The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ruled out plans to expand the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 10 to 12 teams in 2028, with Secretary Devajit Saikia confirming that the proposal has not been considered at any level within the governing body.
The clarification comes amid reports about the tournament’s potential expansion, alongside questions over franchise salary budgets and proposals to move the IPL into a winter window.
BCCI dismisses plans for a 12-team IPL
The prospect of adding two franchises had attracted attention ahead of the IPL’s next media rights cycle, which begins in 2028. However, the BCCI has not taken up the proposal.
Saikia told PTI: “We have neither discussed formally nor informally the possibility of the IPL becoming a 12-team affair in 2028. It is not in our scope at this stage.”
The board is instead preparing for a milestone season, with the competition approaching its 20th edition since launching in 2008.
Saikia added: “We are concerned about the IPL of 2027, which is going to be the 20th edition of the IPL. So it will be a big affair. We are concerned about that and we are not considering anything beyond that.”
Addressing the wider speculation surrounding the league’s future, he stated: “Whatever news is circulating in the media, I think these are all speculative reports from some fertile minds. I have no comments to offer regarding those. There is no sanctity to those reports.”
IPL salary purse increase remains undecided
Another issue facing the BCCI is whether to raise the franchise salary purse from ₹125 crore (approx. USD 13.3 million) to ₹150 crore (approx. USD 16 million) ahead of the next mega auction.
Asked about the potential increase and the auction schedule, Saikia explained: “There is nothing of that sort regarding an increase in the salary purse. The mega auction will be sometime next year. This time it will not be a mega auction. Our auction is going to take place on December 16, which will be the last year of the cycle. Thereafter, we will take a call.”
Winter IPL proposal receives no BCCI commitment
The expansion debate has also coincided with calls to reconsider the IPL’s traditional March-to-May scheduling period.
As previously reported by cricexec, IPL Founder and former Chairman Lalit Modi has advocated a January start or a longer October–April competition calendar, arguing that the league’s commercial strength gives it greater influence over its scheduling.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Co-owner Juhi Chawla has also supported moving the tournament into winter, highlighting the potential benefits of avoiding India’s intense summer heat.
Saikia declined to respond directly to Chawla’s proposal for a January IPL window, instead maintaining that the BCCI’s attention remains on the 2027 tournament, which is scheduled to begin in March.
With expansion discussions yet to begin and the salary purse decision deferred, the BCCI’s immediate agenda remains the December 16 auction and preparations for the IPL’s 20th edition.
