CricketRavi Shastri Reckons That There Will Be Two IPL In Upcoming Years With 12 Teams
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Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, believes that there is a possibility of two seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) going forward in a year. He expressed hope that with the growing popularity of franchise cricket leagues across the world, the world’s richest cricket league tournament could be extended to two seasons each year.

According to the ace cricket commentator and former Indian captain, the IPL will also have a mini-IPL each season, which can be played with knockouts to decide the champions in the World Cup format.

“I think you can have two (IPL) seasons. I wouldn’t be surprised at all. If bilateral cricket goes down, you can have a shorter format of IPL in the latter half of the year, the World Cup. Kind. format with a knockout that decides the winner,” Shastri told The Telegraph UK.

He also said that the number of teams may increase from 10 to 12 in future. At present there are 10 teams in IPL. The T20 tournament initially started in 2008 as an eight-team affair, but was expanded to 10 sides in the 2011 season with the inclusion of Pune Warriors India and Kochi Tuskers Kerala. Then after a few years it was again reduced to eight and only this year, with the Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchises, again turned into a 10-team affair.

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“With 10 teams the entire competition could go up to 12 teams in the future, with schedules ranging from one and a half to two months.”

Ravi Shastri said that the cash-rich league will only get better and bigger in the coming years.

“It’s all possible because it’s driven by money and supply and demand. The demand for that type of format is huge. The IPL will be driven to go in that direction. It’s great for the game, players, broadcasters and people who Teams work around. It (IPL) is now an industry in itself.”