KKR Wins the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

The TATA IPL 2024, which featured as a Google Doodle yesterday, ended with a one-sided final match with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeating the Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, by eight wickets in quick time to clinch the IPL 2024 title and be declared the Champions, the third for the KKR. The IPL 2024 tournament featuring ten teams kick-started this year on March 22 with an opening program and an entertainment program that featured Bolly wood stars Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff besides Sonu Nigam and AR Rehman, before the opening match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Each of the ten teams played a total of 14 games — seven home and seven away. After the group stage, the top four teams – Kolkata Knight Riders, Sun Risers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royal, and Royal Challengers Bangalore - advanced to the high-stakes Qualifier and Eliminator stages, and the two deserving teams, KKR and SRH, were pitted in the finals, which was played yesterday.

The IPL 2024, a two-month extravaganza, has financially benefitted players from across the globe and upcoming stars and youngsters from India. The IPL season in India not only benefits cricket players and the franchises but also provides a positive impact on the Indian economy. Therefore, it was no wonder that IPL was chosen as one of the sections in the three Cricket Connects exhibitions in South Africa, Australia, and England, which I had the honour to curate and present in these countries.   

The genesis of IPL, which is now in its 17^th year and is considered to be one of the highly successful tournaments, goes back to September 2007, when the maverick fugitive Lalit Modi, the key architect of IPL, was handed a US $ 25 million check from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, for formalising and launching a new cricket league. This was called the Indian Premier League (IPL). Lalit Modi, who is now an absconder, faced the daunting task of building a sustainable business model, that would create appropriate incentives to motivate players, broadcasters, franchise owners, and various cricket boards to join in this effort. He had just seven months to accomplish his task. When the first draft of the Indian Premier League was outlined, its architects would have hardly imagined it would turn into the gigantic success that it is today, in its seventeenth year.

The inaugural edition of the IPL started in 2008, with the business house DLF as its title sponsor. Ever since, various business houses have been associated with IPL as title sponsors and for the IPL 2024, the title sponsors are the Tata group.  The IPL has been a sporting event full of extravaganza and has instantly become popular among the entire community of cricket-loving Indians. IPL is Twenty 20 cricket, famously referred to as T20. The IPL cricket tournament does not represent any Nation; rather it is played almost like a club tournament. It consists of a mix of Indian and foreign cricketers. Each team has a franchise and this year ten teams participated in the IPL 2024 tournament. eight in all). The selection of the players by the franchises is one of the most interesting aspects of the IPL. Different franchises bid for the cricketers of their choice for their team and the franchise who is the highest bidder for a particular player wins the bidding, and the player has to join that team. There has been fierce bidding for star players by the franchises, each benefitting the players directly.

The second edition of the IPL coincided with the general elections in India and therefore, the BCCI decided to shift the entire event to South Africa, which readily agreed to host the second edition of the IPL. South Africa, realising the reach of the IPL, ensured that the IPL platform was used to draw many social benefits The best part of the IPL 2009 edition was not the wins, the spectacular sixers, or the Bollywood stars, but the frequent recognition of hundreds of children, teachers, and schools in every game. The venue of each IPL match in South Africa was used to distribute much-needed scholarships and gifts to several children and schools. There was a social lesson for India from the experience of IPL in South Africa to use this platform to publicize socially relevant messages to the audience in India, which unfortunately has not happened.

The IPL has become a spectacular exhibition of a brand of cricket that has rewritten the gospels of the game and continues to attract the cricketing world. It has, in many ways, turned the game into a thriving industry with Bollywood and captains of the Indian Industry joining hands to take part in this annual sporting event that appeals to every section of Indian society. The IPL has helped Cricket from being an international game to becoming a global sport. The incentives of playing the IPL are far more enticing—not just money, which is huge, but the exposure that the players get is also matchless.

The IPL also provides a golden opportunity for young Indian players to rub shoulders with the best in the world in a competitive yet friendly environment, which is so essential in modern times of competitive sports. Cricket, like many other sports, is highly competitive and more so when countries play against each other. The game whips up passions and anger both among spectators and also players. The IPL provides a platform for players from disparate backgrounds to play for the same franchisee and share the same dressing room thus bringing together players who otherwise would have been at loggerheads. Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh put behind their acrimony to turn out for Mumbai Indians and be the best of pals all through the tournament.

