The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) during the 89th Annual General Meeting held in Ahmedabad had declared that a 10-team IPL would be possible in the 2022 edition. This meant that the 2022 edition would witness two new teams entering into the fray. There was earlier speculation that Malayalam superstar Mohanlal and Bollywood star Salman Khan would apparently be bidding to be the owners. However, the BCCI has now reportedly decided to change their stance with reports emerging that IPL 2022 could only be a nine-team affair and not a 10-team edition. In a report by Times of India, adding two new teams might result in changing the entire format of the league stages and that will involve renegotiation with partners of the Indian Premier League.
More importantly, the IPL media rights end by 2023 and if the BCCI has to get more value, then it might make sense to push the arrival of the 10th team at least by a couple of seasons. The tenders for the new IPL media rights cycle will be floated by this year-end. Thus, in IPL 2023 or even by IPL 2024, there could be new media broadcasting rights that could fetch a huge amount to the BCCI as well as the bids which the potential 10th team would derive.
Huge logistical equations
The International Cricket Council is busy working on the Future Tours Program and the IPL has a designated window for it in the period of April to May. However, with the possibility of two new teams and with the schedule still uncertain due to the coronavirus pandemic, adding the two teams will have a lot of logistical issues. If one calculates the home and away situation for nine teams, it boils down to 74 league games which are still viable. A 10-team IPL might result in the extension of the tournament by another month.
A 10-team IPL in 2022 might make the situation when it comes to money and scheduling a bit too complicated for the BCCI. If such a step takes place, then there are even doubts that a mega auction will be conducted in IPL 2022 as the addition of only one new team might not result in too many changes to the core of other sides. Once the 10-team IPL is officially announced, then the BCCI might go for the mega auction in addition to the new media rights cycle at the right time.
