As IPL continues to dominate global sports in 2025-26, its evolution from 2008 remains a fascinating case study in sports marketing.

IPL- The Cricket Frenzy Of India

With IPL 2018, or officially known as the Vivo Indian Premier League (for sponsorship reasons), going on in full swing it is perhaps the time to reignite your ardour and rev yourselves up to witness the best cricketers from across the globe come together in one place. Over the years, the IPL has gained a lot of popularity with the number of global fans skyrocketing each year. There are various reasons that have attributed to the unbelievable amount of success that IPL has witnessed.

How It All Started

The league was founded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is the richest cricket board in the world, in 2008 and is regarded as the brainchild of Lalit Modi, the founder and former commissioner of the league. “The IPL has been designed to entice an entirely new generation of sports fans into the grounds throughout the country. The dynamic Twenty20 format has been designed to attract a young fan base, which also includes women and children”, said Modi during the launch of the IPL.

Domestic Cricket That Surpasses International Boundaries!

The IPL is the most-attended cricket league on earth and is ranked first in the top T-20 leagues across the globe. In 2010, the IPL became the first cricketing event in the world to be broadcast live on YouTube. The brand value of IPL in 2017 was US$5.3 billion, which falls short only to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and English Premier League (EPL), as stated by Duff & Phelps.  According to BCCI, the 2015 IPL season contributed ₹11.5 billion (US$182 million) to the GDP of the Indian economy!

IPL- How It Rose To Become The Most Expensive Cricket League In The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56kB-C0zRmQ

It is the BCCI’s hard work that is behind its overwhelming financial success. Today, IPL as a brand is valued at $ 5,500 million. With a record 300% growth rate recorded in 2015/16 season, a major part of IPL’s success is attributed to the various sponsorships and broadcasting rights of the league.

IPL has shown stupendous growth since 2008 when BCCI for the very first time unveiled the league. Indians crave for cricket and IPL gave the Indian audience another opportunity to celebrate it. The one thing that BCCI did right was to merge Bollywood with the IPL. Cricketainment, as it is referred to sometimes0, emerged as a pure package of entertainment.

Refresh Your Trivia

IPL 2008

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p8HbaV-LE4

The season commenced on 18 April 2008, with the last match being held on 1 June 2008. The tourney began with a two-fold round, in which each of the 8 teams played a home and an away match against each team. These matches were trailed by two semi-finals and a final.

Champions: Rajasthan Royals

Player of the series: Shane Watson (RR)

Most runs: Shaun Marsh (KXIP)

Most wickets: Sohail Tanvir (RR)

IPL  2009

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toRZ5dAoZOs

IPL 2 or the 2009 IPL, was facilitated by South Africa. It was the second greatest cricket competition on the planet, after the Cricket World Cup, and was expected to have more than 200 million onlookers in India alone.

Champions: Deccan Chargers

Player of the series: Adam Gilchrist (KXIP)

Most runs: Matthew Hayden (CSK)

Most wickets: RP Singh (DC)

IPL  2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPXWx7YXZfc

The competition returned to India and had expected onlookers of more than 200 million individuals in the country. The last four matches of the competition were screened in 3D crosswise, over motion picture lobbies in India.

Champions Chennai Super Kings

Player of the series: Sachin Tendulkar (MI)

Most runs: Sachin Tendulkar (MI)

Most wickets: Pragyan Ojha (MI)

IPL 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPXWx7YXZfc

In this season, the number of groups went from eight to ten, with the new teams being the Pune Warriors India and the Kochi Tuskers Kerala

Champions Chennai Super Kings

Player of the series: Chris Gayle (RCB)

Most runs: Chris Gayle (RCB)

Most wickets: Lasith Malinga (MI)

IPL 2012

IPL 5 or the IPL 2012 or officially DLF IPL 2012 (attributable to title sponsorship reasons), was the fifth season of the Indian Premier League. In this season the number of groups went from ten to nine, with the end of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

Champions Kolkata Knight Riders

Player of the series: Sunil Narine (KKR)

Most runs: Chris Gayle (RCB)

Most wickets: Morne Morkel (DD)

IPL 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n12i6rAJlDM

IPL 6 or Pepsi IPL 2014 was the main season, with PepsiCo as the title support. A spot settling case was uncovered by the Delhi Police, prompting capture of three cricketers from Rajasthan Royals and other officials as well. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) replaced Deccan Chargers (DC) and made their debut this season.

Champions Mumbai Indians

Player of the series: Shane Watson (RR)

Most runs: Michael Hussey (CSK)

Most wickets: Dwayne Bravo (CSK)

IPL 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5ZLT2HIz70

IPL 7 or Pepsi IPL 2014, the seventh season of the IPL, highlighted eight groups, one less than in 2013 after the withdrawal of the Pune Warriors India.

Champions Kolkata Knight Riders

Player of the series: Glenn Maxwell (KXIP)

Most wickets: Mohit Sharma (CSK)

Most runs: Robin Uthappa (KKR)

IPL 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJo_y8yGPdU

IPL 8 or Pepsi IPL 2015, the eighth season of the IPL.

Champions Mumbai Indians

Player of the series Andre Russell (KKR)

Most runs: David Warner (SRH)

Most wickets: Dwayne Bravo (CSK)

IPL 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQSQPL8dwh4

The 2016 period of the IPL or IPL 9, officially changed to Vivo IPL 2016 (for sponsorship reasons yet again). A ban of two years was placed on CSK and RR for 2 years. They were replaced by Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) and Gujrat Lions (GL).

Champions: Sunrisers Hyderabad

Player of the series: Virat Kohli (RCB)

Most runs: Virat Kohli (RCB)

Most wickets: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH)

IPL 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dcGbWy_gYg

The 2017 season of the Indian Premier League, was also known as IPL 10. It marked the rise of Mumbai Indians as the most powerful franchise with three trophies to their name.

Champions: Mumbai Indians

Most wickets: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH)

Most runs: David Warner (SRH)

Player of the series: Ben Stokes (RPS)

The current season i.e. season 11 of the IPL is underway. We have to wait and watch to see who wins the cup, of one of the biggest cricket event, this year.