Indian Premier League
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket tournament. Founded in 2008 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it is contested annually by franchise teams based in several of India's main cities. There are currently ten franchises:
- Chennai Super Kings (founded 2008)
- Delhi Capitals (2008; as Delhi Daredevils)
- Gujarat Titans (2021)
- Kolkata Knight Riders (2008)
- Lucknow Super Giants (2021)
- Mumbai Indians (2008)
- Punjab Kings (2008)
- Rajasthan Royals (2008)
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (2008)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (2012)
The IPL is held in the spring months and matches are normally played in the evening, often under floodlights. The tournament begins with a league format in which five teams are in Group A and five in Group B. Each team plays home and away against all five teams in the other group and also one match against each of the teams in its own group – a total of fourteen matches, seven at home and seven away. The top four teams in the league table qualify for the play-offs which culminate in a final tie. The most successful teams have been Chennai and Mumbai with five titles apiece.
The league has thrived on live TV to become the world's richest cricket event. Franchise owners include Bollywood stars and multinational companies. The IPL regularly attracts the world's best players by means of lucrative auctions held ahead of each tournament.