After mega media rights deal, Ness Wadia needs longer IPL of two halves

Punjab Kings co-owner Ness Wadia feels that IPL ought to now be held in two separate halves with a major enhance in variety of matches after the BCCI made a ‘killing’ on the media rights public sale with USD 6.2 billion deal. BCCI spreading the media rights into 4 bundles helped the richest cricketing board amass Rs 48390 crore from the e-auction, almost thrice greater than the earlier cycle.

Over the subsequent 5 years, there’s a risk that the IPL may have as many as 94 video games and BCCI secretary Jay Shah has already stated that the event can have a devoted two and a half months within the subsequent ICC’s FTP calendar.

Speaking to PTI, Wadia congratulated Shah and Co for delivering on an modern media rights technique however hoped the IPL will get what’s lengthy overdue: “more home games and a bigger season”. “IPL has taken cricket to the worldwide stage. The IPL has supplied the spark cricket wanted and made it a worldwide sport. It will get even greater.

“Having stated that, seven matches at dwelling, it’s manner too much less. It needs to be a minimal of 14. I actually see a for much longer season which is lengthy overdue.

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“If you can’t have a long season of four months why not look at two seasons, one in India and one in a different country every year. Indians are everywhere around the world. There is huge potential for having many more games,” stated Wadia.

Until final season, when there have been eights franchisees, groups performed 14 video games on an dwelling and away foundation. With 10 groups this yr, the format was tweaked however a staff continued to play 14 video games.

Asked why the house video games have to be doubled, he stated: “It is a logical reason. How much are seven matches at home? Too few in my opinion. There has to be a bigger window. In per match value, the IPL is bigger than EPL now and look at the number of games each team plays there (38).” IPL getting an extended window and different T20 leagues mushrooming around the globe additionally places extra stress on bilateral cricket.

Just a few specialists have already predicted that cricket goes the soccer manner with leagues set to dominate the cricket calendar.

“I’d say it’s already taking place. There is little doubt that may finally occur.The IPL has revived, grown and globalised cricket. And imagine me it’s the tip of the iceberg.

“The tournament is around for 15 years and the window should have become bigger many years ago. It is long overdue. And it will happen. For how long can you keep genie in the bottle.” Asked concerning the viewer fatigue issue with the IPL getting longer: “At some point, we will have to factor in that also. That is where the creativity comes and we can see how leagues are run around the world. We are long away from fatigue at the moment. We will cross the bridge when we get there.”