tournament. However, the goal is to reach 94 matches by 2027, with all teams playing each other twice and 4 playoff matches.
As a T20 structure tournament, matches are faster, and players are forced to score runs quickly and hit many boundaries. Each team bats a maximum of 20 overs in a single innings in each match. Here is how the tournament works.
The League Phase
While the ten franchise cricket teams used to be divided into two groups of five, the 2026 edition is different. This edition will feature a single league phase, with each team playing 16 matches instead of 14 in the previous season. Each team will face 7 other teams twice, home and away and face two opponents once.
In the IPL, teams earn points based on results: 2 points for a win, 1 point for an abandoned game, and 0 points for a loss. On the other hand, tied matches are decided by a Super Over, where each team gets one over to score as many runs as possible. Teams are ranked in the standings based on earned points, and the Net Run Rate is used as a tiebreaker if teams end up with equal points.
The Playoffs
Following the completion of the league phase, the top four teams in the standings proceed to the playoffs. Here is how they compete for the two spots in the grand final.
Qualifier 1: The first and second-placed teams on the log play against each other, and the winner goes straight to the final. The loser goes to qualifier 2.
Eliminator: The third and fourth placed-teams play each other in an eliminator round. The winner moves to qualifier 2 while the loser is eliminated.
Qualifier 2: The winner of the eliminator round plays the loser of qualifier 1. Whoever wins takes the second spot in the finals.
The Grand Final
The tournament ends with a grand final, where the winners of qualifier 1 and qualifier 2 face each other for the IPL title. The winner of this encounter is crowned the season’s champion.
As tradition, the defending champions host the grand final, qualifier 1, and the season’s opener. On the other hand, the runner-up from the previous season hosts the eliminator and qualifier 2 matches. However, this may not hold if unforeseen circumstances arise. Nevertheless, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, winners of the IPL 2025 season, have been scheduled to host the 2026 season opener, qualifier 1, and the grand final.
Why IPL is Popular - Impact on Cricket
The IPL is not only the most popular league in the world, but also the tournament that attracts the most wagers on 1xBet and other leading betting platforms in India. The competition has changed how cricket is perceived worldwide, especially among bettors. Here are some reasons why the IPL attracts such a huge global audience.
Fast and Entertaining Matches: As a T20 format league, the IPL is known for short, exciting, and action-packed games. Fans often witness dramatic finishes, powerful batting and thrilling bowling performances during these matches.
Star Players: The presence of world-class players is one reason for the league's success. It features international stars alongside talented Indian bowlers, thereby raising the league's quality. Young players also benefit from sharing space with professional superstars, providing them with the opportunity to learn and develop quickly rather than wait for international tournaments.
Huge Fan Support: Each IPL team represents a city, which helps build a strong fan base. Supporters proudly follow these teams and attend their matches in packed stadiums.
Global Cricket Influence: The Indian Premier League has also changed the business side of cricket. Inspired by its success, many countries have now launched their own franchise cricket tournament using the same model.
Exciting Player Auctions: Another reason the Indian Premier League is so popular is its player mega auction system. Before the start of every season, teams take part by bidding for cricket players from around the world. This creates a lot of excitement among fans and bettors at the prospect of seeing their teams sign a new player.
IPL vs Other Cricket Leagues
The impact of the IPL goes beyond the pitch or excitement among Indian fans. The league has influenced the launch of other leagues worldwide. Here are some of them.
Australia's Big Bash League (BBL): The BBL launched in 2011 in Australia, three years after the IPL. It is also a T20 format league, but has maintained eight teams since its inception. Each team plays 10 matches in its regular season, with 5 home and 5 away games. Each win earns a team 2 points, while a tie or no result gives each team 1 point.
UAE's International League T20 (ILT20): While it was sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board in 2021, the first inaugural season didn’t hold until January 2023. The International League also follows the T20 structure but allows 9 overseas players in the starting 11, unlike the IPL, which allows only 4 foreign players. However, the ILT20 only features 6 teams, each playing 10 regular-season matches.
South Africa's SA20: The SA20 is also super young, having only been established in 2023. While South Africa previously attempted to launch T20 leagues, such as the Mzansi Super League, only the SA20 proved successful. It is competed by 6 teams, each playing 10 regular matches, with 5 home and 5 away games.
Pakistan Super League (PSL): The PSL has been around since 2015, but had its first season in February 2016. While the first few seasons were held in the United Arab Emirates due to security reasons, it has been moved back to Pakistan in recent years. The league initially launched with 6 teams but has since expanded to 8, with each team playing 10 regular-season fixtures. Unlike the IPL, where players are signed through an auction, the PSL uses a player draft, in which teams pick players from specific categories to ensure parity.
Caribbean Premier League (CPL): The CPL is one of the earliest T20 leagues and it’s unique because it features franchises from different countries. It replaced the previous Caribbean Twenty20 and is regarded as the “Biggest Party in Sport” for its carnival-like atmosphere, featuring music, drums, and fan energy. It originally had 6 teams but has recently expanded to 7 across Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbadoes, Saint Lucia, Antique and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. One of the teams, the Trinbago Knight Riders is owned by the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IPL stand for?
The IPL meaning in English is the Indian Premier League. It's a professional T20 cricket league where teams from different cities in India compete in an annual tournament.
When did IPL start?
The Indian Premier League started in 2008, a year after the Indian national team won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The former chairman and commissioner of the IPL, Lalit Modi, secured the league's approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
How many teams are in IPL?
The IPL currently features 10 teams from different cities across India. These teams compete in the league phase and playoffs to reach the season’s grand final.
Who owns IPL?
The IPL is owned and organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. However, private companies and investors are responsible for the individual teams in the league.
