The Indian Premier League (IPL) could eventually welcome more teams but the BCCI is not considering any expansion at the moment. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has clarified that the board is currently focused entirely on the IPL 2027, which will mark the tournament’s historic 20th edition.
Speculation about increasing the number of IPL teams from the existing 10 to 12 gained attention on Tuesday. However, Devajit Saikia dismissed reports suggesting that the league could expand as early as 2028, stating that the BCCI has not held any formal or informal discussions on the proposal.
Speaking to PTI, Devajit Saikia explained that adding two more franchises was not part of the board’s current plans. He also stressed that the immediate priority was organising the IPL 2027, which is expected to be a major occasion because it will be the competition’s 20th season. He described reports about a possible expansion as speculation rather than confirmed plans.
However, a report has suggested that the BCCI is exploring the possibility of introducing at least two additional teams from the 2028 media rights cycle. Vadodara and Pune have reportedly emerged as potential locations for the new franchises.
The report also highlighted the growing investor interest in the IPL, which is considered one of the world’s most valuable sporting properties. With interest in owning an IPL franchise reportedly at an all-time high, each new team could potentially command a valuation of more than $1 billion.
Several categories of investors are reportedly showing interest in the possibility of investing in new IPL franchises. These include private equity firm Permira, Asian state-backed investment organisations, West Asian sovereign wealth funds, major Indian family-owned business groups, US-based family offices and ultra-high-net-worth individuals from India.
Gujarat is also being discussed as a possible destination for another IPL franchise. The state, which is the home state of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has seen a major push towards development in several sectors, including sports.
According to a source quoted in the report, there is a clear effort to develop Ahmedabad into a major sporting hub. This has also led to expectations that Gujarat could potentially get another IPL team, with Vadodara emerging as a possible location.
For now, however, the BCCI has made it clear that its attention remains on the IPL 2027. While the possibility of expanding the tournament to 12 teams from 2028 has generated considerable interest, no official decision or announcement has been made. Whether Vadodara and Pune eventually become home to new IPL franchises remains to be seen.
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