The IPL2024, notwithstanding the general elections, has turned out to be a major success in India primarily because of the large number of spectators that the tournament attracts - both on-site at the stadiums and off-site through millions and millions of TV viewers at their homes. From children to adults, male or female, ordinary to famous, almost every Indian loves to watch cricket and therefore the IPL has enjoyed this privilege ever since its inaugural tournament and has gained huge popularity.  The tournament has been emboldened by the glamorous media coverage that the game gets. During the entire 8-week period of the game, every single print media gave maximum column centimeter coverage for the IPL 2024 be it in the form of news or advertisement, in both English and regional language print media. A majority of the advertisement slots in hundreds of TV channels are all taken by the IPL and most of the TV channels provide extensive coverage of the event all through the IPL season. No consumer product feels satisfied with its advertising until and unless its advertisement mix includes a slot in the IPL.

The success of the IPL has led to the rapid growth of the sports industry in India, with more and more investors showing interest in the sector. This has also led to the improvement in the development of infrastructure, training facilities, etc. When the IPL opened in 2008, Sony Entertainment Television purchased IPL’s broadcast rights for 10 years for Rs 8,200 crore. Last year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sold the 2023-27 IPL media rights for a whopping Rs 48,390 crore, with TV rights (Star Sports) accounting for Rs 23,575 crore and digital (Viacom18) fetching Rs 23,758 crore. The success of IPL has also created a greater influence and interest in the start-up culture in India, which is growing exponentially. IPL has provided an opportunity for new ventures, and creative ideas, to implement new technologies for harvesting the benefits from IPL. Some of the noticeable start-ups developed in recent times as a result of the success of IPL include; My11Circle, Rupay, Dream11, ACKO, Six5Six, etc.

The value of the IPL and its contributions to the Indian economy and the growth of the Indian GDP can best be appreciated from a report from KPMG for the year 2015. According to a report by KPMG, the IPL contributed 11.5 billion Rupees to GDP in 2015.  The report added that this figure is expected to increase in the coming years. According to a report by consulting firm D & P Advisory, IPL became a Decacorn in December 2022 and was valued at US$10.9 billion, registering a 75% growth in dollar terms since 2020 when it was valued at $6.2 billion.

The commercial success of the IPL has demonstrated the profitability of investing in sports in India and has encouraged corporates to invest in sports infrastructure across the country, benefiting not just cricket but other sports as well. The success of IPL has inspired the creation of professional leagues in other sports, such as the Pro Kabaddi League, Indian Super League (football), and Premier Badminton League. These leagues have provided platforms for athletes from various sports to showcase their talents and gain financial stability. It has contributed to a growing interest in sports among the youth. Schools and communities are now more inclined to support sports programs, leading to increased participation in a variety of sports. The success of IPL has created a new generation of sports icons who are not only cricketers but also athletes from other sports leagues. These role models inspire young athletes to pursue sports as a viable career option. 

The IPL has generated numerous economic opportunities, including jobs in marketing, event management, coaching, and sports journalism. This diversification has supported the broader sports ecosystem in India. The success of the IPL has fostered a sporting culture that values fitness, teamwork, and competitive spirit. This cultural shift is beneficial for societal health and well-being, promoting an active lifestyle.

The overwhelming success of the IPL has sometimes led to a disproportionate allocation of resources to cricket, potentially at the expense of other sports. This can limit the growth and development opportunities for athletes in less popular sports. The heavy commercialization of the IPL has sometimes prioritized entertainment over the sport itself. This focus on monetary gain can overshadow the essence of sportsmanship and fair play. While the IPL promotes cricket at a professional level, grassroots development in other sports may still be lacking. Comprehensive support for sports needs to include grassroots initiatives to ensure long-term success and inclusivity. The immense popularity of the IPL has heightened the societal obsession with cricket, which can lead to the neglect of other sports. Balanced attention is required to foster a more inclusive sports environment.

The Indian Premier League has undoubtedly transformed the landscape of sports in India, bringing significant economic benefits and fostering a vibrant sporting culture. Its success has paved the way for other sports to gain recognition and investment, contributing to a more diverse sports ecosystem. However, it is crucial to address the challenges of resource allocation and commercialization to ensure that all sports receive adequate support and attention. By balancing these aspects, India can continue to cultivate a rich and inclusive sporting culture that benefits society as a whole.