Ness Wadia, co-owner of Punjab Kings, has called for the Indian Premier League (IPL) to widen its current March-to-May schedule by adding extra fixtures. He argues that this extension is necessary to capitalise on the league’s momentum and to elevate its global footprint. “The BCCI and everyone involved, all the franchises, all of us together, we should look back and be very proud of what has been achieved. Going forward, it would be good to have more matches; we can start with two extra games (for every team),” Wadia said.
He believes these additional games would not only enhance the league’s value but also better align with other major sporting competitions in terms of duration and continuity.
Reviving the Champions League: A Strategic Move
Wadia is also highly supportive of reviving the Champions League T20 as a way to shorten the gap between the IPL’s conclusion and the player auction, thereby preserving fan engagement and enthusiasm. “Also, at some point, we need to look at reviving the Champions League to shorten the gap between the end of the IPL and the auction and keep that excitement alive,” he noted.
He further underscored the role of international visibility in strengthening the IPL’s brand, pointing to recent overseas auctions in cities such as Jeddah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi: “Bringing in the international exposure … that only brings more eyeballs and gets a better connect for IPL as a brand.”
By bringing back the Champions League T20 and extending the IPL schedule, Wadia sees an opportunity for a “triangle” of global T20 competition—domestic league, international franchises, and cross-country championship—to raise Indian cricket’s profile.
Challenges and Value Growth: A Balanced Outlook
While Wadia is optimistic about growth, he acknowledges the complexities of global cricket scheduling. The IPL doesn’t exist in a vacuum—it must be navigated alongside bilateral international cricket, multiple formats, and other T20 leagues that increasingly involve IPL franchise owners. “So, there’s a lot of things to balance out. You just don’t have the IPL; there is international cricket with multiple formats, which is not the case with football.
The IPL, since it came in, has managed to keep the window it is. And I think if we can just expand that window, the horizon of the IPL increases,” he said. On the valuation side, Wadia pointed out that although the IPL ranks second only to the NFL in per-match value, its overall value still lags behind the NBA and the English Premier League due to its comparatively shorter duration.
He believes that as India’s economy grows and disposable incomes increase, the IPL’s brand and commercial value will continue to rise. “India is an emerging market and it is getting there … another very important part we need to keep in mind is the disposable income to come and enjoy the IPL experience with all its thrills and frills,” Wadia reasoned.
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