The future of bilateral cricket could face increasing pressure as the BCCI explores a larger IPL calendar from 2028, a move that would further strengthen franchise cricket’s place at the centre of the sport’s global ecosystem. According to a PTI report, the Indian Board is assessing how a 94-match IPL season could fit into an already crowded schedule, with questions emerging over the long-term role of bilateral series and the commercial realities that underpin them.
While the proposed expansion would add 20 matches to the tournament’s current 74-game structure, the implications stretch far beyond scheduling. Any increase in the IPL’s footprint would require additional space in the international calendar and could accelerate wider debates around how cricket balances domestic leagues, bilateral commitments and global events.
A larger IPL will require a different window
The BCCI has been considering how a longer tournament could be accommodated without running into weather-related challenges later in the year. Finding room for an expanded competition is expected to become one of the key planning considerations ahead of the next cycle of IPL growth.
Discussing the scheduling challenge, a BCCI source told PTI: “We can’t play 94 games in the current window as the monsoon starts after May. Either we split into two halves or we do it from March first week and have it till May 15. That would be the best window when 94 matches are played.”
The comments point to a scenario in which the IPL could begin significantly earlier than recent editions in order to accommodate a larger fixture list within a workable timeframe.
Bilateral cricket comes under the spotlight
The scheduling discussion has also opened a wider conversation about the future value of bilateral cricket. As more countries invest in their own domestic leagues and franchise competitions, administrators are increasingly evaluating how those events fit alongside traditional international commitments.
Addressing that broader issue, the source added: “We also need to see the feasibility of bilateral series going forward. Every country has their own league, they are not entirely dependent on hosting the India series. So, we need to see the feasibility of bilaterals going forward. The broadcaster is already not seeing value in some of the bilateral series being played. If cricket has to go the soccer way, all boards need to buy into it.”
The remarks reflect one of the most significant governance questions facing the sport. While bilateral cricket remains an important source of revenue for many national boards, the continued growth of franchise leagues has altered both audience behaviour and commercial priorities across multiple markets.
Several boards remain heavily reliant on major international tours to support their finances, particularly visits involving India, Australia and England. Any long-term reduction in bilateral cricket would therefore have implications that extend well beyond scheduling.
Growing concerns over calendar congestion
The discussion around a larger IPL also arrives at a time when cricket’s calendar is becoming increasingly crowded. Domestic leagues, ICC tournaments and international commitments are competing for space, creating difficult decisions for administrators and broadcasters alike.
Highlighting concerns around the volume of major events, the source noted: “The viewer fatigue has to be kept in mind too. The world looks forward to the football World Cup as it comes after every four years. We are having ICC events every year.”
The observation adds another dimension to the debate, raising questions about whether an increasingly packed calendar risks diluting audience interest across multiple competitions.
A pivotal moment for the global game
The IPL’s continued expansion has long been viewed as a possibility given the tournament’s commercial success and global influence. Moving to a 94-match format would represent another significant step in that evolution, but it would also intensify conversations about how cricket allocates time, resources and attention across its various formats and competitions.
Whether those changes ultimately reshape the role of bilateral cricket remains uncertain. What is becoming increasingly clear, however, is that discussions around the IPL’s future are now extending into broader questions about the structure and economics of the sport itself.
