IPL set to expand to 94 matches per season; no new team to be added

The IPL 2025 was supposed to be a 84-match season, but it was kept to 74 matches.

While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) currently has no immediate plans to add new franchises to the Indian Premier League (IPL), it is seriously considering expanding the tournament to a 94-match season starting from 2028.

The IPL grew to its current 74-match format in 2022 following the addition of the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). However, initial plans to expand further to an 84-match schedule by 2025 were shelved due to scheduling challenges and broadcasters’ hesitation to accommodate too many doubleheaders. Nonetheless, a medium-term expansion remains very much on the table.

The length of the IPL’s window will form a key part of discussions next year as cricket boards negotiate the next Future Tours Programme (FTP).

Arun Dhumal Hints at 94-Match IPL Season from 2028

For the next two years, the IPL’s slot in the FTP will extend from mid-March to the end of May. However, according to IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, the BCCI is seriously evaluating the possibility of a full home-and-away 94-match schedule to align with the next media rights cycle, starting in 2028.

“Definitely, that might be an opportunity. We’ve been discussing it at the ICC level and internally within the BCCI. Given the evolving interests of fans towards bilateral, ICC events, and franchise-based T20 cricket, we will need to have deeper conversations on how to maximize value for all stakeholders,” Dhumal said in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.

“Ideally, we would like a larger window and to expand from 74 to 84 or 94 matches eventually. To achieve a true home-and-away format, we would require 94 games. Given the current constraints with bilateral commitments and ICC tournaments, this expansion is not feasible immediately. However, considering how the cricket landscape is evolving, it could become a reality in the future,” he added.

Several franchise officials have also expressed to ESPNcricinfo that they would favor a 94-match season. However, such expansion would likely depend heavily on broadcaster interest, particularly in light of the emerging Reliance-Disney partnership, which is set to form JioStar in India.

No New Teams to Be Added — for Now

Despite significant investor interest, the BCCI currently has no intention of expanding the number of franchises in the near term.

“Ten is a good number for now. Our primary focus is on maintaining the quality of the tournament and the standard of cricket. I don’t foresee any addition of teams in the short term. We will reassess depending on how the landscape changes in the coming years,” Dhumal said.

TV and streaming figures tend to decline midway through the IPL season, a trend that broadcasters attribute to viewer fatigue. The 2025 edition is featuring 12 doubleheaders over nine weeks. Expanding to a 94-match format would likely require at least two additional weeks in the international cricket calendar.

In reflecting on the current season, Dhumal praised the competitiveness of the tournament and highlighted the emergence of several promising young Indian players. With Delhi Capitals (DC), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and LSG all contending for playoff spots, Dhumal believes that having a first-time IPL champion this season would be a significant boost for the league.

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