The Indian Premier League (IPL) has grown into much more than a cricket tournament. For many fans, it marks the start of summer excitement, drawing people of all ages to their screens as they watch their favourite teams, players and dramatic finishes. Over the years, the league has become a blend of sport, entertainment and deep emotional connection. And now, as it continues to expand in popularity and scale, conversations around its future are also gaining momentum.
It is in this context that former cricketer Robin Uthappa has stepped forward with strong views on how the IPL should evolve. Robin Uthappa who has played 205 IPL matches and scored 4,952 runs believes the league has reached a stage where it must grow beyond its current structure. He feels the auction system has held the tournament back and he passionately advocates for a more modern approach.
While speaking on his YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa said that the IPL, despite being the world’s leading cricket league, still operates like a young start-up. He urged organisers to move away from the traditional auctions and instead adopt year-round trade windows and a draft system. According to him, this change would bring more maturity and balance to team building and increase fan loyalty. He also added that even a draft can be highly entertaining for television, just like auctions, if not more.
Robin Uthappa also believes that the IPL deserves a longer season. He suggested expanding it from two-and-a-half months to six months, with space for international matches in between. In his view, this is necessary for the league to keep pace with the way the sport is changing.
Meanwhile, the excitement around the upcoming season continues, especially with the next IPL auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. The trade window has already delivered a big surprise, with Sanju Samson moving from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings. In exchange, RR received CSK stars Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Sanju Samson joins CSK at his existing price of Rs 18 crores, Ravindra Jadeja’s adjusted fee stands at Rs 14 crores and Sam Curran shifts to RR for Rs 2.4 crores.
As Robin Uthappa calls for transformation, fans are watching closely — wondering whether the IPL will hold on to its old ways or step into a bold new era.
