On September 13, 2007, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) revolutionised T20 cricket. After losing a series to England and finishing last in the ODI World Cup, the Indian squad appeared fragile. As the first T20 World Cup got underway, the men in blue were experimenting with the newest format.
But the BCCI announced the Indian Premier League (IPL), a franchise T20 competition, on that fateful Thursday. Held in April and May of 2008 and attracting the best players worldwide, the competition offered everything the game’s tiniest format could offer.
Remarkably, it was scheduled that Team India will play their inaugural T20 World Cup match against Scotland on the same day. But the game washed out because of the constant rain. The popularity of the competition was nevertheless increased by Team India’s victory over Pakistan in the 2007 T20 World Cup final and subsequent rise to prominence in the format. The BCCI also made a number of record-breaking announcements shortly after the IPL was established.
With a spectacular century in the IPL opener, Brendon McCullum lights up
The $700 million franchise auction came after the TV rights agreement, which brought in over $1 billion. Brendon McCullum, playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders, produced a knock of epic proportions in the opening IPL match, hitting 158 runs in 73 deliveries.
In addition, the IPL was able to uphold the principle that a player’s allegiance to their country of origin should always come first. That did not, however, deter the players—something that is common in the present era—from putting the IPL ahead of their national obligations. Relying only on the Indian Premier League, former West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle turned down an annual deal in 2009.
Also Read: IPL player retention regulation may be delayed by BCCI
The Indian main League (IPL) quickly rose to prominence as the main event, the tournament to watch, and the standard for all subsequent events. One of the most prominent cricket competitions in the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been inspiring players for over 16 years.
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