ICC events, bilateral cricket in India & Tests: What’s stopping BCCI from conducting longer IPL seasons

Among traditional cricket enthusiasts, who prefer international cricket over franchise leagues, there’s a growing concern that playing for the national team is becoming tougher by the day, and soon it might just become extinct. In simpler terms, cricket is becoming like football.

In particular, the Indian Premier League (IPL) seems to be the biggest threat to international cricket. While the SA20 and The Hundred are big, nothing comes closer to the IPL. It’s not just the biggest cricket league but also one of the biggest across sports, with only the National Football League (NFL) generating more value per game.

At this moment, the question is what’s stopping the IPL from going from a 2-month tournament to 6 to 8 months long? Arun Dhumal, chairman of the IPL, thinks multiple factors are behind the IPL and franchise leagues taking over international cricket.

Why IPL can’t run longer, right now

He believes Test cricket, the old guard, remains strong. In England especially, red-ball cricket remains supreme. Whether it be Zimbabwe or India, the crowd remains full for the whites. In fact, since India aren’t going to tour England in 2026 for Test cricket, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will suffer losses compared to 2025. But love for Test cricket remains in India and Australia, the other two biggest markets.

“I still think there is a lot of love for Test cricket. The India-England Test series in England last year captured the imagination of fans, and people were invested in seeing how it unfolded. There remains significant scope for Test cricket. We simply need to work out how best to utilise it. There are markets and teams where the appetite for Test cricket remains very strong,” Dhumal told RevSportz.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi via Alamy

Until 2027, the schedule in India is set. There will be bilateral series in all formats. Then you have the Asia Cup and ICC events. All generate immense value, although not as much as the IPL, but it means player availability will be an issue. One can count consumer fatigue from non-stop T20 cricket and players fatiguing due to a hectic schedule.

“Broadcasters are the most important stakeholders. They hold both BCCI and IPL rights, and we have seen that every cricketing nation wants a series against India because it helps monetise the game. Money is important. During the COVID period, we did our duty diligently because cricket needed to survive and grow globally.

However, there is a limit to how much bilateral cricket India can play. That is why we have seen the rise of competitions such as the Big Bash, The Hundred and SA20. Many Associate nations that do not even have ODI status are launching leagues.

If cricket follows football’s path, we need to be prepared for that reality because, ultimately, it is the fans and broadcasters who fund the game. With bilateral cricket, ICC events and franchise leagues all competing for space, player burnout is a genuine concern. We need to plan care,” Dhumal added.

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