IPL to Expand to 94 Matches by 2028: BCCI Announces Format Change

The Future of the IPL: Moving Toward a 94-Match Calendar

The landscape of professional T20 cricket is on the verge of a significant evolution. As confirmed by IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is gearing up to expand the Indian Premier League from its current 74-match structure to a sprawling 94-match tournament. This change is scheduled to take effect from the 2028 season, representing a shift toward a more traditional competition format that fans and experts have been anticipating.

Currently, the IPL stands as one of the most demanding T20 leagues globally, with a season duration of approximately two and a half months. While most international T20 tournaments conclude within four to six weeks, the IPL’s immense popularity has sustained its lengthy window. However, the move to 94 games signals that the BCCI is confident in the league’s ability to maintain high engagement levels even as the volume of matches increases.

The Return to Traditional Round-Robin

At the heart of this expansion is the elimination of the current virtual group system. Under the existing framework, the 10 teams are split into two groups of five, playing some opponents once and others twice. While this system was a necessary compromise to manage time constraints, it has often drawn criticism for its complexity. The transition in 2028 will see the return of a classic double-legged round-robin model, where every team faces every other franchise both at home and away.

Arun Dhumal emphasized that the number of franchises will remain capped at 10. The goal is to maximize the quality and fairness of the competition by ensuring each team plays an equal number of home and away fixtures. As Dhumal noted, with the current set of teams, expanding to 94 matches is the logical step to achieve a balanced schedule that mirrors the structure of major global football leagues.

Why the 2028 Wait?

Many followers of the sport have asked why this change is not being implemented immediately. The answer lies in the constraints of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Future Tours Programme. The current bilateral cricket calendar is firmly locked until 2027. Consequently, the board is currently restricted to a 60-65-day window, which cannot accommodate the logistical demands of a 94-match season. By waiting until the conclusion of the 2027 bilateral cycle, the BCCI expects to secure the necessary time to host the expanded format effectively.

Addressing Viewership and Fatigue

The decision to restructure comes at a time when the cricket fraternity is keeping a close eye on viewership metrics. Recent trends during the middle phase of the 2026 season showed a slight dip in interest, highlighting the reality of ‘cricket fatigue.’ With a non-stop cycle of T20 World Cups, bilateral series, and the IPL, spectators have increasingly felt the strain of the constant match calendar.

By reverting to a more straightforward, home-and-away format, the BCCI intends to create a more consistent narrative for the fans. The hope is that the improved structure will not only simplify the tournament for the audience but also revitalize the interest levels by ensuring that every match counts equally in the race for the playoffs. As the league prepares for this transformation, the focus remains on sustaining the growth of the IPL while balancing the heavy schedule of modern-day cricketers and the endurance of its global fanbase.